Short Man ~ Big Heart

This short man’s name was Zacchaeus and he was a chief tax collector. Tax collectors were hated because they would take advantage of the people, many times charging people more money than they owed. Zacchaeus was a rich man who must have heard about Jesus and he must have liked what he heard. He was a short man and he wanted to see Jesus and nothing was going to keep him from seeing Him.

Now think about Zacchaeus, he had such a desire to see Jesus he was not going to give up. There must have been a large crowd in Jericho that day and he could not see over everyone’s head.

Many people would have given up at that point and said, “it is no use, I am too short, woe is me” and they would have thrown in the towel, so to speak and gave up. Not this little guy, no he thought of a plan. He was so determined to see Jesus that he would even climb a tree to see Him and he did.

The tree that Zacchaeus climbed was probably a Sycamore Fig Tree. These trees were very sturdy ranging from thirty to forty feet high with a short trunk and spreading branches, able to hold a grown man. The Bible doesn’t say it but he my have been ridiculed and made fun of while he was climbing up in the tree, like I said before tax collectors were not popular in those days in fact many if not all were hated. Zacchaeus was more than just a tax collector he was probably the head of a district having tax collectors under him. But rejection and ridicule were not going to stop him from getting close enough to see Jesus.   

What a difference a day makes, just ask Zacchaeus.  One day he was just an ordinary tax collector doing his daily duties, the next day he would be hosting the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords in his home. And not only that but he would never be the same again. Praise the Lord! If you have an encounter with Jesus you will never be the same either.

What a shock it must have been to Zacchaeus when Jesus stopped at the tree he was in. It would have been interesting to know what Zacchaeus was thinking. He may have thought he was in trouble because of his position.

But remember Jesus didn’t come to condemn people; no he came to set the captive free. The Bible says, in Jeremiah 29: 11 “I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”  Thank God.

Zacchaeus must have been excited when Jesus said, “Zacchaeus come down immediately, I must stay in your house today,” because he came down at once and welcomed Jesus gladly.  

Zacchaeus was very happy, but not the people in the crowd. They began to complain that Jesus had gone to be the guest of a sinner. It sounds strange because Jesus was always with sinners because all have sinned and fell short of the glory of God. These people were self righteous looking down on everyone else but so blind to their own sin.

In the process Zacchaeus stood up and said, “I will give half of my money to the poor and if I have cheated anyone I will give back four times what I took.” Doesn’t it sound like Zacchaeus, the little man, had a big heart?  Jesus said, “today salvation has come to this house because this man too is a son of Abraham.  For the Son of man came to seek and save that which was lost.” Praise God.   

Question: what would you give up to spend time with Jesus?  It seems like many want to go to Heaven but they don’t want to sacrifice or give up anything to get there. Jesus said take up your cross and deny yourself and follow me.  The Lord said, “If you seek me with all your heart you will find me. If you ever hope to see Jesus someday it is going to cost you something.

Whatever it costs you it will be worth it.  Whatever you are willing to give to the Lord will help you realize what size heart you have. The Word says this, “where your treasure is there will your heart be also.”  Don’t forget every good thing you have is from the Lord.  Make Jesus your treasure then you will be a person with a big heart, like Zacchaeus was.

God bless you and have a great day.