The Rev. Dr. Clay Smith: Jericho

Jericho was an old city in Jesus' time. It was a crossroads city where farmers came to trade their goods. It was also a resort town. About 18 miles from Jerusalem, the elite of Jerusalem had winter homes there. It was also the home of hundreds of priests who could live cheaper and better in Jericho than in Jerusalem.

Jesus must have passed through the town often. There was a heavily traveled road down the Jordan Valley that was the favored route from Galilee to Jerusalem. The road from Jericho to Jerusalem was steep and treacherous. Its twists and turns made it a favorite hiding spot for thieves. Jesus told a story where the road itself plays a part, the story of the Good Samaritan. A man was attacked by the robbers and left for dead. A priest and a Levite (commuting from work to home?) saw the man but hurried by, not wanting to get involved or maybe just looking out for themselves. Only a Samaritan, an outcast, stopped to help.

Ten days before he was crucified, Jesus passed through Jericho for the last time. Word had spread that he was coming. Crowds lined the street. A small man climbed up in a sycamore tree because he wanted to see Jesus. When Jesus got to the tree, he looked up and called the man by name. Maybe Matthew whispered the name to Jesus. Or maybe Jesus just knew. He said, "Zaccheus, come down. Let's have lunch at your house today."

Funny, it didn't sound like a sermon, but Zaccheus responds like few people ever have. He vows to give away half his wealth and pay back anything he overcharged times four. Maybe he was overwhelmed that Jesus would want to spend time with someone like him, an outcast. Maybe when Jesus called his name, he was simply overwhelmed by grace.

Whether it was lunch or supper, meals like this were lengthy affairs. The servants had to prepare the meal. Presumably, Zaccheus lived in a pretty nice house; after all, he was a rich man. Jesus and his disciples (I wonder how comfortable they were in this setting?) reclined at the table, probably for two or three hours. There may have been laughter, questions and teaching.

Whenever Jesus and the disciples took their leave (did they spend the night?), they left behind a man profoundly changed. Zaccheus would have heard about Jesus' crucifixion. Did he weep? Did he wonder how it could have happened? He would have also heard about Jesus' resurrection. Did he slap his forehead and say, "Of course!" When disciples had to flee Jerusalem, did they stop overnight at his house in Jericho? Was his home where the first gathering of Jesus followers in Jericho met?

On the way out of town, Jesus encountered a blind beggar named Bartimaeus. Imagine spending all day listening for traffic, calling out for help. On that day, the passing crowd was louder than normal. He asked what it meant, and some kind soul said, "Jesus of Nazareth is coming." If you are a blind beggar on the side of the road, people assume you are deaf as well. You hear things. Bartimaeus had heard about Jesus, about his healings, about people's wondering if he was the Messiah. In his dark world, he had time to process all this. When he heard that the Jesus he had heard about was passing by, he knew this was his moment. He cries out, "Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me." People told him to shut up, but he shouted louder: "Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me!" Jesus heard his cry and called him over. "What do you want me to do for you?" he asked.

Bartimaeus did not ask to be saved. He probably didn't get that far in his thinking. He simply spoke his deepest desire, "Lord, I want to see." Jesus replied, "Receive your sight! Your faith has saved you."

Consider Jesus' reply. Bartimaeus asks for one thing: sight. He receives two things: sight and salvation. Jesus knows Bartimaeus needs more than sight; he needs to know what to do once he can see. So Jesus saves him. Sometimes, salvation comes in odd ways.

Bartimaeus leaves his old begging station and follows Jesus. Maybe he is in the crowd, shouting, "Hosanna!" on Palm Sunday. Maybe he is at the Temple as Jesus teaches and argues with the religious leaders. Maybe he is there at Golgotha, watching the man who healed and saved him die.

Did he go back to Jericho? Did he hear about Jesus' resurrection? Did he wind up worshiping in Zaccheus' house with other new believers?

Ten days before his crucifixion, Jesus is going into a sinner's house, and he is healing a blind man. What is happening in Jericho foreshadows the reason he must go to Jerusalem. He will die on the cross for all who are unworthy, which is every one of us. He will be raised from the dead so we, who are so spiritually blind, can see what real power is, so we can see the real path God has for every one of us.

To get ready for Easter, stop by Jericho. Hear Jesus inviting himself to your house. Hear Jesus telling you that you are healed. As your eyes open, look full into his wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace.

The Rev. Dr. Clay Smith is the lead pastor of Alice Drive Baptist Church in Sumter. Email him at claysmith@adbc.org.