[009]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - A TREE CLIMBER
Some people have a burning desire to go to see someone or some event important. Look how many turn out to a Trump rally, or a football final, or who go to see some vain film star.
However, some people have a real need and want to meet someone to see if the need can be fixed. Jesus had an appeal because of His miracles, a small feat seeing He created the universe – {{John 1:3 “All things came into being by Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.”}}
Maybe this small man called Zaccheus wanted his life to be blessed or changed, or then again he may have been just curious. In any case he wanted to see Jesus but too many were in the way and all he could see were people’s backs and necks. Here is the biblical record of that –
{{Luke 19:1-6 “He entered and was passing through Jericho. And behold, there was a man called by the name of Zaccheus, and he was A CHIEF TAX-GATHERER and HE WAS RICH. He was trying to see who Jesus was, and he was unable because of the crowd, for he was small in stature, and 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, and when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and said to him, “Zaccheus, hurry and come down, for TODAY I MUST STAY AT YOUR HOUSE.” He hurried and came down, AND RECEIVED HIM GLADLY.”}}
Zaccheus was not a popular man. No one liked tax collectors, and this was a chef tax collector, because they taxed their own people for the Romans and often cheated the people in taxes as well. Like everyone in the world he was not satisfied inwardly without God in his life. He had this desire even though he could not explain it himself.
Being a resourceful man he decided on an action. What a shock to the system when Jesus stopped right under Zaccheus and looked up into the sycamore tree and called Zaccheus by name.
There are two things that are impressive from this story. The first is that Jesus actually went to the house of a hated tax collector (and how the Pharisees would complain about that). The second are the words of Luke – “He hurried and came down, AND RECEIVED HIM GLADLY.”
Zaccheus had a need and his need was met in Jesus Christ. In fact he became a changed man. We know his life was turned around because of this – {{Luke 19:8-9 “Zaccheus stopped and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, half of my possessions I will give to the poor, and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will give back four times as much,” and Jesus said to him, “TODAY SALVATION HAS COME TO THIS HOUSE because he, too, is a son of Abraham.”}}
What a beautiful story and Zaccheus is today with the Lord in heaven. You may be reading this and you have never given your life to the Lord Jesus Christ. Like Zaccheus, you need to receive Him gladly and surrender in repentance to the Saviour.
I wrote a poem covering this story and I hope it has meaning for you. (I have had to put these stanza divisions in because Sermon Central formatting does not keep stanzas.)
A TREE CLIMBER
A little man - what was the way
For him, the Saviour to see?
Zaccheus mused on this problem,
Then spied a sycamore tree.
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Up he ascended, higher up . . .
As fast as small legs would go;
An ideal spot firm on a limb
From where he could look down low.
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Ever closer, ever closer,
The Saviour progressed along.
On that path the advance was slow;
Great was the crush of the throng.
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Zaccheus waited patiently
On his advantageous perch -
“Almost here!” this short man reasoned,
As he scanned the crowd to search.
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Then Jesus came right underneath
The hideaway tree, and halted.
The crowd wondered why He stopped.
The tree dweller was jolted.
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When He looked up, so did the crowd;
Eyes On Zaccheus fastened.
He was exposed to all of them;
Now his confidence was lessened.
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The short man was called by his name,
Addressed by the Saviour’s voice,
“Zaccheus, you come down from there.
Come down from there, and rejoice.”
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“Tonight I will visit your house.
I will go and with you dine.
In fellowship I’ll meet with you,
And at your table recline.”
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The crowd was most incensed at that
And through their midst they grumbled.
Zaccheus collected taxes,
But now exposed, and humbled.
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He was joyful the Lord called him,
And his life he reassessed.
He would make amends for cheating
From the substance he possessed.
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Today the Lord is calling you -
Tall or short it matters not.
His fellowship He’ll share with you;
Take away each deep dark spot.
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“little sinners”, “big sinners” come;
Come to Christ for salvation.
“Leave your tree” and repent of sins;
To new life, from damnation.
10 & 11 September 2021 R E Ferguson 8-7-8-7 ABCB