Zacchaeus Climbs a Tree

Here is a story about a short man, a tall tree, and a surprise that changed his whole life.

One sunny day, Jesus was walking through the town of Jericho. Everyone wanted to see him. People crowded along the road, shoulder to shoulder, all trying to get a look. In Jericho there lived a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector, and he was very rich. Tax collectors gathered money for the rulers. But many of them took extra money for themselves, and kept it.

So the people of Jericho did not like Zacchaeus one little bit. He had lots of money, but not many friends. Zacchaeus wanted to see who Jesus was. But there was a problem. He was short, and the crowd was tall. He stood on his tiptoes. He jumped up and down. But all he could see were elbows, and shoulders, and the backs of people's heads. And nobody was going to make room for Zacchaeus.

Then he had an idea. He ran on ahead, down the road, to a place where Jesus would soon pass by. There stood a big sycamore tree, with strong branches stretching out over the road. Zacchaeus tucked up his fancy robe, and up he climbed. Higher and higher, branch by branch. He found a good spot, and peeked out through the leaves. Now he could see everything!

The crowd came closer, and closer. And there was Jesus, walking right toward the tree. When Jesus came to that very spot, he stopped. And he looked up, into the branches. Everyone went quiet. What was Jesus looking at? Then Jesus said, "Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house."

Jesus knew his name! And out of everyone in the whole town, Jesus wanted to visit him. Zacchaeus hurried down so fast, he nearly tumbled out of the tree. He was full of joy, and he welcomed Jesus to his home. But the crowd didn't like it one bit. They all began to grumble. Why would Jesus go to the house of a man who had done so many wrong things, they muttered.

But something wonderful was happening inside Zacchaeus. Jesus had shown him kindness, and his heart was changing. Zacchaeus stood up and said, "Behold, Lord, half of my goods I give to the poor." Half of everything he owned! And that wasn't all. He said that if he had cheated anyone, he would pay them back four times as much.

Four times! If he had taken one coin too many, he would give back four. Imagine how surprised the people of Jericho would be, when Zacchaeus came knocking on their doors with their money!

Then Jesus said, "Today, salvation has come to this house." That meant Zacchaeus was forgiven, and he belonged to God's family. And Jesus said, "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost." The Son of Man is a name Jesus used for himself. He came to find people who were lost, like Zacchaeus, and bring them home to God.

This story teaches us that Jesus loves us and forgives us, and his love can change our hearts.

And it teaches us to welcome people, like Jesus did, instead of grumbling like the crowd.