He Saw Me

My whole life, people laughed at me. They called me names that weren’t the ones my mother and father gave me. And what they called me hurt, too. When I was young, I would get mad and try to fight, but I usually only wound up getting beaten. As I got older, I would laugh along, but it still hurt deep inside.

What I should be called is Zacchaeus. In case you don’t know me, I am short. In a crowd, I am easy to miss or overlook. As I just mentioned, I was an easy target for jokes and for being picked on in general. I always tried to think of ways to get back with people. It usually didn’t work. It seemed as if someone would always see me and report me to the one I was trying to get even with. That usually resulted in more punishment and pain. Life was not that fun or even enjoyable.

Even as I grew up in the same town, people didn’t let up. They continued to heckle me mainly because of my size. I couldn’t believe how many ‘’short’’ jokes there were. There definitely was no ‘’shortage’’ of them. Just when I thought I had heard them all, someone would come up with a new one. I simply wanted to fit in. To be accepted. Not to be known as the short man with the short fuse.

When I was coming to the end of my education, I still hadn’t decided what career path to take. My father was putting a lot of pressure on me to decide. Then I thought of the perfect job for me to do. I would become a tax collector. That seemed like a good choice. If I wanted to, I could get back with everyone in town. There would be nothing they could do concerning their taxes because I would have Rome backing me up. I liked it. My father was disappointed, though. He said, ‘’Son, listen to me. No one likes to pay taxes, and they hate the tax collector just as much.’’ I quickly replied by shouting, “THEY ALREADY HATE ME!’’ “Well, then, you have nothing to lose. Just be an honest tax collector. Keep good records,” he retorted.

I tried, but I was always tempted to get even with those that laughed at me. An honest tax collector is unheard of. I would overtax on purpose, and when I did get caught, I paid the property owner back four times what he had overpaid. No other tax collector would do this. I really thought it would help with my reputation. It didn’t that much. The people still picked on me. I guess it never dawned on them to treat me nicely, and perhaps I would be nice to them. I wanted to treat people right out of respect and honor to my father, but at times, I couldn’t overcome the temptation. Life continued like this year after year. People kept teasing me, and I kept taxing them, according to Rome.

Then, one day, we heard news of a man coming to Jericho. His name was Jesus. What we heard was he taught about a new way to live. He taught about the kingdom of God. We also heard that he could perform miracles. Just this news coming to our town performed one miracle, and that was people forgot about teasing me. They were too busy talking about him.

The next day, people were clamoring for a good spot to see and hear this man Jesus. I went to work that morning as usual but found shops closed. I was thinking, Is this a holiday? Then I remembered what was happening that day. Evidently, I must have a short memory too. Because I was so late getting to the party, all of the good spots to see Jesus were taken. Every place I could think of that would get me elevated enough to see over the crowd was gone. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do. I started panicking when I heard the roar of the crowd getting louder and more excited. I thought they must be able to see something, I thought. I really didn’t want to miss it. Or should I say, “I didn’t want to miss him.” I mean, this was the biggest thing that hit my town since the walls came down. I wanted to see a miracle just like everyone else did, but I mainly wanted to see the man who proclaimed to be the Son of God.

I believed in God. I had learned about God when studying The Tora, and from my father. My father was a firm believer in God and His words. He also believed in the prophecies of the coming King. That is why I wanted to see this man, Jesus, so badly. It was difficult to believe that these prophesies could come to pass in my time, but why not in my time? I mean, they had to come to pass in someone’s time. If this indeed was the Son of God, and I believed that it was, then I wasn’t going to miss it.

I ran fast ahead of the crowd. I found a sycamore tree that would hold me, but I could also climb. I scrambled up the tree fast. I got squared away by finding a branch to hold on to. I certainly didn’t want to start getting teased for falling out of a tree. I knew I would hear jokes just for climbing the tree in the first place, but I didn’t care. I tore away at the big leaves this tree produces so nothing would block my view.

Here he came down the street, where I was excitedly waiting. My heart was pounding as my anxiousness grew. Oh my goodness! Any second now, I should be able to see the Son of God! I remembered thinking. There he was. Moving slowly down the street. Talking to different ones. Perhaps teaching as he answered their questions. Then he stopped and reached over to a paralyzed man lying next to the street. Jesus had to part the crowd to get to him, but when he did, he touched him. He said something, but I couldn’t make it out. The next thing I knew, the paralyzed man jumped up and started screaming with happiness, for now he was healed.

Jesus continued down the street. I did well. I had picked out a good spot. Now, as he got close, I could see and hear him. When he got right up, even with the tree I was in, he stopped. I thought, oh boy! He is going to perform another miracle right in front of me. Well, he sort of did. He turned, looked right up at me, and said, “Zacchaeus, come down out of that tree, for today I will be a guest at your house.” I couldn’t believe what I had just heard! No one could. First of all, he knew my name. Secondly, he didn’t make any short jokes. Thirdly, he wanted to be a guest at my house. No one socialized with a tax collector except another tax collector. This man was no tax collector. He didn’t come to take but to give.

Those that heard Jesus say this and were shocked. They were also indigent. They felt Jesus had no business being with me, much less in my house as a guest. They considered me a crook, and to be honest, at times, I was. When Jesus got to my home a little bit later, we talked. I asked him why he was there. He called me a son of Abraham and then said today was the day of salvation. When those words came out of his mouth, I felt a warm sensation in my heart.

That day and every day since I not only knew for a fact that Jesus was the Son of God, but I also believed. I continued to be a tax collector, but now I was truly an honest tax collector. I was able to bring honor to my father after all. For those who were struggling to pay their taxes, I helped. Some would get caught up with what they owed and pay me back. Others never did, but I never told anyone. Little by little, as people saw the difference in me, they knew I had been in the presence of Jesus and that my encounter had changed me. I was even able to witness to others and, through my encounter, see their lives change as well. Suppose one might say that in life, I didn’t come up short after all.

(The actual account can be found in the Bible. Luke 19:1-9)

If you have never had your own encounter with Jesus Christ, know that you can. He is waiting for you to accept his offer of forgiveness for your sins. With that begins a relationship that brings hope, encouragement, comfort, and guidance with the added bonus of eternal life. Along the way, you can ask for help with anything. Problems in life, relationships, and healing. Having a relationship with Jesus is the best thing you will ever do with your life. God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are real. So are heaven and hell. There are no other alternatives. Encounter Jesus and change your life.