The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-09-01
INTERNATIONAL SUNDAY SCHOOL
 LESSON
BARTIMEus AND zACCHEUs
Third Quarter. Lesson x. Luke xviii.
 35; xix. 10. September ?. 1906.

AMEuS AND AAttHEuS
 (Note: For evident reason attention is confined to the latter part of the les Son prescribed.--D. W. CD
 Jerichoi-what stirring scenes the name recalls: Rahab and the spies, all saved by a rope of significant color: Joshua meeting the angel with drawn sword; Israels marcn about tfle city 10 ram's-horn accompaniment; Achans troublesome wedge of gold and Baby ionish garment; Elisha healing the spring of waters; the school of the pro- phets; not to speak of the Oriental splendor of Iierod and his son Archo- iaus. But for ethical purposes, every other incident connected withsthis City of Palms must give place to Jesus in- terview with zaccheus.
 It was busy day in that comrner- cial city, the revenues of which were esteemed a gift a Roman triumvir might appropriately bestow upon an Egyptian queen as love-token. A singing pilgrim caravan from Gaiilee and Perea was in passagedor the Pass over at Jerusalem. fhe presence in it of the Wonder-worker who had so lately raised Lazarus gave an unusual interest to what was otherwise q fami- liar incident. As 1t was, the whole populace poured out. and hedged the street on either hand.
 The chief collector Of revenue heard that Jesus was passing. As he sat there at the receipts of customs, with accounts spread out before him, there was a tumult of conflicting emotions in his heart. We may almost hear hts soliloquy. Jesus who spoke the para- ble of the Pharisee and publican, who has eaten with publicans. who has orr dained one to be His apostle; Jesus so near, and for the last time. too, for the Jews will surely kill Him on this visit to Jerusalem--I will see Jesusl" On that resolution souls destiny turns. Daybook and ledger are closed, office locked. and Zaccheus sallies forth.
 A less resolute soul, one less fertile in resource, would have retreated be- fore such hindrances. An impene- trable human wall; nobody inclined to show the odious tax collector slight est courtesy; rather to improve the op- portunity to elbow and jostle him. But Zaccheus remembers the Egyption fig tree far down and In the middle of the thoroughfare. He runs and climbs into the low fork of the tree. Doing so, he violates the Eastern notion of decorum and makes himself more than ever the target for sibe and epithet. But what does that amount to. so only he sees
 
 from Him will repay all.
 As the confused sounds Of the ap- preaching throng grow more distinct, so does holy purpose in the heart of zaccheus. It might express itself ,n the words, If Jesus only calls me. will forsake all to follow Him" His master passion, avarice. most subtle and irnperious of all. has received it's death-blow
 Before he ever left the fork of the tree, Zaccheus was far beyond the young rich ruler. No need of Jesus testing him with the command. GO sell all, and give all" Can this man whose life has been one of social os- tracism. believe his ears? Tn defiance of popular feeling and established eti- quette, does Jesus invite Himself to his home? will the great Rabbi actually enter house. the threshold of which no self-respecting Hebrew has ever crossed7 Fears He no ceremonial de- filement7
 It is no mistake Jesus is looking mp with smile of recognition and eyes of love. In transport of joy this out cast son of Abraham descends. and ern- braces, in all the fervor of a new af- lection, his self-invited Guest. Arm in arm they walk toward his tobooed home. while the opprobrium that once rested on Zaccheus falls with augment ed weight upon Jesus. Above the con- fused and threatening roar of general disapproval can ba heard at times the clear and ringing indictment, ''TIe hath gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner"
 In the portal of his lordly manor zaccheus pauses. He is grieved at the imputation cast upon his new-found Master-grieved that he himself is | canse of 1t. He stands forth. and. with wave of hand asks the attention of the | illhumored throng. In substance he says: You call me sinner I have been such. Having lost all prestige | among you by accepting office under an alien government, having no longer any reputation to support, have yielded to the insidious allurement of my odious position. and have at times made false depositions to increase my revenue. I call you to witness that in every such instance I will make four fold restitution. Whan this is complet- !