Zacchaeus and the sycamore-fig tree

In Luke 19:1-10, we read an account of a man named Zacchaeus, who was a wealthy chief tax collector. As was common for tax collectors in those days (Luke 3:13), Zacchaeus might have gotten wealthy by collecting more taxes than required and keeping a portion for himself. One day he heard that Jesus was coming to his town, Jericho. He had heard about Jesus previously and was curious to see him. So he went out to see Him. Being a short man, however, he could not see Jesus in the middle of a crowd. Zacchaeus ran down the road where Jesus was walking and climbed up a sycamore-fig tree to gain a vantage point. Jesus had another plan that was far more generous than any that Zacchaeus could have imagined. Jesus walked up to the tree where Zacchaeus was on and told him, “Come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” Salvation came to Zacchaeus’ house that day and he was reclaimed as a son of Abraham.

Sycamore-fig trees were common in the foothills of Israel (I Kings 10:27). The trunk was knotted and had low-lying branches, perhaps making it easy to climb the tree. The sycamore-fig tree was an attempt of a short man to complement his shortcomings in height. 'What better solution to gain height than to climb a tree?,' he might have thought. This is reminiscent of Adam and Eve's solution to their shame after eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil; they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves (Genesis 3:7). If shameful, cover it up. If short, go upon something. These are all man's solutions to his problems.

When Jesus came to Zacchaeus, He told him to come down immediately. Zacchaeus' problem was not his short stature, but rather the problem was in not knowing that Jesus values a broken and contrite heart (Psalm 51:17). Jesus demanded for him to come down and humble himself. Zacchaeus' idea to see Jesus was to go up on a tree to gain a vantage point; Jesus' solution for Zacchaeus to meet Him was for him to lower and present himself as he was. Man cannot ever elevate himself enough to reach God. That is why God came down in flesh to reveal Himself to mankind.

With that demand to come down from the sycamore-fig tree, Jesus also offered an invitation that "I must stay at your house today." Jesus was coming to Zacchaeus as Immanuel, as God dwelling with man (Matthew 1:23).

Lord, come and cleanse me. Fill me with your presence, with your Holy Spirit, so that I may indeed be Your likeness and serve as Your revelation. In Jesus' name. Amen.