Climbing a Tree to See Jesus - Luke 19:4

The beloved physician Luke wrote how, “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. And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature”, and in chapter nineteen and verse four of his book Luke shares how Zacchaeus, “ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him” where we read:

And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.

The verse reads, “And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him:” Luke began with the words, “and he ran before” or “and Zacchaeus ran in front of the crowd of people and Jesus”, “and climbed up” which means “and ascended and mounted up” “into a sycomore tree” or “into a sycamore tree which was a mulberry or fig tree” “to see him” which means “to observe, notice and discover Jesus”. Luke shared how Zacchaeus ran ahead of the crowd of people surrounding Jesus and “ascended” into a “sycomore tree” so he would have a better vantage point to “see” Jesus.

The verse goes on to say, “for he was to pass that way.” Luke continued with the words, “for he was to pass” or “because, since and on account that Jesus was going to walk, journey and travel by” “that way” which means “the path and roadway where the sycomore tree was located”. Luke shared the reason Zacchaeus climbed the tree was because Jesus was going to “pass by” where Zacchaeus climbed.

When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we learn how creative and resourceful Zacchaeus was even though he was small in stature. Zacchaeus believed if he climbed the “sycomore tree” along the roadside where Jesus was walking, he might get an opportunity to “see” Him. This kind of drive and passion is loved by God, and when a person makes great efforts to “see” His Son Jesus, He will always be there to accommodate their desires. God wants a personal loving relationship with every person through Jesus, and when they yield to Him as their “Savior and Lord”, He will grant them forgiveness of sins and everlasting life with Him.

Next time Luke shares how Jesus tells Zacchaeus, “make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at your house”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".