Luke 19:1-10 - A Good Reason to Climb a Tree

Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.

 

Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich.

 

And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature.

 

So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way.

 

And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.”

 

So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully.

 

But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, “He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner.”

 

Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.”

 

And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham;

 

for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.

Trees, Zachaeus style!
photo by Flickr user, tempoincerchio, used under the creative commons license
check out more photos at:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/15183048@N07/

Zacchaeus just wanted a glimpse of Jesus.   Like everyone else in the crowd, he knew that Jesus was someone special and was sent from God. So, he climbs a tree so he can see Jesus. Otherwise, being too short, he'd miss Him.  As Jesus processes into town, He notices Zacchaeus in the tree and calls him down by name.  Jesus invites Himself over his house and that day, salvation came to Zacchaeus.

I am in a crowd of people and Jesus seeks me out.  He calls me by name. Will I invite Him to my house today?  Will I receive Jesus as Zacchaeus did and respond to His call? Zacchaeus felt moved to give away half his goods in response to Jesus' visitation. What am I moved to do when Jesus visits me?  

Oh, the Mercy and Grace of God! Yes, He singles me out in the crowd and wants to visit salvation upon me. Yet, He being God, wants to do that for all! May I, this day, respond to His call so that salvation can come to my house and I, too, would be a son of Abraham. Amen.