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What Sycamore Tree Do We Need to Climb?

The Story of Zacchaeus

There was a man in Jericho who was boss of the people who collected taxes. He was quite rich. He wanted to catch a glimpse of Jesus, but couldn’t because he was a short rascal and the taller people blocked his view.

Ever resourceful, he ran ahead of the throng and climbed a tree. It was a sycamore tree. From his perch he watched Jesus walk towards him. The view was great and he finally achieved his objective; he got to see Jesus.

When Jesus reached the tree he glanced up and said, “Hey, dude, can we hang out at your place?

Not only did Shorty, as known as Zacchaeus, get to see Jesus, but he would soon have some one-on-one time. That was quite a reward for his diligence (Luke 19:1-10).

Although we don’t need to literally climb a sycamore tree to see Jesus, I wonder if it can be a metaphor for us to do whatever we need to do to see him. Maybe we need to slow down, not work so much, or watch less TV.

Perhaps a relationship is in our way or the desire to accumulate money, power, and prestige. Or could it simply be that we’re in our own way, stubborn, closed-mind, or procrastinating.

Perhaps each of us has our own “sycamore tree” that we need to climb to see Jesus.

Read about more biblical characters in The Friends and Foes of Jesus, now available in e-book, paperback, and hardcover.

Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.

Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.

5 replies on “What Sycamore Tree Do We Need to Climb?”

In Egypt …in the Nile DELTA, the Sycamore was the TREE OF LIFE. Coincidently, I was living in Delta British Columbia in 1983. I found out that The 6th Assembly of the World Council of Churches was coming to Vancouver. I was just 32 years old…I was sure the Holy City described in the Book of Revelation was the earth and that the Bride prepared for her husband was Mary Magdalene…so I set out to the University of BC where the Assembly was to be held, near a place called Jericho. There I encountered a man who looked and sounded like a modern Jesus…I went out on a limb and invited him to spend the night in my home in Delta. https://lindavogtturner.wordpress.com/2018/10/17/coincidences/

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