February 18: “Today Salvation Has Come to This House”
♫ Music:
Day 2 - Thursday, February 18
Title: “TODAY SALVATION HAS COME TO THIS HOUSE”
Scripture: Luke 19:1-10
He entered Jericho and was passing through. And there was a man called by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and he was rich. Zacchaeus was trying to see who Jesus was, and was unable because of the crowd, for he was small in stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree in order to see Him, for He was about to pass through that way. When Jesus came to the place, He looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house.” And he hurried and came down and received Him gladly. When they saw it, they all began to grumble, saying, “He has gone to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” Zacchaeus stopped and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, half of my possessions I will give to the poor, and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will give back four times as much.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
Poetry:
Zacchaeus
by George MacDonald
To whom the heavy burden clings,
It yet may serve him like a staff;
One day the cross will break in wings,
The sinner laughed a holy laugh.
The dwarfed Zacchaeus climbed a tree,
His humble stature set him high;
The Lord the little man did see
Who sought the great man passing by.
Up to the tree he came, and stopped:
“To-day,” he said, “with thee I bid.”
A spirit-shaken fruit he dropped,
Ripe for the Master, at his side.
Sure never host with gladder look
A welcome guest home with him bore!
Then rose the Satan of rebuke
And loudly spake beside the door:
“This is no place for holy feet;
Sinners should house and eat alone!
This man sits in the stranger's seat
And grinds the faces of his own!”
Outspoken the man, in Truth's own might:
“Lord, half my goods I give the poor;
If one I've taken more than right
With four I make atonement sure!”
“Salvation here is entered in;
This man indeed is Abraham's son!”
Said he who came the lost to win-
And saved the lost whom he had won.
TODAY SALVATION HAS COME TO THIS HOUSE
The interaction between Zacchaeus and Jesus, found only in the gospel of Luke, comes just before Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem. This passage is one of Jesus’ last recorded personal interactions with the public prior to his crucifixion. We are given three key pieces of information about Zacchaeus: his job (chief tax collector), his wealth (rich), and his physicality (short). Two of the three relate to his place in the community. It should be no surprise, when he is approached by Jesus, that he seeks to remedy his wrongs towards others in his community. Such actions stem from a repentant heart that desires to do what is right in the eyes of the Lord. Jesus confirms Zacchaeus’ godly repentance by noting “Today salvation has come to this house...”(v. 9) The passage ends with Jesus’ announcement that “... the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost,” a fitting summary of his mission and ministry as he heads towards the cross. (v.10)
In Luke 18, one chapter prior to today’s passage, the Rich Ruler leaves Jesus in sadness because he would not “sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me [Jesus].” (v. 22) Zacchaeus and the Rich Ruler responded very differently in their encounters with Jesus. The Apostle John notes that Christ followers are to “love [not] in word or talk but indeed and in truth...This is [God’s] commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another...”(1 John 3:18b, 23) John Calvin notes how our knowledge of Jesus is to transform our lives in A Little Book on the Christian Life: “For true doctrine is not a matter of the tongue, but of life; neither is Christian doctrine grasped only by the intellect and memory, as truth is grasped in other fields of study. Rather, doctrine is rightly received when it takes possession of the entire soul...But in order for doctrine to be fruitful to us, it must overflow into our hearts, spread into our daily routines, and truly transform us within.” (p. 12 & 13)
Consider the call of Jesus to “deny [yourself] and take up [your] cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life?” (Matthew 16: 24b—26a) In a world that prioritizes status, power, and getting ahead, Christians need to carefully examine how they live. We should be dually encouraged and challenged by the repentance and action reflected in Luke 19, and remember that every area of our lives must submit to Christ.
Although only appearing in a 10-verse passage, Zacchaeus has proven to be inspiring for artists throughout history. The art piece The Calling of Zacchaeus highlights his precarious position in a tree, “The Zacchaeus Song” highlights the call to justice, and the poem “Zacchaeus” focuses on personal righteous transformation. The abilities of these artists to showcase individual elements should move us to worship Christ, who came to seek and save the lost.
Prayer:
Father God, thank you that Jesus came to seek and save the lost. Prick our hearts and conscience to consider how we can honor you by our actions in our community and to right any wrongs that we may have caused. May the Holy Spirit convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgement, and guide us into all the truth. (John 16: 8,13).
Amen
Bibliography:
Calvin, John. A Little Book on the Christian Life. Translated and edited by Aaron Clay Denlinger and Burk Parsons. Orlando: Reformation Trust, 2018.
Stacie Schmidt
Reference Services Librarian
Biola University
For more information about the artwork, music, and poetry selected for this day, we have provided resources under the “About” tab located next to the “Devotional” tab.
