Zacchaeus

Zacchaeus is no longer in our pasture.  The decision was made to take him to sale. A friend bought him – a long story. 

No, we aren’t into slavery, we have a very small herd of low-line Angus cattle and Zacchaeus is what Second Daughter named the bull when we bought him because he reminded her of a verse from a children’s activity song:

Zacchaeus was a wee little man, A wee little man was he.
(use hands to show the size of a very little man)
He climbed up in the sycomore tree, for the Lord he want to see.
(use both hands as though climbing a tree)

If you look on a map, Jericho is slightly west of the Jordan River.  The Bible first mentions it in Numbers 22:1. We read about it again in Joshua, the story of Rahab and the taking of the city. Lots of history in the Bible about Jericho, including:

And Joshua adjured them at that time, saying, Cursed be the man before the LORD, that riseth up and buildeth this city Jericho: he shall lay the foundation thereof in his firstborn, and in his youngest son shall he set up the gates of it. (Joshua 6:26 KJV)

Yet, it stands as a city today, as it did two thousand years ago when:

… Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. (Luke 19:1-2 KJV)

We know Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus and climbed the sycomore tree.  No, that’s not a misspelling of sycamore – though sycamores make great climbing trees. Sycomore is a type of fig tree, and although it will not soar as the sycamore, it would have allowed Zacchaeus the height necessary to see Jesus over the crowd.

Unnecessary, though, for Jesus had a message specifically for Zacchaeus:

And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house. (Luke 19:5 KJV)

That didn’t sit well with the crowd:

And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner. (Luke 19:7 KJV)

Apparently they thought they weren’t sinners!! I hope they were listening a little later, after Zacchaeus sought to make amends for his sins, when Jesus said:

For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. (Luke 19:10 KJV)

Possibly not.  The message is ignored today, too, by people who want a portion of what Jesus offered, but reject the personalization of His message.  People still follow what He said, when it makes them comfortable, but when it becomes uncomfortable, He will be denied.

Which portion of what is given to us in the Bible about Jesus should be rejected?  Which part of His message does not apply to our lives? To the lives of those around us?  What do we like, and what do we dislike?

Why?