The Tree

“And I, the Son of Man, have come to seek and save those like him who are lost.”’ Lu.19:10

From the story in Luke 19:1-10 [please read], you will see that Zacchaeus and Jesus had one thing in common. Zacchaeus had just come down from a tree and in one week from that day, Jesus was going to be crucified on a tree. So when Jesus moved near that tree, he saw the cross. He saw what He came for and He could not ignore Zacchaeus. How that applies to us is simple. The tree that you are hiding in is what Jesus bore in His body for you.

Regardless of the mess you are struggling with, Jesus is saying this mess was at Golgotha. This mess, this illness, the chastisement that brought us peace, was upon Him and by His wounds we were healed. He was despised and afflicted for our sakes. So one was a man climbing on a tree and another was a man that was going to hang on a tree. And the tree was the common denominator. When I said that in over twenty years of walking with God, I have never backslidden, I am not saying I have never made mistakes. I have made mistakes, a lot of them I am not proud of. But when I look at the Cross of Calvary and look at the Blood that was shed for me, it cleanses me of all my filth and shame. My weaknesses and struggles do not separate me from God. In fact, it unites me so that God can deliver me from them.

What is that tree that you are on? Jesus is saying to you it is time to come down from the tree. Zacchaeus did two things right. The first thing was, Zacchaeus realized he needed God. Some people if they were Zacchaeus today, they will not even take the pain to run and climb the tree; they probably would just sit at home. He needed God and he knew it. He knew his problem was not money.

Unfortunately, in this part of the world we see Jesus as the solution to our poverty. Zacchaeus did not have money problems but he knew the emptiness of his soul. He knew the bondage of sin and captivity. We should stop coming to Jesus because of breakthrough and come to Jesus because of the cleansing of our souls, which is what we all need. If you come to Him just because of breakthrough, you will miss the point. Zacchaeus was not lacking money but he still needed Jesus.

Prayer [song]: I surrender all… unto Thee my blessed Saviour, I surrender all. Amen.