Missing Jesus

“Zacchaeus… sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature. So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way” Luke 19:2-4

Many people know the story of Zacchaeus, the “chief tax collector” who couldn’t see Jesus because of the crowds (and he was short), so he climbed up a tree to see Him. And Jesus saw him, called him to come down, and went to his house. It’s a story of Jesus showing interest in people we wouldn’t expect Him to care about and save. But it’s also a story about Zacchaeus’ interest in Jesus.

What if Zacchaeus hadn’t been interested enough to go try to see Jesus? What if he had used the crowds and his being short as an excuse to leave? What if Zacchaeus thought the tree was too hard to climb or that he’ll look ridiculous up in that tree? He would have missed Jesus! He wouldn’t have known Jesus and we wouldn’t know the name Zacchaeus today!

Think with me for a minute about missing Jesus. What if Zacchaeus hadn’t climbed the sycamore tree? What if others hadn’t gone to the synagogue where Jesus taught in Mark 1:21-22? What if the crowded house in Luke 5 had kept people from listening to Jesus, or kept people from lowering the paralyzed man through the roof to be healed? What if Nathanael hadn’t responded when Philip said, “Come and see” Jesus? (Jn 1:46). What if the one leper hadn’t returned to thank Jesus in Luke 17:17-16? What if the Samaritan woman had refused to talk to Jesus because He was a Jew? (John 4) They would have missed Jesus – that’s what would have happened!

Now let’s apply this to ourselves:

Zacchaeus: How much are we willing to inconvenience or even embarrass ourselves to learn about Jesus?
Synagogue: Are we present when God’s word is being taught and studied?
Crowds: Are we willing to be in uncomfortable situations, doing extreme things to follow Jesus?
“Come and see”: Do we invite others to learn about and from Jesus?
The leper: Are we openly thankful to God for our blessings?
Samaritan: Are we willing to step outside of cultural norms, prejudices, and comforts to follow Jesus?

We know what would have happened to the people in the Bible if they had been unwilling to do these things. They would have missed Jesus! But instead, they found Jesus! Now we know what will happen to us if we are unwilling to do these kind of things. We will miss Jesus. But instead, we can find and keep Jesus and all the blessings He brings!    dd