Zacchaeus the Tax Collector
Climbing a tree to see Jesus
Jesus visited the city of Jericho. A man named Zacchaeus lived there. Zacchaeus was a rich tax collector. Most people didn’t like tax collectors. They thought tax collectors took too much money from the people.
Zacchaeus heard that Jesus was in the city. He wanted to learn more about Him. He tried to go see Jesus, but he couldn’t because there were so many people around Him, and Zacchaeus was too short to see over them. How would he get to see Jesus?
Zacchaeus ran ahead and climbed a tree so he could see Jesus. When Jesus passed by, He looked up and saw Zacchaeus in the tree. Jesus called his name and said, “Come down.” Jesus wanted to visit him in his house. Zacchaeus hurried down the tree. He was so happy to have Jesus come to his house.
The people in Jericho wondered why Jesus would go to Zacchaeus’s house. They thought Zacchaeus was a sinner because he was a tax collector.
Zacchaeus told Jesus, “Half of my goods I give to the poor.” He said that if he took too much money from someone, he would give them back even more. Jesus told Zacchaeus, “This day is salvation come to this house.” Jesus said He had come to find and save people who were lost.