While a part of the definition of “stature” refers to the physical appearance, another aspect of the word is described as “importance or reputation gained by ability or achievement.” We are all familiar with the story of Zacchaeus. We even have a Sunday school song about him. He was a “wee little man” who climbed a tree to see Jesus. As a person of small stature, I would undoubtedly be up in that tree with him!
What if we considered the stature of Zacchaeus’s reputation among the Jews in the crowd? He was a tax collector, a thief, and despised by his countrymen. I suspect the crowd would have wanted to banish him. What if the issue wasn’t just his physical stature? Maybe he hid from the crowd because of his negative reputation as a tax collector?
Jesus walks under the tree, calls Zacchaeus by name, and invites Himself to dinner. His immediate response is to jump out of the tree and declare his sincere repentance and hope for restoration. Jesus calls him by his name, which means” pure and innocent one” in Hebrew. Jesus did not call him a thief, a despised one. Jesus called out his true identity, bringing about an amazing repentance and transformation. “Today salvation has come to this house (Luke 19:9).”
Perhaps we all need someone to find us hiding in our false identity, and call us by our true, “in Christ” identity. We need to call out those around us in the way Jesus sees them. We should challenge each other to grow in wisdom and stature. Can you imagine that salvation can come to someone’s house by calling out who they truly are in Christ?
~ Susan Kewin
Christ Fellowship