Of Short Stature

Zacchaeus was a wee, little man… Actually, what the Bible says is that he was of short stature. But he had a desire. Luke 19:2-10 tells his story.

Verse three says that Zacchaeus “sought to see who Jesus was.” That statement alone is surprising; in a place where everyone was seeking Jesus to see what He could do for them, this tax collector wanted to see who He was. Unfortunately, seeing Jesus is often easier said than done.

Two things stood in the way of Zacchaeus; first was the crowd, second was his own lack of physical prowess. But we must admire his dedication; for he would not let those things stand in his way. You all know the story, he climbed a tree in order to catch a glimpse of a Savior; Jesus looked and saw Zacchaeus and He called out to him.

I must say that, as I read this story recently, I was newly inspired by what it contained. First, I wondered why it was that I was seeking Jesus. Was it to ask Him for favors? Miracles? Or, do I seek Him to find a relationship with Him? To see who He is? Do I love my God for what He has done and how He blesses me, or do I love Him because of who He is? Secondly, I took stock of all the things that I allow to keep me from getting to Him.

Zacchaeus had a world of reasons to not see Jesus. There were obstacles between him and Christ. There was a crowd that he could not push through or get around, an impenetrable wall. And he had his own share of shortcomings as well. His physical height was not sufficient to get a look at Jesus.

Like Zacchaeus, there are many things that come between me and my Lord. I have my own shortcomings that make it impossible for me to get to see Him. But, the greatest question I must ask myself is whether or not I will be as persistent as Zacchaeus. Will I seek out any and all means to see Jesus? Will I do whatever it takes to know who He is? If I do, I know it won’t be a result of anything within myself. I’m much too short for that.