About the Artwork
The Calling of Zacchaeus
Artist Unknown
Date Unknown
Tempera on panel
Throughout his life as a chief tax collector, prior to his conversion, Zacchaeus was clearly governed by fraudulent practices, deception, lies, and extortion. Something profound was stirring in his heart as he climbed a sycamore tree to catch the attention of Jesus. Zacchaeus provides us with an example of perseverance, repentance, and ultimately transformation. His repentance to follow Christ gives us hope in the transformative power of a redeemed life found in Christ.
About the Music:
“The Zacchaeus Song (feat. Sandra McCracken & Paul Zach)” from the album Justice Songs
Lyrics:
Jesus our Lord came to seek and to save
He sought me out and He called me by name
Foolish and proud, like a sheep gone astray
He said, "Child, to your house I will come today"
Much I have gained but I'll give even more
Half of my wealth it was robbed from the poor
O this injustice! Lord, help me restore
For You called me by name and said, "Sin no more"
Salvation has come
Salvation has come to this house today
He said it's more blessed to give than receive
To open my hands to the ones I've deceived
To bring reparation of all I have thieved
Hallelujah, hallelujah, yes, now I can see
Salvation has come
Salvation has come to this house today
What I've taken from the poor: I will give it all away
And their cries won't be ignored: I will give it all away
Let Your justice be restored: I will give it all away
What I thought was mine is yours: I will give it all away
Jesus our Lord comes to seek and to save
The broken, the lost, and the sheep gone astray
O lay down your treasures, for they're just golden chains
He says, "Child, I will come to your house today"
About the Composers:
Gregory Thompson, Isaac Wardell, Jessica Fox, Latifah Alattas, Orlando Palmer, Paul Zach, and Wendell Kimbrough
Greg Thompson is a respected academic and director of New City Commons, a ministry team that works to support the church in reimagining the common good and renewing civic life. He is an Associate Fellow at the Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture. He is the former pastor of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Charlottesville, Virginia, and holds an M.A. and Ph.D. in Theology, Ethics, and Culture from the University of Virginia.
https://iasculture.org/scholars/profiles/greg-thompson
Isaac Wardell is a record producer and composer who primarily writes sacred music. He is the director of Bifrost Arts, an ecumenical organization closely linked to the Presbyterian Church in America that produces written and recorded religious music and frequently performs at Christian universities and conferences. Wardell founded Bifrost Arts in 2008, “to enrich the Church and engage the world with beauty and truth through music beautiful enough that non-Christians are attracted to it.” He is also currently the Director for Worship Arts at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Charlottesville, Virginia.
https://www.trinitycville.org/Isaac-Wardell
Jessica Fox is a composer and, along with singers Joseph Clarke and Mariah Hargrove, is also a member of the a cappella trio called Resound. The three singers quit their jobs in 2018 to devote all their time to music and just two years later they performed on NBC’s America’s Got Talent. When they started performing, the group sang mostly gospel music. “As time went on, we wanted to spread hope and joy, but we never forgot our gospel roots,” says Hargrove. “We are an inspirational group. We believe in hope, love, and bringing people joy.”
https://richmondfamilymagazine.com/justjoan/what-the-world-needs-now-is-resound-on-americas-got-talent/
Latifah Alattas is an artist, writer, and producer. Alattas has a long resume that includes time as a solo artist; work with Page CXVI, a band that reinterpreted traditional hymns; work with the indie rock band Autumn Film; and Sola-Mi, an experimental trio. She’s also composed incidental music for MTV. Alattas lives in Nashville, Tennessee, and has an extensive history of making innovative, tender, emotionally honest, and transformative music, whether with Page CXVI or one of her many other musical projects. She has produced and released two albums under her other moniker, Moda Spira, as well as albums for other artists. Alattas was recently featured on the last two Porter’s Gate albums.
http://www.modaspira.com/about
IAMSON, also known as Orlando Palmer, transformed inspirational Christian music in 2017 with his highly acclaimed debut album entitled IAMSON. As a singer, songwriter, musician, and producer, IAMSON reaches his listeners with mesmerizing arrangements and impactful lyrics. In one of his most requested songs, “Easy to Love,” IAMSON describes the freedom found in full devotion to the Christian journey. In partnership with his lyrical skill, his music spans the sounds of acoustic and inspirational easy-listening to high-energy gospel. To date, IAMSON has been featured in various concerts and recording sessions around the world, most notably participating in The Porter’s Gate worship albums.
https://iamsonmusic.com/
Wendell Kimbrough is a songwriter and performer reimagining the Psalms for emotionally honest modern worship. His music makes space for the whole range of human experience, from lament, grief, and anger to playful, joyful celebration. With singable melodies, steeped in the sounds of folk, gospel, and soul music, Wendell’s songs are sung at hundreds of churches around the world. His music has been featured in Worship Leader Magazine and World Magazine, and Under the Radar Media selected his 2016 album, Psalms We Sing Together, as an honorable mention for album of the year. In 2020, he was invited to serve on American Songwriter Magazine’s prestigious panel of lyric judges. Wendell lives with his wife and daughter in Fairhope, Alabama, where he serves as worship leader and artist-in-residence at Church of the Apostles.
