PREACHER’S NOTE 13 NOVEMBER 2022
Sometimes a simple, familiar story re-examined holds
great depth. As it unfolds, we move to a place where we
recognise our own heart, get a glimpse of the extent of
our Lord’s love and forgiveness, and then realize with
amazement that He is also calling our name.
A little man, with his heart full of despair, rushes on ahead
of the crowd, and scrambles in an undignified fashion
into a tree. Just to get a glimpse of hope. His life is a
sham, everything about it represents what’s bad about
the world – proceeds from exploiting his fellow countrymen,
hatred everywhere he goes, broken promises that
riches make you happy tearing his heart apart. Something,
as he woke up this morning, said “Today, this has to
change.”
The man everyone’s been talking about, the prophet
that teaches with wisdom, who heals where no one
could before, who speaks and lives with integrity, is passing
through. If he could just get a glimpse of him – he’s
not even sure what he expects him to do.
Through the leaves, he hears a voice – then recognizes his
own name. An expectant arm outstretched to help him
down. The hatred is still there as the crowd recognizes
him, amazed, with him, that the great man would stop to
talk to him of all people. It is difficult to explain as he looks
back on that day, but the Lord’s touch changed him,
changed his heart, so much that he changed the trajectory
of his life.
How are you doing, this week, up that tree? As you’ve
stopped, in the middle of the week, to try to make sense
of where you are? Do you hear the Saviour’s invitation,
see his outstretched hand? Will you come down, stand
next to Him, experience His life-changing touch?
Blessings,
Andrew.