Have you ever been to a parade, only to get shuffled to the back of the crowd, and then had a hard time seeing what was passing by? What did you do? Stand on your toes, maybe, or try to find higher ground perhaps? Maybe find someone’s shoulders to climb up on? Have you ever been the ladder for your kids to climb up on when they could’t see during a parade? I’ve held my neices and nephew up on my shoulders many times when they were little at Disney World parades so they could see what was passing by. Kids get almost desperate when they can’t see the parade!
A long time ago, there was someone else who was desperate to see what was about to pass by – not a desperate child, but a full-grown desperate man. And this man was not desperate to see a parade passing by, but he was desperate to see one special person about to pass by. The desperate man was Zacchaeus. What he was desperate to see was Jesus. Zacchaeus lived in Jericho. Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem, but He took a detour to go through Jericho, because He already knew about Zacchaeus’ need. Zacchaeus was a Jewish man who was also a tax collector. He had “sold out” to the Roman government to get this job, so he was very unpopular among the people for doing so. Zacchaeus was the head of all the tax collectors in the area – he was very wealthy but he had gained his wealth by taking more taxes from the people than what they actually owed – then he kept the rest for himself. He was corrupt and dishonest; he was despised and had no friends. But despite all his wealth and high career postion, Zacchaeus still wasn’t happy. He had an emptiness, a huge hole that nothing in the world could fill. When he heard that Jesus was coming to Jericho, where he lived, Zacchaeus knew he had to try to see him. He was desperate, and he had heard that Jesus was different from the other teachers, that there was something he just had to see for himself.
The news came that Jesus and His friends were approaching Jericho. People started to gather, hoping to see Him, hear Him teach! Zacchaeus could tell he was going to have a difficult time seeing Jesus with the huge crowd – you see, Zacchaeus was vertically challenged. He was short. Too short to see over the crowd. So in desperation, he climbed the nearest tree just to get a glimpse of Jesus passing by. Little did Zacchaeus know that he was the reason Jesus detoured to go through Jericho that day.
“When Jesus reached the spot, He looked up and said, ‘Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.’ So he (Zacchaeus) came down at once and welcomed Him gladly.” Luke 19:5-6.
Can you imagine how surprised Zacchaeus must have been?! Jesus stopped right at his tree, called him by name (they had never met before) and said ‘let’s do lunch’ today! And what a lunch it must have been! We know the results – after talking with Jesus, Zacchaeus’ heart was so changed that he immediately went public with his past cheating and pledged to repay four times over what he had taken from people! Not only that, but he also promised to give half of his possessions to the poor! (Luke 19:8). Jesus confirmed that it was no fluke – Zacchaeus was a changed man! Jesus said…”Today salvation has come to this house…this man….” (Luke 19:9).
Nothing else could cause a man (or woman) to make such a complete, total, immediate change in their life – only meeting Jesus. Are you up a tree in desperation today? Jesus knows right where you are, and exactly what you need. Stop hiding, don’t let the parade pass you by again. Jesus stands looking at you, calling your name in love. You are the very reason Jesus lingers today. Come down and do lunch with Him. It will be life changing.
