"And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd..." Luke 19:3, NKJV

It was our first summer as Colorado residents, and we decided to endure a few hours of intense Colorado sun to watch the Broncos practice at Dove Valley.  After the team's practice session concluded, several players made their way toward the fans, and with my 2-year-old (at the time) son on my shoulders, I headed toward the 2015 Super Bowl MVP in hopes of getting a signature.  But more intense than that Colorado sun was the intensity of that crowd pressing in for Von Miller's attention.  We tried to shimmy our way through the crowd, but I eventually decided to preserve my son's safety and walk away empty handed.  The crowd got in our way of making personal contact with a football star that day, but in Luke 19 there was another crowd that got in Zacchaeus' way of making personal contact with the Savior.

In recent weeks, we've been exploring Jesus' one-on-one encounters recorded in the Gospels, and maybe you've noticed a bothersome trend:  in several of these stories, there is a crowd that must be overcome in order for those personal encounters to me made.  The bleeding woman had to press through a crowd just to touch Jesus' garment.  Bartimaeus's initial plea for mercy was shushed by people from the great multitude.  In a similar way, Zacchaeus's longing to see Jesus was nearly snuffed out "because of the crowd" (Lk. 19:3).

DIFFERENT KINDS OF CROWDS

All of this makes me wonder:  is there a "crowd" in my life that acts as a barrier in my connection with Jesus?  What dynamics make it difficult to experience meaningful one-on-one time with God?  Maybe you know what it's like to collide with a "crowd" of people whose voices tend to discourage your seeking after God or people whose hurtful actions and misleading examples have made it impossible to clearly see Jesus.  Maybe an overcrowded calendar is the "crowd" with which you're most commonly bombarded.  The multiplicity of responsibilities and commitments -- even the most noble of them -- can make for hurried or inconsistent one-on-ones with Jesus.  Or maybe the "crowd" of distractions in our overstimulating screen-age has kept you from contact with Christ.  The incessant tug of our devices or entertainment choices tends to sap our attention and affection so that solitude with God becomes an afterthought rather than a passionate priority.

OVERCOMING THE CROWD

Whatever "crowd" we run into, I'm thankful that Jesus is able and willing to overcome those barriers.  In Luke 19, Zacchaeus actively found an alternative way to get a glimpse of the Master, but Jesus Himself bridged the gap.

"And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.” Luke 19:5

I love this picture of the God who comes to us, right to us.  Did you notice Luke's description?  Jesus came to "the place" Zacchaeus had perched as if Jesus was navigating to the very coordinates the Holy Spirit had directed Him to.  

This is the God who actively moves to overcome whatever crowd has BEEN a barrier between our hearts and His.

Have others tried to silence your seeking after God?  Has your routine activity overtaken your intimacy with God?  Have life's toys and technology divided your heart's affection for God?  Whatever the "crowd," Jesus knows right where we are and is coming to that very place.

And when He does, He calls us by name (cf. Isa. 43:1) just like He did Zacchaeus.  We are not an afterthought to Him!  When the "crowd" makes us feel distant from God or incorrigibly inconsistent in our attempts to connect with Him, Jesus reminds us of His love for us and our belonging to Him.  He invites us to "make haste" to experience His abiding presence, not just with a great deal of hurry but with a renewed sense of priority.  It's an empowering invitation that assures us that the "crowds" of people or calendars or distractions don't have to have the final say.  Instead, we can move with desire toward the One who desires us.  

As we become aware of the dynamics that tend to get in the way of personal contact with Christ, let's also become aware of the redemptive steps Jesus takes to restore our connection with Him.  Like Zacchaeus who swiftly responded and brought Jesus to His house (Lk. 19:6), may each of us make haste to receive Jesus joyfully into our heart temple today and everyday.