HEAVENSREEF

If you know the story of Zacchaeus, you know that he climbed up a tree to get a better look at JESUS.  I can relate to him.  In LUKE 19 it says he was “small in stature”, so I assume he was “short” like me.  When you are short and there is a crowd before you, it is impossible to see anything.

Now Zacchaeus knowing that JESUS was coming and seeing the big crowd before him, went and did this……

LUKE 19: 4 “…….SO HE RAN ON AHEAD AND CLIMBED UP INTO A SYCAMORE TREE TO SEE HIM…..”

That would be me!  I have often had to move around a large group to “see” better.  Taller people always cut my view, so I have learned to do this over the years.

Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector and therefore, looked down upon by society, so it is striking that out of the whole crowd gathered that JESUS said this:

LUKE 19: 5 “ZACCHAEUS, HURRY AND COME DOWN, FOR I MUST STAY AT YOUR HOUSE TODAY.”

Put your name right now in the place of Zacchaeus’ name and reread the above scripture to yourself.  Amazing yes?

Like Zacchaeus, we are sinners too, some of us are rejected and some of us are looked down upon.  But JESUS has a different message for the maligned and rejected……HE wants to come into our hearts and make HIS home there.

It’s a given that those whose hearts have been broken and those who have been overlooked want to be “seen” the most!  Their hearts need to be profoundly loved and understood.

From what I read about Zacchaeus, he probably already came to faith.  But he didn’t want a religion, he wanted a relationship and he climbed a tree to “see” the ONE he had heard about.  Read this…..

LUKE 19:6  “SO HE HURRIED AND CAME DOWN AND RECEIVED HIM JOYFULLY.”

Oh, the joy when one receives the love of JESUS!  Isn’t it a joyous thing to be chosen out of a crowd?  To be singled out when we least expect it?  And even more joyous to be chosen by the KING of KINGS! When the crowd observed this happening, they “grumbled” saying that JESUS was going to the house of a sinner.  But we know that is where JESUS always is……with us, with sinners.  And when we invite HIM to see us as we are……… HE shows us the way and forgives us.

JESUS CAME……to see us and to be with us.  HE wouldn’t have it any other way.  JESUS met Zacchaeus right where he was and HE will meet us right where we are too. 

When Zacchaeus climbed down from the tree, JESUS said this next:

LUKE 19: 9  “TODAY SALVATION HAS COME TO THIS HOUSE…..”

Zacchaeus received JESUS joyfully and salvation had come!  JESUS came for the sinners, and died for the sinners.  HE alone is the GOOD NEWS.  HE alone sees us, and understands us.  HE alone sees when no one else does, and HE still loves us!  What a comfort this is.  HE knows us down to the last hair on our heads, and HE still loves us.  HE came for the rejected, the maligned, the invisible, the broken and dismissed.  HE came for you and for me.

Like the story of Zacchaeus, JESUS just shows up, chooses us and in the end, leaves us better than HE found us.  Why?  It’s all grace my friends, all grace!  Remember this…..it’s ok to be a Zacchaeus, because the LORD will find you, HE sees you and wants you to climb down from your pillar of sin after HIM.  Let us embrace today that we are chosen by the LORD of the universe……the Savior who sees us in the crowd.

JOHN 1: 16  “INDEED, WE HAVE ALL RECEIVED GRACE UPON GRACE FROM HIS FULLNESS.”