Dear Readers and Listeners, Friends in Jesus Christ
Our watchword for today is taken from the Book of Genesis Chapter 18 verse 3, “My Lord, if I find favour with you, do not pass by your servant,” (NRSVB). We read in this chapter how the Lord came to visit Abraham and Sarah and appeared to them under the terebinths or oak trees of Mamre. When Abraham looked from his tent door, he saw three men at the tree cluster near his tent. At that very moment he did not realize that it was the Lord appearing to him, and thought that they were travellers passing. Abraham wanted to treat them with the greatest of Jewish hospitality. He invited them to sit down under the cool trees and receive water for their weary feet and refreshments to strengthen them for their journey. He begged them in the most respectful language to stay and enjoy his hospitality. They accepted the invitation and enjoyed the special meal that Abraham, Sarah and their helpers prepared for them. It was a large celebration: a calf was slaughtered and flour was prepared and round, flat-bread cakes were made. All these preparations took time and depict the great importance that Abraham had assigned to his guests and his preparation, even though they arrived unexpectedly. Little by little during the meal Abraham and Sarah started to understand that these were not ordinary visitors, but divine visitors. Finally the visitors promised that the covenant between God and Abraham would be fully realized with the birth of Isaac the following year. There under the oak trees God’s promises and grace were proclaimed to Abraham and Sarah, and they received his blessing. God did not pass by his servants!
In our application text we read the narrative of Christ visiting Zacchaeus after he saw him in the fig or sycamore tree. Jesus called Zacchaeus and asked if he would receive Him and his disciples in his house. “Zacchaeus, I must stay at your house today,” Luke 19 verse 5, (NSRVB). We read that Zacchaeus hurried down from the tree and received Jesus joyfully. Zacchaeus was excited to receive these guests. He knew that it was the Lord, and he was joyful that the Lord chose him and his house. He thought that he was not worthy for such a visit, that only a glimpse from the tree would be enough. Just like Abraham did, Zacchaeus hurried to prepare a special meal. He must have prepared a great feast that took time, for this was the traditional way of entertaining important guests. As the time of the feast progressed we read from the text how Zacchaeus announced that he repented of his wrongful deeds, reimbursing those he cheated through unfair taxes, four times what he has taken. The wind was taken from the sails of the accusers who found it unacceptable that the Lord ate with those who were noted for their corrupt acts. Through Jesus’ presence and acceptance of Zacchaeus, Zacchaeus was reconciled in his religious family and reinstated as a blessed son of Abraham.
God sees us and comes to us where we are, whether we are resting under the tree or climbing in the tree, for trees are God’s poetry and tools to work with humans and angels. He created the tree of Knowledge and the Tree of Life and Death in the garden. He promised that Israel will return to the Promised Land, each family sitting peacefully enjoying the crop of their own vines and olive trees. We read that the trees clap their hands when they praise God for his magnificence and deliverance of his children. Trees can hide and shelter, but trees can also reveal. Christ was lifted up on the tree, the Cross, for us, so that we are free from the curse of death and condemnation. The tree of the Cross is truly the Tree of Life for us.
Father, we thank you, sending tree-times in our lives, giving us shelter and refuge, Amen.