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It is in this episode of eternal interaction between Jesus and the wee little man, Zacchaeus, that we hear Jesus declare His mission loud and clear: “The Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” That’s good news for Zacchaeus; that’s good news for us.

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We learned the song about Zacchaeus, a wee little man, way back in preschool, but the Bible story isn’t kid-sized. It’s God-sized. It is the story of how God intentionally brings salvation to the life of a person everyone else had counted out. We get to see desire and determination fleshed out in this story, the desire and determination of both Zacchaeus and the Lord Jesus.

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The scapegoat is a vivid image of God’s vast forgiveness. To place the sins of the people symbolically on that goat then have it sent out into the wilderness so far that it never returns and is never found reminds us that our sins are removed from us as far as the east is from the west. And that was done for us not by a goat who was a mere symbol, but of Christ who literally bore our sins in His own body on that tree. It is the Cross of Christ that provides us with real atonement.

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 Arguably, the greatest of all the Jewish feasts and holidays is Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. Every year, the High Priest would enter the Holy of Holies with the blood of the sacrifice and pour it onto the Mercy Seat, providing atonement for himself, the Temple, and all the people. But there is far more to that day than that simplistic explanation. Let’s explore it deeper that we may see the Day of Atonement through the eyes of the Cross of Christ.

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Lamentations is such a unique Book. Its name reveals to me that it’s not going to be a carnival ride. But right in the middle of this book of tears, is the gladdest, most joyful set of verses you’ll find anywhere. These verse spark hope in the midst of darkness. It is in those times we learn that great indeed is God’s faithfulness.

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We have lived long enough to know that Jesus was telling the truth when He said in the Sermon on the Mount, “Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Every day brings its challenges, and some of them are so overwhelming that we don’t really know how to move forward. Here is good news: God’s mercies, God’s compassion, God’s faithfulness is new every morning. The mercy and the compassion and the faithfulness you need from God is available to you every day.

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Elijah’s departure from this life in a God-sent chariot of fire sweeping him up into heaven is marvelous and miraculous and a model for what the Rapture of the Church will be like one day. Even as far back as the Old Testament, God was already preparing His people for the day that He will call us all home. What a way to go that will be!

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We all know that we will one day leave this life. But when and where and how all remain a mystery. Elijah was given insight into his departure, and he made the most of his last day on earth. How would you spend your final day if you knew it was your final day? Hopefully, we would do the things that matter most for eternity.

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Why did God answer Elijah’s wild request? He was about to show all these false prophets, all their followers, and all the world that He and He alone is the One True Living God. Make no mistake, when the Showdown on Mount Carmel is over, God’s Name is Exalted, God’s Prophet is Exonerated, and God’s Enemies are Executed.

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Of all the Old Testament prophets, Elijah may be the most well-known. And of all the miracles Elijah performed, calling down fire from heaven may be the most well-known. But a review of him and his story reveal to us greater insights that we learned as children when we were first told this story. It is a showdown between good and evil, between God and Satan. It is a Showdown on Mount Carmel.