One of the things you and I are to remember when it comes to moving beyond the hesitancy to witness is that everybody is human. Everybody is alike. Bill Gates gets the flu just like you and I. Brittany Spears probably gets cold sores or fever blisters on her lower lip or a big zit on her nose just like most people do from time to time. Those who’ve made it get shut out and find themselves lonely at times, if not all the time. Luke makes a very simple observation, but one that grabbed me. “A man was there named Zacchaeus…” (v. 2a). Did you hear it? “A man.” He’s flesh and blood. He has a mind. He has emotions. We are all alike. The only thing that makes us different is the adjectives used to describe us.
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That’s an important lesson when it comes to witnessing to those who’ve made it -- or anybody for that matter. We are all human beings. And all human beings have some innate desire for something beyond themselves. Zacchaeus was hungry for more – more than all the stuff he had. According to Luke all he wanted was to “see who Jesus was” (v. 3a). His burning desire was merely to see Him.
There are many folks out in the world whose sole, burning desire is to have it all. Maybe you’re one of them. I know I’ve certainly been tempted to want it all. These folks have convinced themselves that if they just have enough power, prestige, and the right position, they’ll be successful. They want the big homes in the right neighborhoods. They want the most expensive Mercedes or BMW. They want to fly first class everywhere – forget about Air Tran and Southwest. Some of these folks do have it all. Yet, something is missing because there is that innate desire for something beyond themselves.
Monday afternoon I went into Borders, as I normally do, only this time to observe all the people. Do you know where the most people were? They were in the Religion/Spirituality and Self-help Sections. Very few were in the Christianity Section. People are searching and many of them are not turning to Jesus and some of them may be turning away from Jesus. I have a hunch it is because the church has been hesitant in seeking to reach out to those who’ve made it when, in reality, they really haven’t made it.
Nobody reached out to Zacchaeus. “He’s one of them – you know, one of those tax collectors,” some may have said. “He’s a traitor. Besides, he has everything he needs. To Hell with him.” Nobody seemed to express an interest in a guy who had made it. That’s why all he wanted was to see who Jesus was. And did he ever see Him. He saw Jesus; but more than that, Jesus saw him. He even heard his name called by Jesus: “Zacchaeus” (v. 5b).