Jump Start # 899

Luke 19:4 “So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree in order to see Him, for He was about to pass through that way.”

Our congregation is engaged in a daily Bible reading program. Our passage today is taken from this chapter in Luke today. It involves the “wee little man,” Zaccheus. There are several interesting thoughts here. Many of us remember this lesson from Bible classes when we were children. We sang the song about the “wee little man.”

Jesus is passing through Jericho, where this story takes place. He is on His way to Jerusalem. He has an appointment with the cross. Even on the way to His trial and death, Jesus is thinking of others and doing things for others.

Word about Jesus has spread. A large crowd has assembled to see Him. Outside of Jerusalem, Jesus is still popular. Word reached Zaccheus. He just has to see for himself. Zaccheus has many things against him. He is short—which makes him the subject of jokes. He is a tax collector—worse than that, a chief tax collector and he is rich—which came from collecting taxes from his countrymen to give to the Romans. Tax collectors were not like by Jews, and chief tax collectors were at the top of those they hated.

It must have been a sight to see this wee little man running ahead to climb up a tree to look for Jesus. What was the attraction? Why did he want to see? I think Zaccheus had heard things about Jesus, as others had. Jesus was different. He was not in step with the Pharisees. He was healing on the Sabbath. He defended the outcast. He was doing incredible miracles. Among His chosen, was Matthew, a tax collector. Jesus had even gone to Matthew’s home. Unbelievable! Zaccheus had to get a glimpse of Jesus, a friend of tax collectors. No one was a friend of tax collectors.

I like Zaccheus for that reason. He heard enough to make him curious. He had to go see for himself. I doubt that he knew why Jesus was going to Jerusalem. Few knew. I doubt he expected to actually talk with Jesus, but he did. I doubt he ever dreamed that he would have Jesus in his home, a private conversation. But he did. Of all the people in that crowd, Jesus stops where Zaccheus was. He called him by name. He invited Himself to the tax collector’s home. This was one of the few times, if not the only time, Jesus invited Himself. Zaccheus changed. He promised to give half of his possessions to the poor, and if he defrauded anyone, he was going to pay back four times as much. More than the law required. He was changed.

It is interesting that Jesus didn’t ask him to do that. Jesus didn’t say, “Zaccheus, when we get to your house, I’d like to take a look at your tax books.” Jesus didn’t say, “Zaccheus, how’s business been lately?” Zaccheus changed without Jesus having to say any of those things. When the honest and pure Jesus stood next to Zaccheus, he wanted to be like Jesus.

God has a way of working on all of us like that. It’s hard to be thinking bad when you are praying. Worship services tends to bring the best out of us. Being around other Christians tends to motivate one to step up and do more. Standing next to Jesus, ought to change us.

Have you ever wondered what you would have said to Jesus had you been up that tree instead of Zaccheus? I wonder what you would have thought if Jesus said, “Come down quickly, I’m going to your house today?” Would you be excited or embarrassed? Would you feel uncomfortable, a loss for words, wondering what you and Jesus will talk about? Would we immediately think about how clean our house was or what food we have at home to give to Jesus?

Come down, I want to come to your house. I like that thought. Jesus could have said, “Zaccheus, stay where you are at. I’m coming up that tree so you and I can talk.” He didn’t do that. Jesus went to Zaccheus’ home. The Messiah at the home of a chief tax collector. His home, where he was comfortable. His home, where they would escape the listening ears of the crowd. His home, is where Jesus wanted to be.

There is a place that Jesus wants to be with you. It’s not your home. It’s even more private than that. It’s a place where you are really you. It’s a place that very few, if any really see. It’s your heart. Jesus wants to dwell in your heart. Your heart, where memories are formed, secrets are stored, when impressions are made, where we are really who we are. There are no pretenses in our heart. We do not allow others to roam free in our hearts. We keep thoughts guarded and locked in our hearts. Even our mates, the one who is most dear to us, does not get free reign in our hearts. Our words say one thing, our hearts something else. We can be good at hiding what is in our hearts, all the while telling people what they want to hear. We are good at wearing masks and hiding things. We keep things to ourselves and we keep those things in our hearts.

This is where Jesus wants to be. This is where He wants us to open the door and invite Him in. Our hearts. Jesus doesn’t want to just take a walk through to see that everything is tip top. No, instead, He wants to stay in our hearts. He intends to dwell in our hearts. The core of who we are, the center of what makes us unique, that’s where Jesus wants to be. He’s not so interested in the outside. He’s looking at the inside.

When you allow Jesus to dwell in your heart, like Zaccheus, you’ll change. You’ll realize that Jesus brings out the best. He wants you to be your best. Some just can’t do that. They keep the door to their hearts closed to Jesus. They will be near Jesus. They will follow Jesus. But Jesus never gets into their heart and for that reason, they never become what they could.

Of all the people on that Jericho road, it was Zaccheus that Jesus went home with. Jesus is wanting to move into your heart. Will you let Him? Paul told the Galatians, that he no longer lived. Rather, Christ “liveth in me.” Jesus was dwelling in Paul’s heart. The doors were open and Jesus was welcomed in. You see what it did to Paul. He changed.

Other than going to worship on Sunday morning, some people are not much different than the guy who never worships. Their words, attitudes, actions are all pretty much the same. You’d think there ought to be some huge differences. The reason, the one who goes to church hasn’t invited Jesus into his heart. For that reason, he’s pretty much the same guy he has always been.

I doubt if Zaccheus would have had the nerve to invite Jesus on his own. That didn’t happen. Jesus invited Himself. He does the same to you. We lack the nerve to ask the Lord. He stands, as Revelation says, at the door and knocks. The door is your heart.

Jesus wants to come to your house, your heart, today. Will you let Him?

Roger