The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-03-09
The method of his seeking is noteworthy

luillly VI Ills lie. DOfuCIlHS On tue IOdu
were evergreen fg.trees, known as syco-
mores. Some grew to immense size; the
trunks measuring even fifty feet in circum-
ference. The trunks were short, branch
ing low and wide in all directions. 1t was
| physically an easy thing to climb one of
these trees. If Zaccheus had been less
eager and precipitate, it might not have
been for him however an easy thing to
mount such a conspicuous elevation. The
act does not at all comport with an average
rich mans dignity. We in our days some
times see boys seek similar elevations
where they can thus overlook the obstruc-
tons to the free sight of game of base
ball or football. 1t is boyish thing to
do. To see man do like thing, to see
a rich man elongating his small stature by
such means, would not, in our day, pass
unremarked. Zaccheus in the tree is a
sight for the multitude. There may have
been others on the same tree; number
of boys might be there and scarcely attract
curious eyes; but Zaccheus the dignitary,
the rich man, who had long invited the
scorn of his fellow Hebrews, this great
little man thus perched on the limb of the
tree, would be, next to the Passing One,
the observed of all observers.
2. Jesus Desires to See FAC
cheus,-vs. ST.
Recognition of the chief publican in the
tree was natural and easy to Jesus. Some
assume that Jesus knew Zaccheus by
supernatural revelation. But what need
of supernaturalism when the natural is so
apparent? Jesus had but to hear the COM
mon remarks of the multitude to learn who
Zaccheus was, and what he was. He
needed only one glance of his clear human
eyes to know Zaccheus better thon any
other one, the All-Seeing excepted, had
ever known him. He @needed not that
any should testify of man, for he knew
what was in man." AT glance he saw
revealed the unrestful inner life of the rich
publican; his lower selfish impulses, hith-
erto dominant, making him a successful
man of the world; his higher impulse
toward the eternal, hitherto kept in sub
| lection, now prompting heroism in the pur-
suit of an unknown good. Jesus had eyes
to see the evil, and eyes to see the good
1t was like him that he rendered to the
incipient good he discerned in Zaccheus a
prompt and generous recognition.
How did Jesus know himself invited to
the publican's house? But could the little
man need to speak more than his acts had
spoken, in prayer for spiritual help7 Jesus
did we'll to dispense with the customary
ceremony. He saw his opportunity to help
a struggling soul into the new life. For
this object he could we'll tarry few hours
on his journey, and exemplify the saving
power of his humane Gospel In Fac
cheus' heart was good soil prepared for
| the regenerating word.
In response to the gracious summons,
the publican came down and joyfully re-
| ceived in his house the one who had &C
| corded to him distinguishing favor.
THEY all mn,mnyed, saying, He is gene
tn to lodge qOiM a man that is a sinner
This is simple faithfulness to common
type of human nature. Jesus would have
been welcome in many home of the sons
of Aaron in Jericho, where he might have
made influential friends or palliated bitter
| opposition. Instead, he makes free
proffer of fellowship to recreant Jew who
has disgraced his birth and become pa
gan tyrant's tool. No wonder there was
murmuring.
Some critics would except the disciples
from this disrespectful disapproval of their
Master but why? The great act of Jesus,
so humane, so divinely charitable, was at
this time as inoomprehensible to the dis
ciples as to the average people. They
were still insisting that Jesus should be a
visible king. The manliness of Jesus, the
humanity, shine in this act, in opposition
to the general murmuring.
3. Zaccheus Begins New Life,
VS.. $40.
One soul in that multitude appreciated
the greatness of Christ's charity. The
least of all had become the first of all.
The publican had such surging tide of
new life within him, that he was new
man in a new world. 1t has been said of
the understood Paul that on occasions
when he was called to exhibit courage, he
was SIX feet tall from his shoulders up.
| f1e1e tne SmdllStdluTeu ZdCCHeuS SHOWS d
sudden greatness of nature which cannot
be measured by human standards.
He would justify the grace which had
been shown to him. He spoke in the
hearing of the Master and of the multitude
crowding the court of his house: Behold,
Lord, the half of my goods / .eive to the
POOR; and it haze zvyongfnIly exacted
axght Of any man, I restore foN,1Old.
Some, notobly Rev. F. w. Robertson, I'M
derstand the publican here to state what
had been the previous habit of his life.
This view, while it has the merit of gene
rosity, is untenable for several reasons.
~ "The ff,' as Peloubet says, does not
imply doubt, but being used with the
indicative mood in the Greek denotes a
supposition according to fact; implying
that he has done such wrong in the past. !"
(2) If such had been his habit, so excep-
tional among the publicans, he would have
been renowned for his uprightness, his
benefactions, his righteous poverty, in
stead of being, as he was, notorious as a
publican who had boarded illgotten gains.
a. He would not have been pronounced
| ~. @ha Macfar &c that dav cauad and a