CAMPUS MINISTRY

TREE CLIMBING

Even if you don’t know many Bible stories, you probably know the story of Zacchaeus - the man who climbed a tree to be able to see Jesus more clearly and ended up hosting Jesus for lunch! He was, of course, a tax collector, who then, as now, are not very popular with people. And yet, despite his social standing and exclusion, Zacchaeus was determined to see the Jesus he had heard so much about.

Knowing the route that Jesus most likely would take through the town, Zacchaeus made sure to get there early to get a good spot - especially as he was a man of short stature, and if there was a crowd, he would be unable to see Jesus. He found a tree to climb on the roadside so he could see Jesus clearly as he approached.

As Jesus was walking down the road, he looked up and saw Zacchaeus sitting in the tree. Surprised - and I imagine delighted too - Jesus asked him to come down and told him that he wished to stay at his house. Zacchaeus was both amazed and overjoyed; simply being in Jesus’ presence was overwhelming. Immediately he has a profound conversion, promising to reform his money-grabbing habits. Merely being in Jesus’ presence and then “being seen” by him changed Zacchaeus’ heart and life. He would never be the same!

We too are invited to “see Jesus clearly” and respond to his call. What is the tree we need to climb so we can do that? Are we open to being changed instantly by an encounter with our loving God?

Are we willing to shrug off our social conventions and do something outlandish - like climbing a tree - to discover the richness of life that God offers?

Mr Chris Kan

Dean of Campus Ministry