Zacchaeus Climbs a Tree

One day Jesus went to the town of Jericho. Many people were excited to see Jesus and they crowded around him.  A man named Zacchaeus was excited too and he wanted to see Jesus too. Many people did not like Zacchaeus very much because his job was to collect tax money, and he cheated people out of their money when he collected the taxes. Zacchaeus was a very rich man but he was also a very short man. He was not tall at all. As the crowd of people made their way out to see Jesus, Zacchaeus also went to see Jesus. But because he was so short, he could not see Jesus over the crowds. Then Zacchaeus had an idea. He ran ahead of the crowd and climbed up a tree. It was a sycamore tree and Zacchaeus knew Jesus would pass by that way very soon. He was sure he would be able to get a glimpse of Jesus from up in the tree! But would Jesus notice him?

  Zacchaeus in the tree
(picture - chanthinenmy.org )

Can you imagine this? There is Zacchaeus sitting in the tree and waiting for Jesus to pass by. As he watched, Jesus came! Then a very unexpected thing happened. Jesus stopped right by the tree. Jesus looked up right at Zacchaeus. Then Jesus said "Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today."( ESV ) This made Zacchaeus very very happy and he hurried down from the tree. And Jesus went with Zacchaeus to his home to spend time with him.

The people that saw and heard this began to grumble and they said “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner."( ESV )The people said this because they knew that Zacchaeus cheated them when he collected their tax money. But Jesus loves every one and He wants to save all of us, no matter what bad things we have done, He still loves us. Jesus came to save all of us!

After Jesus had stayed with Zacchaeus, Zacchaeus was a changed man. Now he wanted to do what is right. He did not want to live the life of a cheater any more. Then Zacchaeus said "I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!”( NLT )  Then Jesus said "Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham.  For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost." (ESV) Jesus was very happy because Zacchaeus believed in Him. Zacchaeus was saved that very day! Jesus came to help and to save all of us. He looks for us and finds us, just like He found Zacchaeus up in the tree. He came to save you and me, it does not matter if we are short or tall, younger or older, everyone is special to Jesus!