How many people in the bible do you know ever hosted Jesus in their house?
Obviously not many, but of the few, a very striking example is that of Zacchaeus (LUke 19: 1-10).
Zacchaeus was a tax collector, indeed, the chief tax collector (chief of all other tax collectors).
This means that he was probably very unpopular and despised as is the case for tax collectors who are seen as dishonest and cheaters.
And Dishonest he was, as he would later commit to repaying everyone he had cheated.
Zacchaeus was a very small sized man, and also very short. This means that he was always lost and hardly noticed in a crowed.
In effect, he was handicapped where size and especially height mattered, and that handicap would be pronounced on that day when Jesus traveled through Jericho, Zacchaeus’s town, on his way to Jerusalem for the last supper.
Followed by large crowds that wanted to hear him preach, that wanted to see, and to get healed of their afflictions.
Like everyone else, Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus for himself. Obviously, like every one else, he had only as so much only heard of Jesus, but now here Jesus was, and he could finally see him.
What an opportunity! He had to take it. He had to see Jesus. That is exactly what must have been running in Zacchaeus’s mind as he made out to join the crowed.
And move out he did, but there was a problem, and one that was bound to fail Zacchaeus, and over which he could have wailed, and probably for a while did wail!.
In the crowed that surrounded Jesus, Zacchaeus was much smaller than everyone else. He tried to pivot on the tips of his toes, tried to crane his neck out, but none worked.
He even tried to push forward his way towards Jesus, but the crowd was so thick and large, that too failed.
What in that chance to see Jesus stood between Zacchaeus and that opportunity? His height and size handicap!
But what did Zacchaeus do?
And idea occurred to him. He abandoned the crowd and ran ahead, and climbed up into the biggest tree he could find. It was a sycamore fig tree. High up above, little Zacchaeus the tax collector could now clearly see Jesus!
How important and accomplishing that must have been to the little man! Being able to see Jesus!
But is that the most revealing part of his story?
Actually no.
Zacchaeus climbed up into the tree so that he could see the attention that Jesus was getting. But instead what happened? HE became the center of attention!
Jesus stopped right under the tree where the little tax collector was perched. And, yes,
Jesu called Zacchaeus by name!
And thereafter you know how the story goes, but the finale is that Zacchaeus of all people gets the singular honor of HOSTING JESUS.
Not many had had that honor before, and certainly not many would, after that, but Zacchaeus did.
How come this unique opportunity fell to Zacchaeus?
The answer is to be found in his disability, his height and size physical handicaps.
They should have stopped him, instead because of them, Zacchaeus was forced to think outside the box and in so doing, seize the opportunity of not just getting a better view of Jesus while up the tree, but ultimately of hosting him.
If it weren’t for being short and small, Zacchaeus would not have climbed the tree, and if he had not climbed the tree, he probably would not have seen Jesus, and worse, never had the unique opportunity to host Jesus in his house!
Against everyone else, a handicap that was supposed to disadvantage him, instead became an advantage, albeit a disguised one.
Summarily, whatever your handicap/disability, do not keep brooding as to why God made you the way you are, start looking at everything, every opportunity that you feel you are unable to exploit and think outside the box. As Zacchaeus’s story showed, there is always a way!
Disability didn't stop Zacchaeus - is shouldn't stop YOU?