Thoughts about Zacchaeus

This interpretation of the story of Zacchaeus came to thought when I read Jesus’ words “...for today I must abide at thy house.” I realized that “house” can be translated as “consciousness” ~ and the rest just flowed in!

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Zacchaeus cannot make the Christ come to his consciousness; but he is eagerly waiting and watching. He climbs into a tree so that he can see better ~ he lifts himself above the babble of mortal mind, so that he can better recognize the Christ. When he sees the Christ idea, he “made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully” ~ he immediately accepts the Christ into his consciousness, joyfully and gratefully.

Then “they that saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be a guest with a man that is a sinner” ~ the babble of mortal mind accuses and condemns him, claiming that he is not worthy to have the “mind of Christ.” What has he, a sinner, to do with the man of God?

Zacchaeus does not argue with these erroneous thoughts. He “stood” ~ he stands up in defiance of the wrong, deceitful claims of animal magnetism, the aggressive mental suggestions, and turns to the Christ. He “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” ~ he declares his true nature as the loving child of God, and in repentance offers himself to the Christ, offering up any thing in his thought that would seem to have identified itself with him as a limited, sinning mortal.

Of course, the reward follows: “This day is salvation come to this house [consciousness].”