08/24/2016 UP A FIG TREE
Luke 19:1-10 JESUS entered Jericho and was passing through. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who JESUS was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since JESUS was coming that way. When JESUS reached the spot, HE looked up and said to him. “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” So he came down at once and welcomed HIM gladly. All the people saw this and began to mutter. “HE has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the LORD. “Look, LORD! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount. JESUS said to him. “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man is a son of Abraham. For the SON of Man came to seek and to save what was lost. [New International translation]
Definition: “Up a tree” --confused; without an answer to a problem; in a difficult situation. (For example, “This whole business has me up a tree. I am up a tree and I need help.”)
Summary:
During the time of JESUS’ ministry, Jerusalem and most of the other surrounding cities of Judea were under Roman jurisdiction. The Jewish people were under Roman rule and authority. Men, like Zacchaeus, who collected taxes for Rome, were despised. They were considered outcasts by the religious leaders because tax collectors collected the Roman tax, which meant that they fraternized with Roman gentiles, who were considered “unclean.” Tax collectors were considered traitors and they had a reputation for being sinners and thieves because many of the tax collections took more than the Roman tax. To be a tax collector was in essence to be at the bottom of the religious and social ladder in the Jewish community. No one wanted to associate with Zacchaeus. Zacchaeus may have been “wealthy,” but he was “disconnected.” He was disconnected from his “church” and from “the people.” However, Zacchaeus really wanted to see JESUS. Zacchaeus knew he could not visit the synagogue, where JESUS sometimes taught, because the religious leaders would not welcome him there. Zacchaeus knew that he could not join “the crowd” because the people were hostile toward him. Moreover, Zacchaeus was a “short man.” He knew he would never see JESUS simply by standing still or doing nothing. When Zacchaeus took action and climbed up the sycamore-fig tree, he was “up a tree” in more ways than one.
But, JESUS looked up and saw Zacchaeus and understood Zacchaeus’situation immediately. . JESUS called out to Zacchaeus and told him that HE would fellowship with him that very day. JESUS offered to come into Zacchaeus’ life (and home). Zacchaeus came out of his tree, “stood up” and acknowledged JESUS as “LORD.” When Zaachaeus was accused of being a sinner, he did not deny it, but instead agreed to give back half of his possessions to the poor and to pay back four times the amount if he cheated anyone out of anything. JESUS then gave Zacchaeus the gift of salvation and restored him back into the family (of GOD) and as a son of Abraham. For Zacchaeus, a man “up a fig tree,” seeking JESUS was the best thing he could have ever done.