Climbing To See Jesus
Theologian John Killinger has written that Zaccheus is just about the only person in the New Testament who is singled out for comment on the basis of his physical appearance. Maybe that’s part of the appeal of this story, because so many of us are not happy with our physical appearance. How else could you explain the immense popularity of pampering dens, health spas, health clubs, and weight control centers if there were not literally millions of us who want a body other than the one we currently occupy? Elizabeth Taylor, who was long considered one of the most beautiful women in the world, once told an interviewer that she had spent most of her life wanting to look like someone else! Actor Don Knotts (Deputy Barney Fife on the Andy Griffith show) said that he wanted a "body transplant." Plastic surgeons make millions of dollars a year and health clubs continue to advertise, "You can be a whole new you in just a matter of months!" The manufacturers of exercise equipment tell us, "This could be YOUR body!" Yeah, right, Jake!
We live in a society that preaches that the one solution to all the problems each of us face is better self-esteem, a more positive regard for our personal selves. You can be a whole new person, and all you have to do is buy this home workout system, or that diet plan, or doing more jogging – all this in search of a more positive image. You can cure almost anything that ails you by improving your self-image.
In a way, I suppose the story of Zaccheus is also about self-image, self-esteem, but not through the conventional, modern, thoroughly American way. Zaccheus is lifted up, named, valued, not on the basis of whom or what he is, or even who he thinks he is, but on the basis of who Jesus is.
Let’s look at the story. Just before Jesus enters Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, he passes through Jericho. There he has an encounter with a man named Zaccheus, who is a chief tax collector and rich. (I know how some of you pronounce his name)
In spite of his wealth, Zaccheus has two big problems. First he had no friends. Everybody hated him, and he knew it!! It probably hurt him when people called him a thief for taking their hard-earned money in taxes and a traitor because he worked for the Roman government. No doubt, Zaccheus saw the way people acted when he walked down the street or entered a room. Everyone in Jericho hated Zaccheus.
His other problem was that he was considerably shorter than most of the other folks in town. He didn’t measure up; he didn’t seem to fit in. I feel a certain kinship with Zaccheus. Maybe it’s because I see a little bit of myself in Zaccheus. And maybe you see a little bit of yourself in Zaccheus, too. I too have had moments where I didn’t feel secure about me, I’ve felt like I didn’t fit in, I wonder if there is anybody in here who can identify with Zaccheus!!
The day that Jesus came to town, Luke tells us there was a huge crowd gathered to greet him. It kinda brings to mind instances where you go to a parade and find It hard to see any of the action over the heads of others because you’re too short or too far back. Since Zaccheus was short and couldn’t see over the heads of the people, and since he knew that the people were not about to let him get in front of them so he could see, Zaccheus ran ahead to climb a sycamore tree to get a better view of the parade.
Look, don’t allow anyone or anything to hinder you from seeing Jesus. Don’t allow your troubles to keep you from making contact with the master. Don’t be easily defeated by your problems. Look for higher ground. And if you just can’t find higher ground then start climbing above your situation. I don’t want to get ahead of myself…
Did you ever wonder why seeing Jesus was so important to Zaccheus, why Zaccheus would go to all that trouble just to catch a glimpse of Jesus as he passed by? Was he just curious? Or did he have some secret longings that he hoped Jesus would fulfill? Did he wonder, "Can Jesus really do the things I’ve heard about? Can he open the eyes of the blind and make the lame walk, and the deaf hear? Is he really as good a preacher as everybody says?" Could there have been some other reasons why Zaccheus was up a tree, other than the fact that he was short?
Well, lets answer those questions with a question!!
Have you ever been up a tree? You know what I mean. Has there ever been a time in your life when you just didn’t know which way to go? Has there ever been a time when you felt abandoned, even by your family and friends? Has there ever been a time when you were positive that nobody loved you? Has there ever been a time in your life when the problems you were experiencing (marital problems, substance abuse, financial difficulties) made you feel like a total failure, made you feel that you were totally inadequate and you couldn’t cope with life even one more day?
If you can answer "yes" to any of these questions – and I imagine every one of us has experienced at least one of those feelings – then you know what it’s like to be up a tree.
The world is filled with people who are up a tree!! We could easily make a litany of things that turn us into tree climbers: the loss of a loved one; the breakup of a special relationship; unemployment; illness; addiction; physical, emotional, or mental abuse. The list goes on and on and on and on. There are many people up a tree today, just as Zaccheus was on the day Jesus came to town. I’ve found out it’s alright to be up a tree, because that shows that you are attempting to climb to a different level out of your situation. However the problem is when we choose to stay stuck in the midst of our troubles and won’t LET GO OF THEM!!!!
But those who are tree climbers are attempting to get away from their source of misery and get to the safety of the Master!! I wonder if there are any tree climbers in here today!!!
Zaccheus wanted to see who Jesus was. Is there anybody here in the room that wants to see Jesus?
When Jesus came along, he looked up in the sycamore tree and saw Zaccheus perched on a branch. Now we don’t know how Jesus knew Zaccheus’ name, but Luke didn’t say, that Jesus said, "Hey, you, little fellow – come on down from there." Jesus called Zaccheus by name and said, "Come down right now and let’s go to your house.
Why is Jesus attracted to Zaccheus?
At the very beginning of the story, right up front, Luke tells us that Zaccheus is not only the chief tax collector, the godfather of the local IRS mafia, but he is also rich. And we know that Luke doesn’t have too many nice things to say about rich folks. They are the ones, according to Luke, who are sent away empty, the ones less likely to enter into the kingdom of heaven than a camel is likely to squeeze through the eye of a needle.
But Luke tells us that for some reason, Jesus is taken with Zaccheus. Look at the way Jesus plays with Zaccheus. I can almost see the smile on Jesus’ face as he stands under that sycamore tree, looking up through the leaves, maybe calling Zaccheus’ name out playfully. "Zaccheus! Oh, Zaccheus! I know you’re up there! I see you, you little rascal you!" Even the "hurry up and come down" sounds playful, doesn’t it? Especially since Jesus is inviting himself to lunch! Those of you right now who are up a tree, I stopped by to let you know that you are not alone. Jesus knows who you are! He knows where you are in life. He knows your problems. He feels your pain. He is attracted to you. He wants to bring you out. He wants to save you. Where you are right now, might just be your place of providence. See, had not Zaccheus been in the tree he would never had met the master.
What are you saying preacher? I’m so glad you asked me that, sometimes your breakthrough depends on where you are in life! Some of our tree experiences are the door to our very deliverance!!! Many of us don’t see Jesus until we have started climbing some trees!!!
Zaccheus came down from the tree, took Jesus home with him, and then confessed his sins to Jesus. He didn’t hold anything back; he told it all. And then he makes a promise to Jesus, purely voluntary, with no prompting from anyone. Jesus wants to go home with you. He is not worried about you past.
Jesus says. "Today, salvation has come to this house"
Jesus came to eat with and drink with, to seek and to save, the lost. If you’re not lost, or you don’t THINK you’re lost, you don’t
Have you heard the news? Jesus is coming. Salvation can come today, to your house and to mine. But not through any other means than the grace of God. So would somebody please tell me: Where can I find the nearest sycamore tree? I think I need to practice my climbing.