Nazareth Village in Galilee is a fabulous open-air living-history museum depicting Galilee in the time of Jesus. I visited it both times I traveled to Israel.
There is nothing like seeing people dressed just as they were in New Testament times performing daily tasks like milking goats, plowing the soil, throwing pottery and weaving fabric. Every job is done exactly as it was in the first century.
A synagogue had been built in the village which replicated those utilized in the time of Christ for weekly worship. The structure was actually created with only the basic hand tools used in that era. We sat through a service and every detail was explained. The men and women in our tour group sat separately just as they did in Bible times.
As our group walked about, a guide pointed out a sycamore tree. It was so different than what I expected from reading the story of Zacchaeus. I imagined that it would be tall with open leaves—a good place to climb to get a better view. No, it was a tree to hide in.
The leaves are large and round and dense. Limbs provide sprawling cover for anyone wanting to watch discreetly what is going on below. A dignified and wealthy official like Zacchaeus would not like to be seen up in a tree.
How beautiful to realize that Jesus, who can see into the hearts of men can also see through the abundantly leafy sycamore tree straight into the tax collector’s eyes and call him to himself.
