The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1936-05-16
Sunday, May II.
RaaI ,,l.o ~ CfuJ,, I uka q

4
Ito, 45-4S.
! During the week before hi
crucifixion in the year 80, A. d.
iJesuS, on his final Journey to Jer
usalem, was the Guest-Saviour OF
the chief publican at Jericho il
the lower Jordan valley which was
the regional headquarters for Tho
regulation of exports and import:
between the Roman Empire anC
| the dominion of Herod.
|, On Sunday of CrucifiXion Week
Jesus made his triumphal entry
into Jerusalem and for the second
time cleansed, the temple of the
traffickers who had made it rob-
bers' den. t ..
THE CONVERSION OF THE
PUBLICAN
Jesus Inspires Honesty in Busi-
ness. Note two. things here CD
Through conversion he makes an
honest man. Here are three
glImpses of Jesus. ,First-Jesus az
irving. The head of. the colony of
tax collectors in Jericho was nam
cd Zacchaeus who was almost cer-
tainly Jew as appears from his
name and from the fact that Jesus
called him, son of Abraham. He
must have been extremely un-
! popular with the Jews since reve-
nue. officers were generally hated,
especially if they were Jews. No
doubt his life was stained by eX-
tortion and injustice as seems
from his. confession. At any rate,
he had amassed an immense for
tune for 'he was rich" Second
Jesus attracting. Zacchaeus had
heard of the fame of Jesus which
had filled all Palestine and he was
very DESTROYS of seeing this dis
lstinguished personafe. So when he
heard, that Jesus was near the city
he went, from curiosity to see the
Great Teacher. Perhaps to ms
surprise he found him in the midst
of an immense multitude. Being
low of stature he was unable to
work his way through the crowd
ii the Lord, Just ahead in the di-
reetion. the crowd was moving
stood a Syrian sycomore tree. Go
ing forward. and ascending this
tree. Zacehaeusq probably seated
himself on high limb stretching
out over the road and there await
ed the coming of the Saviour.
Thirdyesus abiding. Jesus ap-
preached and looking up discover
ed the waiting publiran and new
opportunity for doing, good was
offered the Son Of man. Upon
this hated publican the Jews have
poured their hostility and he re-
mains unchanged; Jesus will try a
mightier. expedient with far differ
emf effect. The Jews would not
under any consideration enterNms
honse; Jesus will cross his TIRES
hold, enjoy his hospitality, and
renoyate his life. How welcome to
Zacchaeus must have been the
self-invitation of Jesus to his
house,. Instantly he obeyed and
came down with haste and "receiv-
ed Jesus far deeper and rich
ef experience than he had yet had,
and he received him not in cool
and distant nor even dignified
manner but joyfulfy. The accept
ance of the publican's hospitality
on the part Of, Jesus awakened in
the thronging multitude and muir,
muring long and loud. Why should
he not lodge with some of the
numerous priests of. the city?
Why should he put up at the house
of "a man whose very profession
was a symbol of the national deg
radation?" (2) Through conse-
Grafton he makes man honest.
Jesus had purpose in; going to
the house of Zacchaeus and it was
soon accomplished. Doubtless be-
fore Zacchaeus seated himself IN
his house anu entertained the
lord, he made to- Jesus a promise
and a proposition including also a
confession. He said "The half of
my goods l give to the poor
great liberality, showing likeness
to the Master at. once; and also
"If | have w1'ongft,lly exacted
aught of any mani | restore four
fold'-the highest restitution that
even the Romans demanded, while
i the Jewish law ordinarily required
only twofold. This was a. most re.
markable statement for a man Of
his grasping nature and record of
extortion. 1t shows that a pro-
fnnnd change had occurred in the
n,,blican who now made sacri-
Fee Of his wealth in the most lust
and generous ,wav and personally
,aeeiSed into his inner life Jesus
Christ as a regnantt force. Truly
co,iiS Jesuss saw aTodayfiis saliva
t;onS come to This honse." for the
nubliean's ;oyfui; reception of the
Messiah had resulted i'm q siemifi-
lrant Iiheralitvg hunfble confession.