Little Guy . . . Big Tree. . . The Story of Zacchaeus
One of the obviously truthful insights of science is the proven fact that on average the people of a given generation are taller than those in the generations past.All one has to do to see this is to look at the past to see proof.One of the places where I’ve seen this affirmed is at Ann Hathaway’s Cottage in England.The doors inside the house are remarkably short, even a modern person of a moderate height would have to stoop to enter.According to those in the know the inhabitants of centuries back, ones such as Anne Hathaway and William Shakespeare, fit vertically through the doors of the house with room to spare.Not so to most people of the twenty – first century.
As another example we read out of Texas history of Sam Houston who is said to have been six foot six, but in reality Houston was probably more like six foot four.Either way he was noticeably above the crowd in WashingtonD.C. during his time as our United States Senator.Today even at a glance in the average crowd there are several people over six feet tall and even a number six four and above.We think nothing about these folks being extraordinarily tall in our times.
And we have great religious leaders of times past who were bigger in character than in stature.John Wesley’s pastoral robe is on display at Wesley Chapel in London.It is quite small.Wesley was probably no more than five feet tall, if that.He was very slender and history says he had a high squeaky voice.Even though he was not a physical giant in the world at the time, he was huge in the ways in which he shared the Gospel message.In this John Wesley stood quite tall, as did his brother Charles.
Generations are getting taller, both male and female.So we can also state that short is also getting a little less short in our times.Back in the days of Jesus, let’s say, when one was called diminutive, vertically challenged or just plain short, such a person really was, especially compared to our standards, short. There is a great little song about the protagonist of today’s scripture verse, Zacchaeus.I don’t recall much of the song, except this great line: “Zacchaeus was a wee little man, and a wee little man was he.”Zacchaeus was a very “wee” man which was only a small part of his challenge as we find the story in Luke 19.
Zacchaeus was also a tax collector.We have to be careful here because there was a different reputation and responsibility in those days compared to people today who are attached to our IRS.Even though tax people are kidded about, we all know deep down that most are public servants, paid to do a difficult job.But in the time of Zacchaeus the tax collector was one who bid on his position.The winner was the highest bidder.The Roman government would issue calls for applicants.Each would present how he would raise the required funds.Whatever he could collect over and above what the government wanted he could keep.Therefore there was much room for unethical and unfair practices to occur.
And there is one more issue.Zacchaeus was a Jew who chose to work for the Romans.He was looked upon as a turncoat and a traitor, at the least as unclean because he made contact with things considered unclean such as people who were not of the faith, and unconsecrated money.
So on the day when Jesus and his followers paraded through town, I picture it like the Verizon customer traveling everywhere with his network, Zacchaeus was in the crowd.He was unable to see because of the nature of his stature and because his Hebrew neighbors probably took the freedom of the moment to step on him, push him around, as well as hit with purpose and anonymously and basically obstruct his view and inflict a little pain at the same time.
But Zacchaeus was relentless.He knew Jesus had something for him so he took a creative approach.He, Zacchaeus, was a little guy; a wee little man was he.What Zacchaeus needed was a way to even the odds.A big tree was in order.I don’t know what the significant is but the big tree of choice was a Sycamore tree.It was big enough because, as the song reminds us, “For the Lord he wanted to see.”From that lofty perspective he did see the Lord and even better, the Lord saw him.
We have just a little of the dialogue, yet it is enough to grasp the issue.Jesus saw Zacchaeus.Jesus sensed Zacchaeus’ desire to see and to be seen.Jesus must have known Zacchaeus heart and his need for what wealth and the best of society couldn’t provide.So Jesus made Zacchaeus an offer.He said; “Zacchaeus, come down,” we’re back to the song incidentally, “For I’m coming to your house today, yes I’m coming to your house today.”Gosh at the moment old Zacchaeus must have felt five feet tall, maybe even six or seven. All these people were on the road, some of whom were politically or religiously powerful, and Jesus chose, even demanded, that the home of Zacchaeus would be his place for rest, a little refreshment, the hospitality of the day, and for a few moments to be with one whose heart and whose life were in need of some good news, in need of the forgiveness of the Gospel.Jesus came to the home of Zacchaeus to receive the hospitality expected of the day, but also to offer to the host something the host sought desperately and wasn’t able to find anywhere else.
Something must have happened prior to Zacchaeus’ response, or maybe not.The fact that Jesus chose to eat and drink with the ones the holy judgmental people had written off, spoke volumes.Zacchaeus knew acceptance as never before.He wasn’t pushed around, tossed out, but was welcomed in.He certainly examined his own life and knew that he had to change.
