Once upon a time there was a man named Zacchaeus who lived in the city of Jericho. Zacchaeus was a tax collector, and his job was to collect taxes from the people. People didn’t like Zacchaeus very much, because they thought he was taking more money than he should. Zacchaeus was rich, but he didn’t have many friends.
One day, Zacchaeus heard that Jesus was coming to the city. Many people had heard of Jesus. He told people about God’s love and did wonderful things. Zacchaeus also wanted to see Jesus. But because he was small, he couldn’t see anything in the crowd.
Then Zacchaeus had an idea. He ran ahead and climbed a mulberry tree. He could see everything well from up there. Soon Jesus came along the street with many people around him. As Jesus stood under the tree on which Zacchaeus was sitting, He looked up and cried, “Zacchaeus, come down quickly! Today I want to be a guest in your house.”
Zacchaeus was surprised and also very happy. He quickly climbed down from the tree and took Jesus home with him. But the people in the crowd murmured, “How can Jesus go to this man? Zacchaeus is deceiving the people!”
In his house, Zacchaeus said to Jesus, “Lord, I will give half of my possessions to the poor. And if I’ve cheated on someone, I want to pay them back fourfold.” Zacchaeus was willing to change his life because Jesus had come to him.
Jesus rejoiced and said: “Today this house has been saved, because this man is also one of the people whom God loves. For I have come to seek and save the lost.”
Zacchaeus had found Jesus and opened his heart. From then on, he was a different person who passed on God’s love.
Message of history
God loves us, no matter who we are, and He helps us change our hearts if we allow Him to. Everyone can belong to God!
Bible passage
The story of Jesus and Zacchaeus is found in Luke 19:1-10:
“And he went into Jericho and went through it. And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, who was a tax collector and was rich. And he sought to see Jesus who he was, and could not do it because of the crowd; for he was small in stature. Then he ran ahead and climbed up a mulberry tree to see him; because that’s where he was supposed to get through. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and saw him, and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down quickly.” Because I have to stop at your house today. And he hurried down and received him with joy. And when they saw it, they all murmured and said, “He has come to a sinful man to have the banquet.” Zacchaeus came up and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, half of my goods I give to the poor, and if I have deceived anyone, I will repay it fourfold. Then Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man came to seek and save what was lost.”
