Upton-by-Chester United Reformed Church

God's Love is for all. Our mission is to show it, share it, live it.

The Small Man in a Tree

 

 

Two thousand years ago in Jericho, a man called Zacchaeus, much disliked by his neighbours for his dishonesty, his tax collecting and his un friendliness towards the occupying regime, clambered up a tree to get a better look as a man called Jesus walked through his town.

 

As he passed the tree, Jesus stopped and looked up. He called out to

Zacchaeus and asked him to climb down. Of all the people in Jericho that day, Jesus then declared that he wanted to stay in Zacchaeus' house. Not the houses of the rich, the powerful and the pious, but the house of the

tax-collector. Of course, everyone gathered there was disgusted with Jesus'

decision. Their mutterings grew loud.

 

But Jesus' acceptance of Zacchaeus, his costly decision to befriend this

disliked little man and enter his home, changed the heart of this lonely

sinner. Zacchaeus stood up and declared,

 

"Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have

defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much."

 

Clearly, his encounter with Jesus was utterly transformative.

 

But why was Zacchaeus drawn to Jesus? For all the same reasons that any one of us might be drawn to Jesus. He had heard rumours and stories. He had heard enough to make him want to climb a tree.

 

What then had Zacchaeus heard?