The Man in the Tree

From: Gospel Light: Volume 8 (1918)

• 5 min. read • grade level: 6

THE present period is especially the day of God's grace; the day when God is not requiring anything from man, but the day in which He has everything to give to man. "The law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." (John 1:17¹⁷For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. (John 1:17).) JOH 1:17¹⁷For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. (John 1:17)

Thank God for this precious word! God is essentially now in this day, a giving God, not a demanding God. He is dealing with the poor sin-stricken, benighted world in rich and sovereign grace, in "grace and truth," and this "grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.”

You may ask, What has this to do with the heading of the paper, "The Man in the Tree"?

Dear reader, the man in the tree had to learn this all-important, yet precious soul-saving, lesson of God's grace. It was everything to him. What his position could not secure, what his wealth could not purchase, what his conscientious and constant daily practice could not procure, contact with Jesus, the Son of man, the Saviour of sinners, could and did bring to him.

The Holy Spirit of God has unfolded the man's history in the following verses of Luke 19 LUK 19:1-48¹And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. ²And, behold, there was a man named Zaccheus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. ³And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. ⁴And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way. ⁵And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zaccheus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house. ⁶And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully. ⁷And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner. ⁸And Zaccheus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. ⁹And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. ¹⁰For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. ¹¹And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear. ¹²He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. ¹³And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. ¹⁴But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us. ¹⁵And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. ¹⁶Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds. ¹⁷And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities. ¹⁸And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds. ¹⁹And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities. ²⁰And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin: ²¹For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow. ²²And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow: ²³Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury? ²⁴And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds. ²⁵(And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.) ²⁶For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him. ²⁷But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me. ²⁸And when he had thus spoken, he went before, ascending up to Jerusalem. ²⁹And it came to pass, when he was come nigh to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount called the mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, ³⁰Saying, Go ye into the village over against you; in the which at your entering ye shall find a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat: loose him, and bring him hither. ³¹And if any man ask you, Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord hath need of him. ³²And they that were sent went their way, and found even as he had said unto them. ³³And as they were loosing the colt, the owners thereof said unto them, Why loose ye the colt? ³⁴And they said, The Lord hath need of him. ³⁵And they brought him to Jesus: and they cast their garments upon the colt, and they set Jesus thereon. ³⁶And as he went, they spread their clothes in the way. ³⁷And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen; ³⁸Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest. ³⁹And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. ⁴⁰And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out. ⁴¹And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, ⁴²Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. ⁴³For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, ⁴⁴And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation. ⁴⁵And he went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold therein, and them that bought; ⁴⁶Saying unto them, It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves. ⁴⁷And he taught daily in the temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the chief of the people sought to destroy him, ⁴⁸And could not find what they might do: for all the people were very attentive to hear him. (Luke 19:1‑48) "And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. And, behold, there was a man named Zaccheus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. And he sought to see Jesus Who He was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him; for He was to pass that way." (1-4.)

In reading these verses it is manifest that with this man who "sought to see Jesus,'' neither his littleness of stature, nor the great crowd of people hindered him from carrying out his purpose. JESUS" was to pass that way," and, nothing daunted, this little man" ran before, and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see HIM; his object was to" see JESUS," it was a real desire, consequently circumstances were nothing. The man in the tree was waiting his opportunity, but as to himself, quite ignorant of his lost state as a sinner, and therefore "when Jesus came to the place, He looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zaccheus, make haste, and come down; for to-day I must abide at thy house." (v. 5.)

There are doubtless many real anxious souls in this and other lands in the same condition. They are up in the tree, but they must "come down." Jesus knew well the desire of the heart of Zaccheus; and Jesus knows well the desire of your heart. Is it to see Him? Then He will fulfill your desire.

Zaccheus was in the high place, but Jesus was in the low place. He was essentially the meek and lowly One, therefore Zaccheus must "come down” to the same level; and so must you, dear earnest soul. Listen, oh! listen to the response in the heart of Zaccheus, "And he made haste, and came down, and received Him joyfully." (v. 6.)

With what astonishment and delight did he hear the words of Jesus, “To-day I must abide at thy house" At once he responded to the voice of Jesus, and Jesus had only to say in reply, "This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost."(vv. 9, 10.) Grace triumphant reigns in Zaccheus' heart, and salvation enters Zaccheus' house. Others might murmur and say," He is gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner" (v. 7); but the man in the tree has “come down" at the bidding of Jesus, and joyfully receives Him at his house.

Zaccheus himself might stand before the Lord, and speak of his good deeds and conscientious dealings, which two principles are valuable in their right place; but the Lord shows him it was not the time to talk about himself, therefore at once meets him with these cheering, soul-satisfying words, " This day is SALVATION come to this house." “The grace of God which bringeth salvation” appeared to Zaccheus; all was settled forever. The Son of man was come to seek and to save that which was "lost." If he receives the Son of man "joyfully," how much greater the joy of the One he receives to speak to him of salvation come to his house! “He that humbleth himself shall be exalted “is a divine principle, and it proved to be so in this case. (Luke 14:11¹¹For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. (Luke 14:11).) LUK 14:11¹¹For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. (Luke 14:11) There was no meeting-place in the tree. It was down in the dust of this poor world that the Saviour, the Son of man, and the sinner Zaccheus met, and all is divinely settled for eternity. This, dear reader, is a most heart-searching word for all who have not known the blessed God as a "Saviour God" in the Person of His Son, the Man Christ Jesus. God is speaking to you, to all in this day of grace. He has done all He could to encourage your heart to accept His great salvation.”