Zacchaeus stood up and told Jesus, ‘Listen, I will give half my belongings to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone, I will pay back four times as much.’ Photo: Free Bible Images
I was talking in the street one day to a young man who was a Hare Krishna ‘devotee’. He’d approached me when I smiled at him which I guess encouraged him to ask me if I’d buy one of his little booklets. I’d just felt sad for him as he was continually getting spurned by passers-by. Apart from his ‘signature’ look with clay daubed on his forehead, shaved head, and wearing loose robes he just seemed a pretty regular young guy.
Murray Smith
I asked him if he would tell me a little of his story, which he did. Turns out he was a pretty regular guy. Growing up in a middle class family he’d become disenchanted with society’s values and decided a ‘purposeless existence’ wasn’t for him. His search led him to adopt the minimalistic and spiritually aesthetic lifestyle he was exploring.
The lyrics of a Bono song, “I still haven’t found what I’m looking for,” fitted this young man – even though he’d never have admitted that. Like so many, he exhibited one of the prevailing traits of countless people… that is a poor sense of self-esteem. Trying to empty himself of pride and find humility through religious means, he’d inadvertently become confused about his true identity losing any sense of his real value.
I wanted this young man to discover the key to truly establishing his identity. It’s found in us answering a basic question ,“What is my importance to God?”
Altar with Figure. Photo: susmoy dhaka tv
He’d been so busily debasing himself that he’d rejected any thought that he could actually matter to God. His rhetorical response (excuse it’s raw nature) was, “Why would God love a bag of pus and urine like me?”
If we reject the truth that we are valuable to God and don’t understand His love for us, it sets us up for missing our entire purpose and destiny in life. The deceitful suggestion that we don’t matter, that our lives don’t count for anything or that we’re somehow disqualified needs to be shattered.
When Jesus got to the tree, He looked up and said, ‘Zacchaeus, hurry down. Today is my day to be a guest in your home.’ Photo: Free Bible Images
One of my favourite Bible stories is Jesus encountering a man who suffered from shame and rejection. This man was a tax collector who had become very wealthy. His name was Zacchaeus and he collected tax off his own people on behalf of the Romans. That afforded him opportunity to make illegitimate personal gains for which he was hated and despised.
Zacchaeus heard Jesus was passing through town and wanted to see Him. Being of short stature, the crowds made it impossible. He ran ahead and climbing up a sycamore tree, waited. Something happened that he never anticipated. Jesus stopped where Zacchaeus was perched above and looking up said, “Zaccheus come down quickly for today I must stay at your house.” Jesus knew exactly who this man was whom everyone rejected, judged and shunned. Yet Jesus didn’t.
Zacchaeus’ encounter with Jesus, resulted in him becoming a changed man – his words evidenced a life restored, his true destiny recovered, “Lord I give half of my goods to the poor and anything I have taken from anyone by false accusation I restore fourfold.”
Jesus saw ‘more’ for Zacchaeus, never giving up on him. He won’t with us either.
When Jesus got to the tree, He looked up and said, ‘Zacchaeus, hurry down. Today is my day to be a guest in your home.’ Photo: Free Bible Images
