Making trees for Zaccheaus

Albert Bogle November 07, 2025 1 0

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Luke 19: 1-10 (NIV)

1 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.

5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.

7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”

8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”

9 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Do some of our songs plant trees that grow into perches where a contemporary Zaccheaus can climb and see for themselves?

Zachaeus was a rich man, but he was a lonely man. You might say he was viewed by his fellow countrymen as a collaborator with the occupying forces. Zaccheaus collected the taxes for the Romans!

So while he may have had financial security, he knew his future was on a shaky nail. It’s so easy to get drawn into a dodgy situation but it’s not so easy to find a way out. Now he’s perched on a tree viewing Jesus from a distance. Little does he know that Jesus is about to give him the invitation of his life.  When it comes he takes it with both hands and his life changes forever. He finds a friend for life.

Carole King the brilliant singer song writer knew a thing or two about planting songs that would stay with a generation or more of people who are feeling lonely and overlooked. Every time I hear the song You’ve Got A Friend I’m reminded of the promise of Jesus, when he said, “Look , I’ll be with you always even unto the end of the age”. You can listen to King’s song on Spotify here.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus,

Carole King’s song ‘You’ve got a friend’, reminds me of your everlasting friendship

I want to thank you for the amazing gift of prayer

For the hours, the days, in which you listened to my mixed up feelings

You have never ceased to listen

You have never said “I’m too busy”

Thank you for the knowledge that all I have to do is call.