Zacchaeus must have been like the Grinch at Christmas, his heart grew and so did the feeling of freedom from sin.Jesus brought forgiveness and nobody, not even the most powerful people in government, nor in the temple, nor synagogue, could keep away from Zacchaeus the gifts Jesus brought.
At this point in the story an interesting thing happens.Zacchaeus pledged himself to be better and I trust God gave him the power to change his life.He was still short, but he was tall in his awareness of being forgiven.He wanted to make it all right.He’d return all he had taken illegally, and would return fourfold everything stolen from those he had defrauded.Maybe he kept his job as a tax collector, maybe not.It doesn’t matter.What does matter is that starting that very moment he was one who was clean, forgiven, and given the chance to see himself both old and new.
You see Zacchaeus used every tool at his disposal to be where he needed to be in life.The truth of the matter actually is that when we offer ourselves, our needs, our prayers, our want for forgiveness and new life, our hope for peace of heart, mind and soul, we don’t have to climb a tree, not even a Sycamore, nor do we need to stand on our tippy-toes, or hop up and down, because God has placed in our very lives his Holy Spirit, one who talks to us, who encourages us, who directs us and helps us choose what are the ethical things of life in order to give us forgiveness and always the chance to wipe the slate clean and to move on with sin forgiven and hope restored.
Zacchaeus wasn’t at all the first and by no means the last one to figure it all out.Salvation and ethnics must work together.A person who is saved is challenged to be a person who is honest, one who keeps his or her life free of things that demoralize or destroy confidence.Zacchaeus knew this and at the least he remembered how God directed his people of generations before. The direction he was focusing upon during his discussion with Jesus was probably no more and no less than what we call the Ten Commandments.In the case of Zacchaeus these strengthened his salvation experience and helped change his life.
There was a time long ago I had a friend in my life that was sort of like Zacchaeus.No he wasn’t unusually diminutive, nor was he rich.As a matter of fact I’d call him honestly average in size and poor in the pocket.His problem was an abnormality which caused him to be disagreeable and one who enjoyed messing with people in nonproductive ways.When someone had a new idea he was always against it.When a suggestion was made, he’d not even listen.He was always asking unnecessary questions and maintained one of those “in your face” attitudes.
The worse event I can remember was when he moved for a short time to a medium sized East Texas town; let’s say Nacogdoches, even though it wasn’t.Actually I chose Nacogdoches because I like typing Nacogdoches.Anyway the town he went to for a few months of work did have a small mall and a CiCi’s Pizza.What else does anyone need?
My friend, and he was my friend despite his abnormalities, spent only a few short weeks in Nacogdoches, even though it wasn’t Nacogdoches.(This is fun)He found the place not to his liking and after a few weeks created an original T-Shirt which he wore out in public which said: “Nacogdoches is for losers.”Incidentally I am not implying that Nacogdoches was or has even been a place for losers.My experience with Nacogdoches is that of a very fine town, but I digress.I’m actually surprised that my friend wasn’t roughed up by some of the friendly folks of the town which he placed so negatively on his T-shirt.
One of the reasons I stayed his friend was because he honestly needed a friend.Something in his life was missing.Something was wrong with his life which caused him to “act up,” as we can say for all folks who go out of their way to make life difficult for themselves and for others.
I honestly don’t know how his story turned out.We lost contact some time back.I pray I did what I could to show an alternative route.Truth is sometimes we all need somebody to lead the way at one time or another and fortunately usually not for long.
I pray that during these times when we all struggle with who we are as individuals as well as a church, we’ll add a lot of prayer to help us determine what and whose we are as well.And as you come to communion table today don’t just take a sip from a wee cup, and a bite from a minute piece of bread, and get up and go.But wait a few moments.Listen for the word of the Lord, the word spoken and direction given by the Holy Spirit of God.Know that wherever you are, tree or no tree, that God sees you and God loves you with a love that never quits.Ask for God’s forgiveness.Pray for the power to persevere and to move ahead in your own personal life as well as in our church family life together.The precedent is before us today. We need what Zacchaeus received.Here is his story;
“He,” that is Jesus, “entered Jericho and was passing through it.A man was there named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was rich.He was trying to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was short of stature.So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see Jesus, because he was going to pass that way.When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today.’So Zacchaeus hurried down and was happy to welcome him.”The rest is history, even our history.
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