I love Philip Yancey’s books and I love Matt’s blog “The Church of No People” and so when Matt did an interview with Yancey I ate it up. I especially love the line by Yancey that “God goes where he’s wanted” which I think is very true. Its also true, however, that Jesus goes even where he isn’t.

I’ve been working through Luke 18 and 19 in my preaching and really enjoying the chapters. There are so many links in these chapters and great stories and Kenneth Bailey chimes in with some terrific stuff as well. (I just realized that my nutty learning disability kicked in and I substituted Jerusalem for Jericho. ugh.)

Anyway, in Jesus’ journey through Jericho (which pre-echoes his upcoming entry into Jerusalem) Jesus enters the city as a hero and brings the praise to a crescendo by healing poor blind Bartimeaus, the son of filth. Jesus disappoints the crowd that is primed with Messianic expectations by not allowing them to extend him hospitality and not honoring them with his presence at the banquet that was quite likely anticipated.  Undoubtedly the town of Jericho was filled with those who eagerly hoped for a powerful overthrow of Rome’s occupation in the manner that Yhwh overthrew Pharaoh’s hold on the children of Israel. Jesus, however, who was more than welcome after he healing declined to stay and journeyed out of the city.

As you know from the story, on his way out of town who does he meet but Zacchaeus up in a tree, hiding from the loyalist Jewish crowd. Zacchaeus understood the danger of being short and in a crowd that considered him the chief collaborator of the Roman occupational forces.

To the delight of Zacchaeus and to the dismay of the crowd Jesus invites himself BACK to town to stay at Zacchaeus’ home. Undoubtedly there was a prominent, upstanding, observant but perhaps slightly less wealthy man in town who had hoped to host this feast and offer Jesus a place to spend the night. He was slighted and this chief of sinners was given the honor. So Jesus now turns his entourage around and marches them, now with his new friend Zacchaeus under his arm back into the trailing hostile crowd and back towards town to sit as the special guest of Zacchaeus and likely the only kinds of people that would associate with him, probably tax collectors and prostitutes. Jesus will break bread with that group.

Jesus was wanted by the upright of the town as he entered, but likely as he turned to re-enter the town from the other side any potential invitation was likely rescinded.