Luke 19:1-10.
Sometimes like Zacchaeus, you just have to climb a tree! It's not because you are short necessarily, but because of the crowd.
“He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man, he could not, because of the crowd.”
We all too easily get stuck in the crowd. We're trying to discover who Jesus is, but the crowds are not letting us see. We can't see over prejudice, it's too wide, can't see around tradition, it's too tall, can't see because of all the prevailing attitudes and values. You've just got to climb a tree. In other words you've just got to get a glimpse of Jesus that has not been layered by a whole lot of tradition and values that might be hiding the real Jesus.
And then Jesus says, “Come on down. You understand what I'm about? Then come on down. I'm going to join you in your future”.
I am always revisiting my understanding of who Jesus is. It has been helpful for me to read books by Marcus Borg and to share in a study group using the ‘Living the Questions' material. These have helped me see afresh the humanity of Jesus whilst at the same time recognising his uniqueness.
I am also aware that it is not enough to simply develop an image of Jesus to live with. An image is just that; not real. Discovering Jesus as real and human and unique in his ownership of his divine being is the first step in our call to get off our viewing platform and follow and participate in the change that Jesus has brought to the world.
Rev. Chris Howard
2nd. November, 2007
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