Up a Tree

I was thinking about Zacchaeus and how desperate he was to see Jesus. He was short, not welcomed by the people of Jericho due to his job, and there was no way he could push his way to the front of the crowd, so he climbed a tree.

Can you imagine climbing a Sycamore tree? We had 1 in the front yard of my parents' first home. It was tall and a great tree to climb, but I cannot imagine climbing it as an adult for a host of reasons (especially gravity). However Zacchaeus scrambled right up the tree to see Jesus.

Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham.

Zacchaeus' life was changed instantly when Jesus spoke to him. He offered 1/2 his possessions to the poor. He said he would make restitution 4 times what he collected; if he had cheated anyone. And he had a house guest - The Messiah Jesus Christ. Salvation had come to his house.

I pray Jesus continues to transform me and though I may balk, I'd be willing to climb a tree for Him.