Luke 19:5-6> When Jesus reached the spot, He looked up and said to him,"Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today." So he came down at once and welcomed Him gladly.
Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector and very wealthy. He was in charge of a district and had other tax collectors under him. He wasn't liked very much at all, nor was he thought of very highly. I can't help but imagine that he was a bit haughty with his wealth to make up for his size. Zacchaeus was a rich man but he was also a short man. (I wonder if that bugged him at all?)
Jesus was passing through Jericho and Zacchaeus heard about it. There were so many people there that Zacchaeus couldn't see over the crowd. After all, he was a short man. I'm guessing that his curiosity was getting to him and he just had to get a peek of who Jesus was. At that moment, all of his wealth could not buy him a front row seat! He was going to have to fend for himself; figure it out! Nudging through the crowd didn't seem to make a difference at all. I would imagine that at this point he's a little aggravated. He's feeling a little desperate by now. He then gets the idea that he was going to have to get above the crowd.
He ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree. Jesus was coming that way and he would surely get to see Him! Zaccheus wasn't thinking about how he was going to look running and then sitting up in a tree. He just wanted to be able to see Jesus. He just had to see Jesus!! Ever felt that desperate? Yep, me, too. A panic attack would just about set in! And then...a sigh of relief...an extra beat of the heart...and a stirring from deep within. There He is! It's Jesus!! The crowd is still following but this time Zacchaeus can see him! He can really see Him good! His hair, His skin, His eyes...He's here...He's finally here.
Zacchaeus' eyes are fixed on Jesus. His every move. Now He's standing right below him. Zacchaeus catches his breath as Jesus looks up at him. This is probably the first time ever in his life that someone looks up at him! And of all people it's the Saviour of the world! Oh how special Zacchaeus must've felt. At that moment I'm sure he must have felt ten feet tall! (Jesus has that unique way of making anyone feel special. No matter what their background may be.)
And then Jesus does the most wonderful thing! Right there in front of everyone!! He invites Himself over to Zacchaeus' home. Don't you know he had the biggest grin on his face? Don't you think he probably held on to the tree just a little tighter so he wouldn't fall out of it as he realized what Jesus said? "Who, me? My house? You want to come to my house? Heck yea!! Come on!!" Zacchaeus hops on out of the tree and welcomes Jesus gladly!
The crowd that was there was filled with different kinds of people. People who would've been a much better choice for Jesus to go home with. Jesus had always made it clear that He was here to do His Father's will. He was on a mission and that very day Zacchaeus was part of His mission! The least obvious choice............
In awe of Him,
Vonda
***Heavenly Father, oh how I praise You for the least obvious choice. Thank You Lord that Your heart is filled with such compassion and love for the one's that the world looks at in such a different way. It is through Your eyes that we feel special and dearly loved. Lord, I thank You that You want to come home with us and spend time with us. Even in a crowd of better choices, Lord, I thank You for choosing the least obvious choice. It is in the precious Name of Jesus that I pray ~ Amen
