Luke 19:4-5
4 So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.”
How do we answer the nagging question, “Am I okay?” We try a thousand things to make ourselves pleased or important or beautiful, but after each attempt the question returns. In this story, Jesus felt the press of a huge crowd in Jericho while an immoral, hated, and rather short tax collector climbed a tree to try to see Jesus. When Jesus called to him, the ridiculous sinner felt not only the joy of seeing Jesus, but the much greater joy of acceptance, not from the crowd, but from the Lord. Zacchaeus knew he was okay.
Leaving Jericho, Jesus went to Jerusalem where He was taken by the crowd and nailed to a tree outside the city. Jesus, who alone among men could stand without sin before God’s holy presence was cast out of the city to die a cursed man. Why? He switched places with Zacchaeus. Jesus went from the center of everything to the tree so Zacchaeus could be forgiven and accepted and brought into the presence of God. That cross is for you too. Don’t answer your soul’s nagging question with anything less than the smile of Jesus telling you to come down and eat with Him.
Prayer prompt: Lord, please forgive me for finding significance in any other ridiculous thing. Help me to accept and enjoy Your loving invitation.