A lady who had sought treatment at one spa after another – she had a
paralyzing spinal infection – came to Möttlingen in the summer of 1846 and
took lodging in a farmhouse near the rectory. Every Sunday she had someone
carry her to the churchyard so she could listen to Blumhardt’s sermon. On the
second or third Sunday she was there, he gave a sermon on Zacchaeus, and he
spoke of two stages of conversion:
First, there is the awakening: Zacchaeus wants to reach Jesus at any cost and will not let anything turn him aside. He climbs a tree, disregarding all ridicule. There he discovers that Jesus is in fact looking for him. Zacchaeus is overwhelmed by the kindness and love shown when Jesus, opening himself to the grumbling of his own followers, forgives and accepts Zacchaeus. Many people get that far. Second, there is the conversion: Most who reach the first stage think they have reached the goal. If they were in Zacchaeus’ place, they would snub the mutterers and gloat over the attention they had received. But to acknowledge the validity of the reproaches, to change, and to make
restitution – that they do not consider necessary. Having been pardoned, they become puffed-up instead of humble. Zacchaeus, on the other hand, admits that the grumblers are justified, and promises to pay back everyone he has cheated, thus proving that Jesus was right to pardon him. Only then does Jesus say of him, “Today salvation has come to this house.”
The sick lady thought Blumhardt had preached the sermon especially for her, and remained in the churchyard to listen to the services that followed. After dinner the next day she begged him to visit her, and poured out her heart to him, without mentioning her illness at all. At five o’clock in the afternoon, Blumhardt was just setting out for a stroll with the rectory guests when the lady’s attendant hurried up to him in tears and said, “I don’t mean to take you by surprise, sir, but my mistress is walking!” They all set out at once for the lady’s lodging, and sure enough, there she was, walking out to meet them at the top of the stairs. Everyone gathered in her room and knelt down to thank God.
Excerpt from “The Awakening” by Friedrich Zuendel.
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