Those who saw Jesus and their impact
Many people met Lord Jesus Christ during His lifetime. Let us meditate on a few of them. One of them that lingers in our thoughts is Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-9).
Zacchaeus was a Jew and was the chief of the tax collectors who collected taxes from the Jews and paid them to the Roman Empire. And as many tax collectors did in those days, that is, they would collect more tax than they were assigned and pay it to the government and keep the rest for themselves.That is why he was rich. As he was going to many villages to collect taxes, there were people who heard about the miracles and wonders that Jesus had done and wanted to see him.
And the Jewish religious leaders were opposed to seeing and believing in Jesus, pushing them outside the synagogue.So Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus, without anyone knowing, climbed a sycamore-fig tree on the way in which Jesus came and hid himself among the leaves. Jesus, who knew everything, came down to the tree and called Zacchaeus and announced that he was coming to his house. Zacchaeus rejoices to see Jesus, feels guilty when he takes Him home, and declares that he will give back half of his (unjustly collected) wealth to the poor and fourfold to those who were unjustly taxed. Thus salvation comes to his house. He also becomes a son of Abraham.
There are only a few people who confessed their sins after seeing Jesus and changed their minds and received salvation. Among them Zacchaeus is the foremost. All the politicians in our country should have a change of heart like Zacchaeus’s change of heart. Let us pray that the crores of money they have, should be used for the poor people and for the welfare of the people.
Samaritan Woman:
One of the most important personal encounters with Jesus in the Bible is the encounter of Jesus with the Samaritan woman. There was hatred and enmity between the Jews and the Samaritans. They are not related. In this situation, the conversation alone is very interesting for both of them. She sees Jesus first as a Jew, then as a prophet, and finally as the Messiah.
Jesus declares “He is the Messiah who is called the Christ” in a few places. Although she had no connection with the Jews, this woman was knowledgeable about Jewish culture, customs, and Jewish scriptures.
After the conversation with Jesus, she stopped the work she had just come to and went into the city and announced the gospel like this. “A man told me everything I did. Come see him. She said, “He is the Christ.” The way she openly declared her sins immediately caused many of the Samaritans in that town to believe in Jesus.
And Jesus stayed there for two days and preached. This woman did not hear about Jesus or about the miracles and wonders He did. But she turned around expecting the Messiah to come. When she saw the Messiah, she believed and immediately proclaimed Jesus. She is an example of evangelism.
Nicodemus:
He was a Pharisee, a teacher, and a Jewish official. After learning about the miracles that Jesus had done, he met Jesus alone at night, conversed with him, and learned the truths. Neither believed nor followed Jesus. Because of the good impression he had on Him, he brought about a hundred pounds of white and black linen to bury Jesus. Undaunted by the religious leaders, he boldly came forward to help, Jesus to be buried according to the Jewish customs.
Thus the meeting of Zacchaeus, the Samaritan woman, Nicodemus, etc. helped to fulfill the salvation in their personal lives, the change in society, the proclamation of the gospel, and the opportunity for the burial of the Messiah.
Encounters that do not result in changes / impacts:
Herod, the tetrarch, heard all that Jesus had done and wanted to see him (Luke: 9:9) and even though he wanted to see the signs that Jesus would perform, he had been longing to see him for a long time. he did nothing and no attempts to do so.
Because Herod was the tetrarch , the ruler of the country, if he had sent someone, Jesus himself would have arranged an opportunity. No effort was made. But Zacchaeus and Nicodemus tried to see Jesus even though they were high position in society. They were also a blessing to others.
When Pilate sent Jesus to Herod to question him, Herod rejoiced when he saw Jesus, just for a few seconds. Jesus did not answer many of the things he asked. In the end he insulted and mocked Jesus. Meeting is of no use to anyone.
In this way a rich man came to Jesus, prayed and turned away with a sad face (Luke 18:18-23).
Witness:
When I was working in a country called Zimbabwe, I was advised by my wife who was saved a few years ago that “seek and you shall find and whoever seeks will find”.
I didn’t know how to search. I stood in front of the idols I worshiped and said, “Are you the real God? Then who is Jesus? I was asking. Then one evening a servant of God, led by Jesus Christ, came looking for me. Just that morning I had written an open letter to God. In that I asked Christians, Hindus and Muslims to pray for my problem. In that situation the servant of God came and prayed for me , I got peace of mind and was reassured and saved. The problem solved.
A prayer group was started in BSNL, Tamil Nadu and the love of Jesus was revealed to the workers there. After seven years , Christmas is celebrated every year in BSNL offices, and the gospel is preached as per the advice of Jesus. It continues till this day. Glory to God!
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus Christ , You gave your life for us to be redeemed! May each one of us be like the Samaritan woman and have the grace to bring all the people in the village, town, and city where we live , into your salvation, so that all the politicians and contractors who are hiding crores of money in our country can be saved and thereby their wealth can be used for the poor people. Amen!
Sol.Mohansundaram