The answer is: Sycamore

Luke 19:1-10 - Zaccheus, a wealthy tax collector, sought to see Jesus amidst the crowd and climbed a sycamore tree. This symbolizes reaching beyond societal barriers to find salvation. Interestingly, sycamore trees were common in the region and served as a reminder of how Jesus seeks those who are marginalized.

Zacchaeus’s quest to see Jesus demonstrates an important message about overcoming barriers—whether they’re physical, like the towering crowd, or social, as he was the despised tax collector. The sycamore tree he climbed symbolizes hope and desire; it showed his urgency to connect with Jesus despite societal judgment.

Sycamore trees are fascinating themselves, as they have wide, spreading branches and remarkable resilience, many can live for hundreds of years. This makes them fitting props in a story of transformation—Zacchaeus doesn’t just physically rise above the crowd; he rises above his past when Jesus meets him with grace. Did you know that some traditions assert that sycamores were regarded as trees of wisdom? In Zacchaeus’s case, the wisdom came when he sought Jesus—making a spiritual climb that led to a newfound purpose.

Moreover, this encounter echoes several significant themes throughout the Bible. From Genesis to Revelation, the idea of radical inclusion and love for society's outcasts permeates the narrative. Like Matthew the tax collector and the woman at the well, it speaks to the message that none are beyond redemption. When Jesus says salvation has come to Lebanon, he wasn’t just talking to Zacchaeus; he was demonstrating a broader principle of welcoming everyone into a relationship with love and acceptance. Zacchaeus is transformed and gives back fourfold from what he took, embodying the essence of restitution and change.