“A wee little man”
By Rev. Michael Stonhouse
Meditation – Wednesday, November 27, 2024
Luke 19: 1-10 (Forward, p. 29) CEV p. 1087
The story of Zacchaeus has long been one of my favourites, seeing that my affection for it goes back a long way. In fact, one of our children’s/ camp songs began with the words ‘Zacchaeus was a wee little man, a wee little man was he.’
However, Zacchaeus has warm spot in my affections for yet another reason. He reminds me of all those people who, when marginalized or shunned or ostracized, compensate for it in some way. The root of this may arise from that person’s culture or religion or ethnicity, or dress and appearance, or in this case, something as irrelevant as stature, as was possibly the case with Zacchaeus.
Likewise, the form this compensation can vary greatly as well. In some cases, it may drive the person to becoming something of bully, or in other cases, become very successful at something, sometimes at something that is culturally frowned upon. (It’s a kind of ‘I’ll show you’ attitude). in a sense, Zacchaeus possibly ‘covers all these bases’. His position as a tax collector gave him power and authority over anyone that might have shunned him, and the fact that he’ risen to the position of chief tax collector for the district is a testament to his ability.
But I also have a sense that he was unhappy, lonely, and dissatisfied in spite of his riches. That’s why, when he was frustrated by crowds not letting him through to see Jesus, he ran ahead and climbed a tree in order to be able to see Him. But here, he was in for a very big surprise. Jesus, upon arriving at that spot, looked up, addressed him by name, and invited Himself to dinner at his house. Zacchaeus, most certainly, would have been shocked: ‘how did Jesus know his name?’ But even more shocking, more surprising was the fact that Jesus took the initiative in inviting Himself to his home, to his home, of all places! His was the very last place he’d ever think of having such an honour.
Such mercy, such honour and respect, such love and generosity, toward a person who knew fully well that he did not deserve it. No wonder he was changed. But then are not all of us ‘in the same boat’. None of us ‘deserves’ God’s love and mercy and yet, as with Zacchaeus, Jesus has bestowed these on all of us. Thanks be to God.
Forward notes: “So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see him, because he was going to pass that way” (verse 4)
“I often read the story of Zacchaeus as if Jesus makes the first move, as if Zacchaeus is just minding his business, and Jesus strolls right up to him and invites himself to dinner. But, in a more careful read, I noticed this sentence: Zacchaeus ‘was trying to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was short in stature.’ Because he was too short to see above the crowd, Zacchaeus runs ahead and climbs a tree to catch sight of Jesus. Zacchaeus makes the first move: he literally moves his body to get close to Christ. I wonder how many people move their bodies to get close to Christ, by coming to our churches, for instance, and how often we judge them instead of welcoming them. Jesus shows Zacchaeus and us that as soon as we are ready to make a step toward a relationship, he will meet us there.”
Moving Forward: “Is there somewhere you go to meet Christ or see him better? Take some time to go there today, even if only in your imagination. Christ will meet you there.”