Scrambling up the sycamore tree, Zacchaeus had no idea what awaited him. Before the day ended, he would take up a life following Jesus and give up half his possessions to the poor. An encounter with Jesus is so life altering that we are never again the same.
Another thing happens in Luke’s account of Zacchaeus and Jesus. We sang it as kids. Remember in the little Sunday School song, “…for I’m going to your house today. Yes, I’m going to your house today.” In the original language of the New Testament, the word Jesus used for “I must stay at your house today,” is the Greek word, “meno.” It means to remain, abide, tarry.
When Jesus tells Zacchaeus that he must “meno” (stay, remain) with him, I think Jesus has a much bigger picture in mind than just an evening meal and some fellowship. Luke uses the same word a few weeks later following Jesus’ resurrection. He finds a couple of dejected disciples on the road to Emmaus and after walking with them, they urge him to “meno” with them; to stay with them since the hour is late. Jesus does, teaching them all about the scriptures and the Messiah, and in the breaking of bread together, the disciples realize their guest is Jesus.
John joins the chorus in his gospel in chapter fifteen. Jesus says, “Remain in me, as I also remain in you…” Want to guess what word is used here? Yep, “meno.”
There may be more to this “meno” business, but what I see is this: Jesus wants to stay with us. When we invite Jesus to stay, he teaches us. In the teaching, we learn that staying or remaining with Jesus is a grace-filled lifelong encounter. Isn’t that our holiness theology? Jesus reaches out to us. When we respond he teaches us. As we learn we surrender our wanderlust and remain with him as he remains with us.
For those of us who call SCO home, our annual District Assembly is, in part, a celebration of abiding with Jesus and he with us. We rejoice that Jesus is still calling out to the Zacchaeus’s of the world with an invitation. He is still teaching those on the journey with him, and he is still empowering his followers to remain in him even as he remains in us.
Pastors, pastoral staff, delegates, licensed ministers, missionaries, and more are all delegates to the assembly. I hope you will be there to join the celebration of a God who abides with us.
We kick things off on Thursday evening with a wonderful ordination service, then follow it up on Friday with pastor’s reports, a DS report, powerful praise and worship and the opportunity to celebrate together as family. Would you join me in praying right now for God to move among us.
Sam
