July 14, 2016
Jesus identified his earthly mission when he said to Zacchaeus, the chief tax collector in Jericho, “Today, salvation has come to this house . . . . For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost” (Luke 19:10).
In the first century, Jewish tax collectors were regarded as traitors. Yet when Jesus saw Zacchaeus sitting in the Sycamore tree, he saw a man who was lost and needed to be rescued; so he invited himself to Zacchaeus’ house for dinner.
That was an astonishing thing to do. Decent people didn’t eat with tax collectors and sinners. A Jewish Rabbi once wrote, “There is joy in heaven when one sinner is obliterated from the earth.” By contrast, Jesus said that, “there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent” (Luke 15:7)). God is not willing that anyone should perish. He wants “everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).
As we teach our WEI students on the Internet or through postal mail, let us “speak the truth in love.” I have never known anyone to be argued into the arms of Jesus. It is counter-productive to argue with students about their religion. The most effective way to win people to Christ is to tell his story.
The greatest demonstration of love the world has ever known was the voluntary suffering of Jesus. He was falsely accused, beaten, mocked, ridiculed, humiliated, and left to bleed out on the cross. Yet, he looked down from the cross with love in his eyes and prayed for the people who were killing him: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). That scene brings tears to the eyes of our students and draws them to Jesus.
A German Jew said, “Suffering is a language that everyone understands.” The suffering of Jesus is the universal language of love. A woman in India, upon hearing about the suffering of Jesus for the first time, said, “I have known about him all my life, and now you have told me his name.”
Help us spread the name of Jesus to the ends of the earth. We love you.
