What if we have gotten the story of Zacchaeus wrong? The chipper Sunday School song about a wee little man may be well known, but I think it caused us all to miss the point of this particular story. The simple telling involves a particularly short man who climbed a tree to see Jesus and ended up hosting Jesus for dinner. But here is the trouble…everything I know about Jesus tells me that He doesn’t care about anyone’s height, or looks, at all. This is the first clue that we missed something.
Turns out upon closer reading, the story of Zacchaeus is a cautionary tale for the crowd. Listen to these words from Luke:
He was trying to see who Jesus was, but he was not able because of the crowd
Well doesn’t that stop you in your tracks. The crowd was blocking the way. Literally.
And the short part? Well, the same word is used throughout scripture to describe one’s stature. And even more specifically, becoming great or growing up. One might even say stature indicates wisdom.
What if Zacchaeus wasn’t lacking height, but wisdom, the kind of wisdom that comes from God. And there he is, seeking Him, but the way was blocked by those angling for proximity to the power of Jesus.
I love the desire in Zacchaeus to know Jesus. It is so good to consider this. But also, we must consider the crowd. I fear we are often found in the ranks of those clamoring for proximity and power far more than we are found trying to see who Jesus is.
For more on this topic be sure to check out Make Room Workshop Day One: The Crowd. You will find a short video teaching, scripture and reflection and discussion questions. Such workshops are usually part of the paid subscription but this one is available for all because I just love the lesson here so much.
May we welcome scripture anew as we read. May we see things with fresh eyes and tender hearts. May we continually be yearning for Jesus and learning who He is.
You can read my latest book Life Surrendered: Finding Freedom at the Cross Available wherever books are sold: Amazon | Leafwood