April 4, 2024

I love to climb. Do you? When I lived in Phoenix, hiking the mountains around the area was what I did for exercise. It became a passion that stayed with me. I took a sabbatical in 2005 and spent two weeks of it in Juneau, Alaska. I got up every morning and hiked a different mountain. One morning I hiked to the top of Mt. Jumbo (Bradley) on Douglas Island, across the channel from Juneau. It was a five-and-a-half-mile trail to the top, and parts of it were really steep. But at the top was an amazing view of the channel and the surrounding mountain range. There were also two bald eagles perched on a tall tree branch, not twenty yards from where I stood. I was tired, sweaty, and a bit muddy. But I felt as if I could touch heaven with my hand from there. The view was almost more than I could take in. It was worth the climb.
When I read our passage today, I re-lived my Mt. Jumbo climb for a few minutes. To see Jesus, REALLY see Jesus, you have to be willing to make the climb. Zacchaeus could have settled for just a passing glance of Jesus. Since he was short, he would have had to tilt his head around some folks a bit. He would have still caught a glimpse of Him. But Zacchaeus wanted more than a glimpse. He wanted to get a good look at this man everyone was talking about. So this rich man humbled himself and made the effort to run ahead and climb a tree. And he got a look at Jesus that would change his life.
You know what I’ve discovered? Many people aren’t willing to make the climb. Many people haven’t come to a place in their lives where they’re willing to put in the effort of what it takes to really see Jesus. They’re not willing to take the time to open God’s Word and read or listen to God’s Word. They’re not willing to spend the time necessary to sit with that Word and ask self-directed questions about what it is that God might want to say to them. They’re not willing to get alone with God, to open their hearts and minds, and to take in the incredible view of Jesus that only comes from “climbing.” It comes through the illumination of His Word, meditation and prayer, and through leaning into Him through worship. Those who climb that “tree,” get a view of Jesus that others will never see. They get to see His face, hear His voice, and experience His beauty. Life-changing moments with Him don’t come by only giving Him a glance once in a while. You’ve got to get yourself to places where you can take in a deep view of Him. And trust me as a fellow seeker, just like Mt. Jumbo, He’s worth the climb. That’s God’s Word for you today.