Zacchaeus ♡♡♡

 

"Zacchaeus hurried and came down. He was happy to have Jesus in his house. Everyone saw this. They began to complain, "Look at the kind of man Jesus is staying with. Zacchaeus is a sinner!" - Luke 19:6-7

Bruuuuuh! - let me tell you the kind of injustice that happens in a part of the world where I come from. You could be on a queue at the bank for example. Never minding that you are the 32nd person in the line. You know, you are waiting patiently for it to get to your turn, so that you can be on your merry way. Only for you to turn around & see "rich man who that?" walk past the queue. He get's sorted first, before all of the patiently waiting customers in line. Your jaw drops in amazement, at his audacity. Acting like he can't see the rest of us on the queue [err, uncle is everything ok? lol]. 

People can rant all they want, but really "money stops nonsense" in that part of the world. I've been guilty of cutting corners too, because sometimes it just seems like the only way to survive [but I can do better] sigh!. Allow me introduce you to someone who regardless of who he was, his "money could not even stop nonsense".  Climbing a sycamore tree did. A symbol of his courage and humility. And though this 'somebody" may have appeared cancelled before everyone else, not at all before Jesus, the precious son of God. 

          Are you ready for the reveal? *drumroll*......du du du du du du du duff....Zacchaeus everyone!

"Jesus was going through the city of Jericho. In Jericho there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a wealthy, very important tax collector. He wanted to see who Jesus was. There were many others who wanted to see Jesus too. Zacchaeus was too short to see above the people. So he ran to a place where he knew Jesus would come. Then he climbed a sycamore tree so he could see him" - Luke 19:4

Zacchaeus was a wealthy man and a very important tax collector for that matter. This would mean that he was very well known and respected by a lot of people right? Unfortunately for Zach though, no one in that moment, pressing to see Jesus was thinking "Oh rich man who that? come through". And I think it is because, a lot of people would have thought - "this guy?" with "Jesus?" - not even a chance mate. Infact you'd later find out that, although he was wealthy & very important, he was also known to be a sinner. No matter how "admirable" we appear before men, the truth will always be the truth. He has a successful career but he is a womanizer. She is very beautiful but she lies a lot. He is very well spoken and well put together, but he is abusive. Like the rest of us, Zacchaeus had his own limitations too. And they weren't only spiritual, but also physical. We are told that he was too short and so he couldn't see above everyone else [Luke 19:4b]- Give up what?! Not Zacchaeus - Be like Zach

".....he ran to a place where he knew Jesus would come" - what a champ! Then he climbed a sycamore tree so he could see him" Luke 19: 4 - Hold up for a sec. Do you know how funny that would have been? This very short "important wealthy man" climbs up a sycamore tree to see the one person that mattered the most. Zacchaeus was unbothered. He put aside all of his ego, because he desperately had to see Jesus the identity changer. Friends, even the rich also cry. I know a lot people would have tried to use their prominence & power to get right in front of Jesus, but Zacchaeus knew it was a road he had to travel all by himself.  There was no shame in admitting his limitations & that he required help with getting where he needed to be. Zacchaeus climbed a sycamore tree. He humbled out. He knew that this man Jesus is not ouchea valuing things the world values! - truly the beginning of wisdom lol

"When Jesus came to where Zacchaeus was, he looked up and saw him in the tree. Jesus said, 'Zacchaeus , hurry! Come down! I must stay at your house today." Zacchaeus hurried and came down. He was happy to have Jesus in his house. Everyone saw this. They began to complain, "Look at the kind of man Jesus is staying with. Zacchaeus is a sinner! Zacchaeus said to the Lord, "I want to do good. I will give half of my money to the poor. If I have cheated anyone, I will pay them back four more times." Jesus said, "Today is the day for this family to be saved from sin. Yes, even this tax collector is one of God's chosen people. The son of Man came to find lost people and save them" - Luke 19:5-10

Allow me be dramatic for a sec. This is emotional stuff right here *sniff sniff* lol. We learn from this story that you can be "one thing" before many people but still be unworthy of some other things before the very same people. For example by worldly standards, one could be told- " ...please feel free in the boardroom to chat away, but when we are talking church matters, stay silent" - Notice that Zacchaeus does not respond to the "cancel crowd" and he also doesn't deny that he is a sinner either. He goes on to tell Jesus, his desire to want to do good & all the other things he would do to truly show his repentance. Naturally, people would want to see Zach sell half of his money to the poor and do all the other things he promises before they believe his repentance, but Jesus saw so much more through Zach. Jesus saw his heart, his desperation, his willingness and his humility. Jesus responds immediately;

"Today is the day for this family to be saved from sin. Yes even this tax collector is one of God's chosen people....." WOW!

 What are your limitations? What are your excuses? Be like Zacchaeus, climb a sycamore tree today!

Love,

SR