So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. Luke 19:4
As Jesus was going through the town of Jericho, Zacchaeus wanted to see Him. The crowds were very large and he was a small man, so he was unable to see Jesus. He ran ahead of where Jesus was walking and climbed a sycamore tree, so he could get above the crowds and see Jesus.
Zacchaeus was the chief tax collector for that area. He was very well-known and very wealthy. Yet, that did not stop him from doing what it took to see Jesus for himself. He had left behind his pride and ways of doing things as a wealthy, important person to see Jesus.
Most adult men, and especially those who are wealthy and important, do not climb up trees to see someone. And even more a tree that is slippery and not very easy to climb. Men of high importance would just state their position and tell people that they need to move. Or they would get the authorities and connections they have involved to move them to the front.
Zacchaeus did none of those things, but humbled himself and climbed the tree himself. This action did catch the attention of Jesus, because as Jesus passed by He called Zacchaeus down and went to his house.
There may be times when you go to church or are talking to friends and you hear or see that Jesus is among them. You look at your own life and cannot seem to see Jesus because of the crowd of things in your life. These things can be fears, worries, troubles or more.
At this point you have to make a choice. Do you just give up and ignore that Jesus is in the area, but you will not be allowed to see or experience Him?
Or do you pursue Him with all that is in you?
Pursuing Jesus may mean that you have to humble yourself and do something different. You may have to run ahead of the crowd and do something that is different to get His attention.
In order to see Jesus, you have to get above the crowds. You have to get above all the crowd of bad thoughts, worries, problems, fears, pain, and rejection.
As you seek Him, Jesus will come to you and eat with you.
What are you willing to do to see Jesus?
I pray today that you will see Jesus; that you will not be afraid to do something to see Jesus; that you will hear Jesus call out to you; and that you will have a new relationship with Jesus.
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