Zacchaeus and the Sycamore Tree

Luke 19:1-10

VBS story – we think it is just for kids, this great picture of God’s love and salvation. Remember the little cute song, “Zacchaes was a wee little man, A wee little man he was He. He started to climb a sycamore tree…AND STOPPED!”

Can you imagine if He didn’t climb the tree? Or if there was no tree?

Where I grew up, my parent’s back yard there is an old school playground with all the cool playground equipment, the old swings and huge slides and dangerous tee-ter-totters. But the place that my brothers and I would want to play as children was the big oak tree in the middle of the play yard. We wanted to climb that and explore its branches. To get a better view/perspective than ourselves.

Zacchaeus was looking for Jesus, He was searching for a savior.

Too often we as ministry leaders, try to build the church as if we are Jesus. If we build it, do it, or say it they will get it. But we are not the savior.

Possibly it is easier to be a tree than the savior.

Imagine if we are like that sycamore tree, able to lift people up to see Jesus. To let them see God for whom He really is. To step out of the way and let Christ do the redeeming. What a difference our ministries might have. What a difference our church might make in our community.

Jesus didn’t stumble by that Sycamore tree. It is as if it had a divine appointment. When Jesus had arrived at that point He invited Zacchaeus to come down. Not in a tone as if he was in trouble get out of that tree. But as an invitation to join in something greater than the entire world. He offered Zacchaeus peace, community and love in a way that he had never seen before. Salvation and forgiveness came to the home of Zacchaeus.

If we determine success by our numbers, how many pats on the back we get, or the seldom lost being saved. Or that retreat or event was great or wonderful food at the luncheon. Well then salvation will most likely not come to the homes in which we serve. Maybe we just need to be more like that tree. To hear people say, “I see him, and He sees me.” What a great thing that would be.