Sycamore-fig Tree

Scriptures: “When Jesus reached the spot, He looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.’” (Luke 19:5)

Yesterday, I heard a wonderful message that lead me to think about many things. The message was from the story of Zacchaeus, as recorded in the book of Luke. The speaker talked about how Zacchaeus was despised and rejected by the Jews of that time and, having no access to a spot on the side of the road, and how he resorted to a sycamore-fig tree on which he could observe everything happening below.

He went on to say that, “Zacchaeus might have been watching the crowd below, hearing them talking about the Romans, the Herod, or about Jesus, trying to determine if he was a rabbi, a prophet, a miracle worker, a mystery, and so forth. It was a pretty comfortable place for him, keeping a distance from the crowd and being safe from everyone else’ pushing and despising looks. He could have become very comfortable there. Where is your sycamore-fig tree?”

That got me to think. There is a lot of hurting and troubles in life. Rebellious children, unsatisfactory work, annoying neighbors, exhausting commute, never-ending office politics, the list goes on and on. Out of this kind of life, we often develop a way to give ourselves a break. Sometimes it may be a walk at lunch, and sometimes it may be reading novels; others may resort to drinking, TV or video games, or others. Of course, some of these are healthier than others. But, they all provide us that temporary relief we think we need.

But, sometimes we get too comfortable in them. We forget that the reality never go away while we are staying on these “sycamore-fig” trees. We think it’s a very safe place to be because no one touches us there and we can be the “objective” observers, or even the commentators, of this world. We actually create an illusion for ourselves.

While it was all comfortable and great for Zacchaeus to watch from his spot on the sycamore-fig tree, Jesus did not want him to stay there. Jesus knew that the only way, and the best way, for Zacchaeus to face reality in life is to come down from his sycamore-fig tree, even though there may be hurting and despising looks, and start a fellowship with Him, Jesus, because without a right relationship with God, there can be no right relationship with anyone else.

To Zacchaeus, the sycamore-fig tree was meant to be a getaway place to achieve his personal goal. But Jesus had a different use of it. Jesus wanted to meet Zacchaeus right there. I believe, today, Jesus wants to meet each one of us right at that home-made sanctuary we create for ourselves too. He wants to have fellowship with us right there; and He wants to restore our relationship with God and with other people right there, too.

What is your sycamore-fig tree? Is it a relief from this crazy world that you are seeking? Seek no more because the Prince of Peace has come to that spot and wants to invite you to a fellowship with Him in the peace He prepares for you!


Prayer Requests:
For those suffering from broken relationship with their loved ones

Prayer:
Our loving Lord, thank You for being so mindful of us. You know all the hurt and suffering in this world. You know all these desperate hideouts we create for ourselves. We ask that You come to that very spot where we hurt and hide, meet us there and bring us back into that blissful fellowship You have in store for us always. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen!