The Sycamore Tree

Read: Luke 19:1-10
Location: A Sycamore Tree
“So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see him, because he was going to pass that way.” (Luke 19:4, NIV)

“Zacchaeus was a wee little man, a wee little man was he. He climbed up in a sycamore tree to see what he could see….”

You might know the song. And you might remember the story. Zacchaeus, the didn’t-get-the-tall-genes tax collector (was it just me or did anyone else picture him as a leprechaun with a pot of gold growing up?) heard Jesus would be passing through his town. So, to get a better view, he did what any resourceful pint-sized person would do—he climbed a tree—a sycamore tree to be exact. When Jesus passed him he said “Zacchaeus, I’m staying at your house tonight.” Zacchaeus, benched all through his basketball days, was thrilled about his sleepover with the popular Jesus. So thrilled in fact that he told Jesus he was going to give away half his wealth and pay back the people he’d defrauded four times over. 

It’s interesting the Bible is so specific about the tree Zacchaeus climbed. Sycamore trees can become quite large, reaching up to 100ft. (1) But in order for them to grow, they must shed their bark during the growing season. The old layer must fall away to make room for the new.

Zacchaeus, after he climbed down from the sycamore tree, knew exactly what he needed to shed. Upon seeing Jesus, he decided to let go of his attachment to wealth and his deceitful ways.

I love how Jesus didn’t demand repentance or shame Zacchaeus for his past failings—Jesus simply said he wanted to hang out! You see, the cool thing about Jesus is, when you’re around him, you can’t help but want to be better.

As we spend time with Jesus (this could practically look like prayer, meditation, reading scripture, nature noticing, etc) our desires start to change. We find ourselves wanting to shed the old, unserving habits—addiction, legalism, bitterness—so we can make room for new, helpful patterns—love, kindness, patience.

This might not be an instant transformation. I doubt Zacchaeus fully healed from his greed overnight. But it begins with our desire for change, then step by step, practice by practice, with God’s help, we can transform away from our old selves and grow into our new selves that wear the “clothes of Christ” (Rom 13:14; Col 3:10).

What old habits do you need to shed to make room for new growth?
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Maybe you haven’t stolen pots of gold from innocent people like Zacchaeus, but you may fudge some details every now and then. You may lose your patience too easily, judge too harshly, or gossip a little too frequently. And if that’s so, Jesus is waiting—not to reprimand you, but to hang out with you! Because he knows that when you do, you’ll look a little different than the day before.

This week’s practice: RemindersOnce you’ve reflected on what you’d like to shed, I challenge you to make it happen! And you might be thinking- ok like it’s that easy! But one practical thing you can do is write down what you’d like to change. You want to be more patient? Write down “Be Patient.” Look at it 3 times a day for the entire week. You might just find you’re a little less grumpy in traffic 😉. (2)

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Notes
(1) For more fun facts about sycamore trees: Carroll, Jackie. “Sycamore Tree Care: How To Grow A Sycamore Tree” Accessed 4 August 2021. https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/sycamore/sycamore-tree-care.htm
(2) This practice is inspired by a lecture I heard by Jerry Posner on “The Transformative Power of Daily Reminders” Lenox, MA, 3 August 2021.