Zaccheus’ Relief - Luke 19:1-10

Luke continues a theme describing stories about spiritual dis∙illusion∙ment over Jesus’ way and means of salvation. It is part of the warp and weave of similar stories like the disciples’ blindness to Jesus’ work of redemption and resurrection, their demeaning assumptions about children, the misguided conjectures on salvation of the rich young ruler, and the errant self-righteous attitudes of the Pharisees toward sinners. All point to God’s mercy and miraculous work of redemption within the context of humanity’s utterly broken and helpless state. Luke dispels the illusion that those who sin greatly are hidden from God’s passionate desire to save them and, in doing so, fulfills the purpose of his Gospel: ‘to steady the wobbly faith of the God-lover by showing the depth of God’s mercy.’