You Can Climb but You Can't Hide!

I was reading the scripture in Luke 19 about Zacchaeus and Jesus. I was struck by what curiosity inspired Zacchaeus to do just to catch a glimpse of Jesus. Understand, he was the Chief Tax Collector, a government workers and top of the tax collectors totem pole - though considered a sinner, reprobate, and general slime-ball among the people. This short man couldn't see over the heads in the crowd. I know that feeling.

It's a sure bet that Zacchaeus had a hard life growing up as a short man. Kids are cruel, people made fun of him, called him names. No doubt, his heart developed an attitude of resentment, it's hurtful to made fun of and criticized all the time. What better revenge than becoming a tax collector that enforced people giving their hard-earned money over. Who's in control now, people? Power became his compensation for a lifetime of humiliation. He became rich skimming money from the very ones that caused him much anguish.

Painfully aware his stature hindered his chances to see this man called Jesus everyone talked about, he made his way to the 'parade route' and climbed a tree. As a short person, I can tell you, it's not easy to climb trees and this man did it in a long robe! He climbed a Sycamore Fig tree. I looked them up; they are certainly not like any fig tree growing in Texas. One of ours wouldn't hold a grown man, short or not. These trees typically grow by a source of water, in this case, the Jordan River. They grow to be majestic trees with their branches spreading high in the air. A perfect place to see the show; a difficult, undignified climb for a short man bent on lording his power over his tormentors. Perhaps he planned to hide among the leaves so he would not be obvious.

The crowd grows noisy as Jesus approaches. Imagine the tingling of spines in excitement, people jockeying for position to see better. They line the rooftops, doorways, and street corners. Rumors of miracles Jesus is said to have performed reached town before He did. Everyone wants a glimpse, to see this man. Then, suddenly, there he is among his followers. He looks ordinary enough. Can it be true, this man performed miracles? He doesn't look how you'd expect a miracle worker to look. Perhaps Zacchaeus felt silly for going to so much trouble and climbing a tree, at least he saw what he came to witness for himself. Then Jesus stops his sojourn down the road and walks through the crowd to the base of the tree Zacchaeus is sitting in. As he looks up, all eyes follow his. Calling Zacchaeus by name, Jesus tells him to come down because he needs to stay at his house for the night. Despised, hated Zacchaeus is now fully exposed, unable to hide. The fair citizens of Jericho are shocked to hear Jesus' request for a meal and a bed with a sinner, cheat, and thief of a tax collector. 

Imagine how Zacchaeus must have felt! The all-knowing eyes of Jesus exposed him to the crowd, yet there was no judgment in them. The two men looked into each other's eyes and Zacchaeus felt the heart probing, the soul searching and the unconditional love he saw looking back at him. Jesus saw all the years of pain caused by the footprints of those stomping on Zacchaeus' self-esteem and spirit. One look into the eyes of Jesus set him free from a lifetime of torment, hate, and self-loathing. One close encounter forever changed his hardened heart. Stripped of his need for retaliation, Zacchaeus felt the restoration of his soul. His home a refuge for the night, his new life a reflection of the man called Jesus, healed, restored, complete and full of love.