The Sycamore Tree Christian

(By Hymar Idinie David) - He is like Zacchaeus. He has fallen from grace. He has lost sight of the master. So he climbs a sycamore tree to see Jesus pass him by. 

He is so focused on the crowd of people seeking Jesus. He thinks the master won't have his time. He thinks the master won't hear him. He doesn't believe like the Psalmist that he can seek the Lord and would be heard and delivered from all his fears.

So Zacchion went and climbed a sycamore tree to watch Jesus pass him by.

Like some of us, we are in that place where we isolate ourselves from the presence of the Lord. We go out of the way to get out of the way. Why did Zacchion not stand there and wait?

Because he felt he was too short.

Another reason was because he felt he wasn't worthy.

Zacchion was a cheat, a rogue, a corrupt man. The later verses explained it clearly. He thought Jesus was going to take one look and judge him. So he put himself out of reach. He climbed a sycamore tree to watch Jesus pass him by.

Jesus, surrounded by crowds, was walking past the tree. Then he stopped. And looked up.

Jesus is never too busy for the broken. He is never too occupied or stressed for the insecure. Swarmed by folks who all wanted a piece of him, besieged with prayer requests, he still has time for that one lost sheep. That one broken heart too scared to approach.

Jesus looked up. Now, the protocol is We are the ones to look up. We are the ones to look unto Jesus. Lift our eyes unto heaven. But Jesus doesn't give a shit about protocol. Jesus gives a shit about people. And he would trample over every protocol standing between him and the people who need him.

They said the Jews don't talk to Samaritans, he went to talk to a Samaritan woman, a prostitute sef. They said See this dirty man, it is against the law to eat without washing hands, he said, Izzit your dirt? You that haff unwashed hearts nko?

Jesus looked up. "Zacchaeus come down, I am going to your house! "

Now, this is incredible.

I am trying to imagine how Zacchion felt. He must have been dumbstruck . Heck, he must have almost lost his balance from that tree with shock. Did he just hear what he thought he heard? Jesus, the Stiller of Storms, the Nemesis of Demons, the Son of God, the Pharisee and Saduccee Hater, the King of Kings, Rabbi, Healer and Resurrection Power is going to his house!

He probably said, Lord, I know you know the kind of person I am. I no like this rough play. I Don see you, you even follow me talk, e Don do, dey go.

Did you notice Jesus first asked him to come down?

Why?

Because Jesus is down to the earth. You have to come down to be close to him. What sycamore tree have you climbed? Jesus says, Come down, let's go to your house and work it out. 

"Come, let's reason together, says the Lord. Though you sins be as scarlet they shall be white as snow. Though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. '

That's in the Bible and Jesus walked out that verse with Zaccaeus.

Why did Jesus say 'your house'? Because Jesus wants to know you. He wants to honour you. We like to think of ways we can bring glory to God by the things we do. We don't know God is also out to bring glory to us. We don't know so we don't let him. We think it is being humble but it is being ignorant.

Zacchaeus was so honoured that Jesus was in his house that he instantly turned into a new man. He instantly became a lover and a giver. Heck, he started giving right away. "Look lord, half of my assets, I am giving to the poor and if I have ever cheated anyone, I will restore it to him four times over. "

Now, that's a miracle. It is as much as spectacular as Jesus healing the sick and raising the dead. A hardened aka gum is now a contrite aka tap. Only love can motivate that. Only Jesus can.

Love overwhelms.

And I am not talking about I love you, talk your own kind of love.

Why did Jesus say he is going to the man's house? Why not just have a chat with him right there and then and move on? Why not go to his office?

Because Jesus wants to get on chummy chummy terms with people. He wants to be friends. Religion distances people, Jesus bridges gaps. Religion makes enemies, Jesus makes friends.

Today, Christians are busy being hateful and they defend it by saying they are being truthful. When you call them out, they say you are being a politically correct Christian.

Listen. Homophobia is not being a politically correct Christian. It isn't even being Christian. Being a bigot isn't being a politically correct Christian. Pointing out specific sins and saying 'please pray to God, he can help you' sounds good, but it isn't being Christian. The only time Jesus ever pointed out sins was when he wqs dealing with the pointers in chief; the Pharisees and Saduccees, the spirikokos of his day. And it is their own hypocrisy he pointed out to them. 

Look at Zaccaeus. Jesus could have stopped, looked up and said, You, I know you are a cheat, a fraud. You better repent. 

Jesus simply said, Hey Zak, what's up? Come down make we go chop for your house go chop. I dey hungry.

Was Jesus turning a blind eye? No. He knew who he was dealing with. He simply decided to love him anyway. He didn't go to his house to preach a sermon. He went there to live, love and laugh with the man. 

Most of us only visit our non Christian friends when we want to preach or invite them for a crusade. Or when they have a misfortune and we want to use it as an opportunity to say, God fit do am( *God cringes*) . Maybe if we tried preaching the gospel by our actions rather than our words, the earth will truly be filled with the knowledge of the glory of God as the waters cover the sea.