https://www.wendellk.com/#about
About the Performers:
Paul Zach, Sandra McCracken, and Porter’s Gate
Paul Zach (b. 1986) is the Director of Worship at Portico Church, located in Charlottesville, Virginia. Zach explains his journey in becoming a worship leader, “I used to describe myself as having a pretty big allergy to a lot of church music. By that I mean I felt like a lot of songs were making me say things to God that I didn’t want to say, or didn’t believe, so I think early on I perhaps spent time writing songs and picking songs for the church with a real chip on my shoulder. But I’ve gotten over a lot of that now, and actually since working for a church I feel much more creatively fulfilled than I ever did touring with a rock band, I think there’s something fun about writing songs that are meant to be sung together and if people aren’t singing with you then you aren’t doing your job right. It’s grounded me in a different way that’s really helpful for me. I’ve found that through seasons of doubt and facing those fears, songwriting for me has actually been one of my main ways to commune with God.”
https://www.paulzachmusic.com/
Sandra McCracken’s (b. 1977) prolific contributions as a songwriter, modern-day hymn writer, and record producer are full of grace and clarity, and are enlivened by her soulful, folk-gospel sound. Whether in a theater or in a chapel, she is a dynamic performer who blurs the lines of what church music sounds like, captivating and inviting audiences to sing along. While many of her songs, like “We Will Feast In The House Of Zion” and “Thy Mercy My God,” have settled into regular rotation in Christian worship services internationally, she has also had songs recorded by All Sons And Daughters, Audrey Assad, A Rocha Compilation, Bifrost Arts, Caedmon’s Call, and others. She is a founding member of Indelible Grace Music and Rain For Roots (children’s music) and has been a guest writer for Art House America, She Reads Truth, The Gospel Coalition, Christianity Today, and RELEVANT Magazine.
http://www.sandramccracken.com/
The Porter’s Gate was founded to help worship leaders respond theologically to the pressing questions of our times through the writing of new worship songs and the creation of new liturgical resources. “We wanted to release as many songs as we were able to record for use by churches in a time where worship leaders are looking for songs and liturgical resources that give expression to the unusual and troubling circumstances of 2020 that our congregants and neighbors are experiencing,” explains co-founder Megan Wardell. Their latest two albums, Justice Songs and Lament Songs, were released in September of 2020. “We have been writing these songs for almost a year, at first as in-person songwriting retreats, and then remotely through email and zoom during the Covid-19 pandemic,” says co-founder Isaac Wardell, who also produced the albums. “Listeners will notice if you look at the songwriting credits that some of these songs have 5 or 6 authors. It was our intention to get a variety of people in the room, people from different backgrounds, at churches that worship very differently, interacting on these themes and scriptures of justice and lament.” This past July 2020, a small group of musicians merged quarantine bubbles on a farm in Central Virginia to record the fruit of those songwriting sessions. Some collaborators are familiar from past projects: Liz Vice, Sandra McCracken, Latifah Alattas, Paul Zach, Jessica Fox, IAMSON, and John Swinton. There are also a few new faces, including Matt Maher, Jon Guerra, Brian Nhira, and Taylor Leonhardt.
https://www.theportersgate.com/
About the Poet:
George MacDonald (1824–1905) was a Scottish author, poet, and Christian minister. He was educated at Aberdeen University and after a short career as a minister, where his unorthodox views led to his dismissal, he turned to writing fiction as a means of earning a living. He wrote over fifty books. He was a pioneering figure in the field of modern fantasy literature and the mentor of fellow writer Lewis Carroll. In addition to his fairy tales, MacDonald wrote several works of Christian theology, including several collections of sermons. His writings have been cited as a major literary influence by many notable authors, including Lewis Carroll, W. H. Auden, J. M. Barrie, Elizabeth Yates, Oswald Chambers, Mark Twain, L. Frank Baum, T. H. White, G. K. Chesterton, C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, Neil Gaiman, and Madeleine L'Engle. Some of his fictional titles include: The Golden Key, The Light Princess, Lilith, Phantastes, The Princess and Curdie, and The Princess and the Goblin.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_MacDonald
http://www.worksofmacdonald.com/fiction/overview
About the Devotion Author:
Stacie Schmidt
Reference Services Librarian
Biola University
Stacie Schmidt is the Reference Services Librarian at the Biola University Library, where she delights in answering any and all questions. She has a B.A. in History from Cedarville University and an M.L.I.S. from UCLA. Outside of the Library, she can be found reading Dorothy L. Sayers, analyzing films, and planning future trips around the world.