How Hard Have You Tried?

When I was a little lass I learned a song about Zacchaeus. All I really knew was that he was a short guy that climbed a sycamore tree to see Jesus as He walked by and as He did Jesus said, "Zacchaeus! Come down from that tree! For I'm going to your house today, I'm going to your house to-daaayyy."

Throughout my years I've heard the story many times. It was actually a sermon last Sunday morning and in my devotional today. It's a popular story to say the least: St. Luke 19. It may be one of those stories that you've heard so many times you kindof zone out a little when you hear or read it; "Yeah, yeah, Zac was a short-statured tax collector. He probably had 'small-man syndrome' and used his job to throw his weight around and take advantage of people. He must have liked attention so he climbed up in a tree to get Jesus's, waving around and hollering. Sure enough, he did what he set out to do and ended up getting Jesus to head over to his house and made the whole town talk about him."

Actually, I found out later in my life, there is really more to the story.

We all pay taxes. It's a part of life and it's the law. Why did the people say Zac was a sinner? (side note-my CPA is named Zac...he seems nice enough.) Well, Zacchaeus collected taxes for Rome. Why has that always been left out of the story? That makes a big difference to my processing. It helps me understand why the townspeople weren't fond of him and why it is likely that he took advantage of people; charging them more than the fair tax and lining his pockets with access funds that he squandered from people. In this time, Rome didn't pay their tax collectors AND Zacchaeus was a "Chief Tax Collector" so he skimmed off the tax collectors who worked under him who skimmed from the people thus making him the biggest skimmer of all. Plus, Rome was just bad: ugly, cruel and horrid.

Another part of the story that has been left out from the excerpts that I've heard is that Jesus was on His way to be crucified and prior to passing Zac in his perch, He had performed some pretty significant miracles and thousands of people were following Him. They had learned who Jesus was and had turned their lives around to believe that He was bringing hope to their future.

Likely Zacchaeus had heard about all this and was convicted in his heart for the man that he was. He surely started to feel guilty about how he had lived his life; taking from people who didn't have much and living a life that was all about himself. He probably had nice clothes, a big house, plenty of good food. Maybe he even strutted around gathering the taxes with a new, handmade bag every week, wearing soft-tanned and beautifully dyed leather sandals and flowing silk tunics. Although short, he probably looked down on the poor folks he hounded for taxes. He wasn't a "Robin Hood" type dude. He took from the poor to give to the rich and even took extra so that he could have a more cushy life.

Back to my point-So Zac decided he wanted to know more about this Jew that everyone was talking about. He wanted to SEE if Jesus was all he was cracked up to be so he ran ahead and got a good seat.

Well, Jesus knows what's up and as He came upon that tree He stopped. With a huge gathering of people around him, he looked right at old Zac and said,"Get down here and take me to your house." And he did.

Well, wouldn't you know it, Jesus took the time to let Zacchaeus get to know the real Jesus. He was able to sit in His presence, talk to Jesus face to face and Zacchaeus's heart changed. He was filled with love and compassion and the desire to right his wrongs.
That's what happens when you sit with God. When you invite Him into your life, into your heart. When you sit with Him and talk with Him-get to know Him. When you walk with Him you start wanting to be more like Him. You yearn to right your wrongs and even more, you want other people to feel the love and joy that you feel in your heart. You want them to know the peace you have when you let God lead in your life. You hope they will climb that tree and wave Jesus down so that they too can have His full attention. His salvation.

Zacchaeus wasn't happy. He knew that he had a Jesus shaped hole in his heart. All the money, fine clothes, nice home and tasty food didn't fulfill him. He needed something else. He needed Jesus.

THAT is the part of the story I kept missing. If I were to write a new song about Zacchaeus, maybe it would go like this: Zacchaeus was a sad and lost man who knew he needed purpose to his life. He heard about Jesus and the miracles He performed. Zacchaeus wanted a better life. He wanted salvation! Zacchaeus knew his opportunity was close at hand so he climbed up in a sycamore tree to be sure to see Jesus and Jesus said, "Zacchaeus-come to me!" Zacchaeus gave up his sinful, bullying life and followed Jesus and was finally happy forever and ever. Jesus came to save that which is lost.

Obviously I'm not a song writer, and maybe you already knew what this little story was all about, but I feel better sharing my version with you. Maybe someone you know needs the BACF version too.

Be blessed!