There is account after account in the New Testament concerning the evidence of Christ’s power throughout his ministry while human on the earth. There are the accounts between Jesus and his disciples. Besides the healings and miracles, Peter actually walked on water with Jesus. The disciples witnessed Jesus call Lazarus out of the grave after he’d been dead for three days. They witnessed Christ’s resurrection after seeing him die. The Apostle Paul who wrote Hebrews 11:1 was blinded by a vision of Jesus Christ in His glory, and then heard Christ’s voice who told Paul to take the Gospel to the people of Rome. Then Jesus Christ prophesied to Paul that in three days he would be healed of his blindness, and he was.
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1 (NKJV)
There are so many stories concerning the evidence of God’s miraculous power, but what is the verdict concerning the truth in the evidence. The verdict speaks to God’s gracious mercy and love that is not meant to be hidden. It is the compassion of God that drives His intentions to bless us to the extent that hope is realized by tangible proof. NLX 101 ventures into the story of Zacchaeus, the tax collector, a Jewish man who was ruthless in taking the earnings of his countrymen. Zacchaeus lived the life of a hedonistic wealthy man in his big house on his large estate off the earnings of his neighbors. It is likely that living in his home were servants to care for Zacchaeus and prostitutes to entertain him. He could afford it. By all indications, Zacchaeus had bought his ticket to hell.
So many live with the shame of their past and are certain that what they did is sad, disgusting, and unforgivable. They may even be certain in the evidence of God in the universe and their world, but are just as certain that what they have done and experienced is beyond the scope of God’s love and grace. They have judged themselves, been judged by others, and most certainly have been judged by God, perhaps living by the creed that every time they act out in their selfish sin that they are crucifying Jesus all over again.
The story of Zacchaeus is a story of hope. If there was anyone unworthy of the mercy of God, it was him. Yet Jesus decided to spend a day with him in his home amongst his family of hedonists. The disciples gasped. The people grumbled and complained about it, perhaps judging Jesus of seeking privilege getting down into the dirt with such an evil man. They were disgusted that Jesus would do such a thing until it happened—a miracle. Zacchaeus came out with Jesus, except that he wasn’t the same man. The evidence was the love that Jesus displayed to Zacchaeus. The verdict was the salvation that came to that entire household through mercy and grace. The man and his “family” were transformed by the power of the love of God. Zacchaeus responded by extending mercy and grace to all he had taken advantage of.
NLX 101 asks pertinent questions as to how what God did for Zacchaeus He will do for all who let go of that which is killing us, and lay hold of the verdict of salvation—translated recovery—that indeed has transformative power.