Zacchaeus Climbs a Tree
Short little Zacchaeus climbs a tree to see Jesus. Jesus calls him by name, and his heart is changed.
Lonely Zacchaeus
Zacchaeus was a short man who lived in a town. His job was collecting taxes, and to be honest, people did not like him very much, because Zacchaeus was sometimes not fair. So most of the time he was left alone. Zacchaeus' house was big and his table was full; but his heart was empty and lonely. When people saw him they would turn their heads away and did not want to talk with him. Perhaps deep down Zacchaeus wanted to become a better person too, but he did not know how to begin. No one gave him a chance, and no one sat beside him. For sometimes a single bit of curiosity, a single small step, is enough to open a whole heart again.
Climbing the Tree
One day word spread that Jesus was coming to the town. Everyone poured into the streets to see him. Zacchaeus was very curious too; he wanted to see Jesus. But because he was short, he could not see anything through the crowd. He tried to push to the front, he stood on tiptoe, but it was no use — all he could see were people's backs.
Then a bright idea came to him. There was a big sycamore-fig tree by the road. Zacchaeus ran to the tree and climbed up into the branches. High up, he could now see everything. He sat there and waited for Jesus to come.
Jesus Calls Him by Name
When Jesus came near, something unexpected happened. Just as he reached the tree, he stopped, looked up, and gazed at Zacchaeus. Then he called him by name: “Zacchaeus, come down quickly. Today I want to be a guest in your house.” Zacchaeus nearly fell out of the tree in surprise! Jesus had noticed him, the one everyone else ignored, and even knew his name.
A Changed Heart
With great joy Zacchaeus climbed down and took Jesus to his home. That day Zacchaeus' heart grew soft. “From now on I will be honest,” he said. “I will give back more than I took from those I treated unfairly, and I will help those in need.” And he really did just that. Zacchaeus became a whole new, happy person.
Zacchaeus' story reminds us: no one is too small to be seen or too unimportant to be remembered. Jesus sees everyone and loves everyone. And once we feel that we are loved, our hearts can change toward goodness.
Talk about the story
Jesus noticed Zacchaeus, whom everyone else ignored. Who around you could you notice more?