A Wee Little Man Was He

Ever read an account in the Bible and for days and days after, one or two lines sort of stayed locked in your head.  They hang there trying desperately to tie into another story or example of life.   Then what sticks and how it sticks doesn’t seem to be what was conveyed in the account.  Had that happen to you?

I have.

I can’t shake those thoughts right now so it looks like I’ll get to share these with you!  Excited?  You should be.

The Account

The text I was reading was Luke 19:1-10 (NIV)

¹Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. ²A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. ³He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. ⁴So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.

The thoughts I’ve had about this really go no further than verse 4.  There is so much more to this account and I only have the first few verses stick in my head.  I consider it just part of the fun I’m having listening to God when I read his words.

Zacchaeus

First let me list some of the characteristics of Zacchaeus that I get from those verses:

• Tax Collector by profession which means that to the world he was a sinner (vs7)!  A rich sinner at that apparently.
• He had heard of Jesus before
• He was a short dude
• I think he was excited about Jesus’ visit

Zacchaeus really really wanted to see Jesus.  Who was this man that he had heard so many good things about? Was it good things?  I think it was otherwise I don’t think he would have put forth so much effort just to get a glimpse of Jesus as he passed by.  Was he wanting more of a glimpse?

He knew the way Jesus was going.  I wonder if they had the streets blocked off?  Did they have the intersections closed down?  Was there a caravan of unmarked black camels and donkeys with riders, that ran ahead of Jesus to clear the way and make sure it was safe?  No, I don’t think so. But the crowd must have been huge.

Poor Zac.  I feel sorry for him.  He couldn’t see Jesus.  Not from where he was.  I picture him running behind the crowd of people.  Peering between shoulders, jumping up and down, straining his neck just to get a glimpse of Jesus.  But he couldn’t.  I like the reason that is given why he can’t see.

If you read verse 3, it was because of the crowd.  That is what is sticking in my mind anyway.  The reason he couldn’t see Jesus was not because of his stature but because of the crowd.  Now, I know his height has a lot to do with it so we don’t have to go there.

Then Zacchaeus did what he had to do.  He wanted to see Jesus bad enough that he ran ahead, climbed a tree, and waited for Him to pass by.  Can you see him up there in that tree waiting?  Do you think he was excited? 

I keep saying excited because of verse 8.  The tones that I put behind Zac’s words have a touch of excitement and relief to them.  Finally someone that he’s heard about that can take this “sin” away from him.

Us, others, and zac

After I read the account I wondered how many Zacchaeus’ are out there today running around behind us, the Christian crowd, wanting to see Jesus?  We’ve gotten them excited by spreading the news.  They know Jesus is coming back for a visit.  They know we worship with Him very often.  I hope we are telling of the wonderful things Jesus has done for us.  But do we ever get out of the way and let them have easy access to Jesus?

Maybe we don’t need to get out of the way.  Maybe we should make Zac climb a tree, work hard, to be able to get to Jesus.  I mean after all what did WE have to go through to get to Jesus?

I bet Zac wouldn’t even climb the tree today.  After some of the examples that I’ve been and some of the stuff that I’ve seen going on in the Christian crowd, I’m not so sure Zac would think it’s worth the risk of a splinter. 

I hope I’m wrong.

Because of HIM

SC