Author Darlene J. Conard

Jesus fulfilled the law by healing the lame, opening blind eyes, healing those paralyzed, including innumerable incurable diseases. (Matthew 5:17-20)

Dwarfism made Zacchaeus a candidate for helplessness. Tax collecting was his profession. The Levitical Law was clear about dwarfism and other things. “For whatsoever man he be that hath a blemish, he shall not approach: a blind man, or a lame, or he that hath a flat nose, or anything superfluous,  Or a man that is brokenfooted, or brokenhanded,  Or crookbackt, or a dwarf,or that hath a blemish in his eye, or be scurvy, or scabbed, or hath his stones broken; No man that hath a blemish of the seed of Aaron the priest shall come nigh to offer the offerings of the LORD made by fire: he hath a blemish; he shall not come nigh to offer the bread of his God.”  (Leviticus 21:18-21 KJV) They were still under that law. That is why the Pharisees constantly harassed Jesus. His actions were unacceptable according to them.

 Imagine that, so he may as well become a tax collector, right? People resented him anyway, so why not do something society hated for pay? His stature made him who he was in humanity’s eyes, but his faith made him tall enough to reach heaven.

Take a moment to visualize this scene I am about to present. Zacchaeus is Ping ponged in crowds.

He barely made his destination without getting scuffed. Dust from the ground on which feet and animals tread settles on his body. Occasionally he found himself shoved to the ground like a piece of junk. Every single day he dodged such challenges.

One beautiful day shifted in an unexpectd way. For once he stood apart as the crowd swarmed to Jesus. He could not see anything! Jumping in the air did not give him any justice. Forget about trying to pry through the crowd, no entrance available for him.

Desperately seeking with his eyes, he found his high spot. Waddling to the sycamore tree Zacchaeus knew for sure he would see. He climbed the tree without difficulty. “You are going to receive something besides a view Zacchaeus!” Faith shouted boosting him upward.

Faith was right, always pleasing to the Lord. “Jesus come by here!” She shouted. Jesus did stop and looked up. “Come down Zacchaeus, quickly.” Jesus smiled motioning him down. “Today I am going to be your guest.” Gasps arose in disbelief and apolled. “He is a sinner,” a lady leaned over to her neighbor with her nose in the air . Branches and leaves cascaded around as he climbed down. “You see, Lord, half of my belongings I give to the poor; and if I have taken anything from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.” Zacchaeus finished dusting himself clean as he once and while glanced up at Jesus. “This day is salvation has come to your house. For you are also the son of Abraham. I have come to seek and save that which is lost.”  (Luke 19:1-9)

The creation of the tree was for Zacchaeus to climb especially. I believe this!

“And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good.”      Genesis 1:12 KJV

You can ead about Zacchaeus by clicking this link: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2019&version=KJV

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