What I see in Zacchaeus, was an individual that was empty, alone and disconnected in the midst of his important and busy life. He was a man who needed to find his identity or at least re-discover it. A person who seemed, among some groups, he had it altogether but yet wondered where the road he was on would eventually lead to. While he did not know where he was heading, he was well aware of where he was. He knew he was standing in the consequences as an outcast from the “fold” because of his compromises which he made. Those who should have been the ones to reach out to him by offering their assistance in restoring him back into the “fold” were the ones who abandon him.
All around us, there are lonely and out-cast people. While at most of the time, this status is a result of their doing which drove them away from their “home” alliances. However, the opportunity or invite to return has seldom been extended to them from the home community. These “Zacchaeus's” are just as removed from restoration, as what the Zacchaeus of the Bible was. They proceed through the continual movement of the motions of life and duty, but yet are empty, lonely and lost. Deeply desiring to be re-connected, but yet shoved behind the crowd, prevented from escaping the dungeon of loneliness and abandonment.
Who around us, around me, have we over looked that are looking toward us for redemptive acceptance presented through us by the grace of God? Who is those or that one person, who feels as if they are of little stature, because we have forced them behind the crowds to where they can not see beyond? Who is the Zacchaeus around you? Around me?
We have to read between the lines and intelligently speculate to fill in some blanks about Zacchaeus’ search for acceptance both from among the home alliances and from Jesus. We have to assume that he had heard of the mighty stories (and at this time they were only stories to him) of what had taken place in people’s lives as they made contact with Jesus. Not only had he heard of these accounts, he may have personally witnessed such events as they took place while in the midst of his personal search for resolve of his disconnection. What about the mighty impact that was made in their lives as Jesus and the others connected? Rather it was a physical correction, an emotionally reformation or a spiritual transformation Zacchaeus could not deny that something beyond the explainable natural took place.
The emptiness that resulted in the unanswered questions that haunted him drove Zacchaeus into a consuming quest to find the answers. The opportunity now was within his grasp to personally reach out to the possible solution. He heard that Jesus was passing down his pathway of life. Jesus was in town. But how, given his handed out and his acceptance of his stature and status, was he even hoping to even make contact let alone to be impacted by Jesus? He knew, or at least presumed to know, that he was not going to receive any real assistance from those who had any authority, even in the littlest amount, to open the path to meet this Jesus. Those who moved within his circle were only mocking his longing to return to his home land. How then would he proceed from there? What were, in true reality, his chances to make contact with this Jesus, let alone to be impacted by or be connected with him? Would this day conclude just as so many of the past have? No connection, no transformation of his status, no returning to home. But he was not content to live one more day without at least making a personal contact with this Teacher, this Jesus, this one who has been proclaimed as the Messiah. But how? How could this take place?
As these questions haunted his quest, he threw his hands up in despair. If only I could see over the obstacles. If only I could get beyond the press of people. If only … if only. And then, as if he was kicked by the merchant’s, who stood next to him, camel, it hit him. There it was … the answer. The way above and over the fence of people in front of him. There was the sycamore tree. It was not a pretty tree as trees go, but it was a beautiful ladder. It was his pathway to raise him above so to make contact with Jesus as he passed his way. So up he went and there he sat. Just high enough to get him above the crown, but yet low enough to still make contact with Jesus.
Then it happen … Jesus stopped just in front of him. Before Zacchaeus could even draw enough breath to speak out, Jesus looked up at him and called out his name. Jesus told him, yes him … Zacchaeus the tax collector, the compromiser, the alien for the home land that he wanted to have lunch with him at his house. He never felt larger and taller in his life. Just the thought that Jesus had stopped and spoke his name brought a security that had evaded him for many years. Yes his name … not just a generic salutation … but his personal name. And it was done in compassion, not in mockery as he had grown accustomed to.
There it is … Zacchaeus saw Jesus, because of the Sycamore tree. Not only did he see Jesus, but he made contact, which opened the door to be impacted by Jesus and then to be connected to the
Remember, there are Zacchaeus’ all around us. Remember, Jesus is in town and he is passing this way. Are you available to be an old ugly Sycamore tree? It was not the Cedars of Lebanon or the mighty Oaks that did the lifting up. It was a twisted limb, shaggy bark Sycamore tree.
Please Lord, make me a Sycamore tree! Please make my church a Sycamore tree!
