When I was kid, we had a tree in our front yard in Summerton that many of us loved to climb. It was fun after school to run home and climb up in the tree. At the time, it seem like we were really climbing way up high.
But to be honest it has been a long time since I have climbed any trees lately. But today, we are going to read about a man who climbed a tree.
Luke 19:1-10
1 Jesus entered Jericho and made his way through the town. 2 There was a man there named Zacchaeus. He was the chief tax collector in the region, and he had become very rich. 3 He tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree beside the road, for Jesus was going to pass that way. 5 When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” he said. “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.” 6 Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy. 7 But the people were displeased. “He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner,” they grumbled. 8 Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!” 9 Jesus responded, “Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”
Here is what I love about Jesus was his passion to see Jesus. I don’t think climbing trees was something that adults did in his day. But Zaccheaus really wanted to see Jesus and the only way he had a chance at all was to climb a tree.
He didn’t care about his image or his reputation. He just wanted to see Jesus. The end result is Zacchaeus not only saw Jesus but Jesus went to his house for a meal.
There were a lot of people in that crowd that day that wanted Jesus to notice them. But why did Jesus pick Zacchaeus? This is big. Jesus is looking for people who are willing to do anything to see Him. When you are ready to totally surrender to Him then Jesus takes notice.
Let us pray!
Blessings,
Pastor Lee & Gidget Athey