Zacchaeus Comes Down from the Tree

Zacchaeus lived in Jericho and collected taxes. He was rich, but he wanted to see Jesus as Jesus passed through town.

The crowd was too tall for him to see over. Zacchaeus ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree.

Leaves rustled above the road.

When Jesus reached the tree, he looked up. He called Zacchaeus by name and told him to come down quickly. He would stay at his house that day.

“Zacchaeus, come down quickly. I must stay at your house today.”

Zacchaeus climbed down and welcomed Jesus with joy.

Some people complained that Jesus had gone to the home of a sinner. But Jesus saw someone who could begin again.

Zacchaeus said he would give half his possessions to the poor. If he had cheated anyone, he would repay four times as much.

His welcome to Jesus was becoming a change in his actions.

Jesus said that salvation had come to that house. He had come to seek and save the lost.

Saying we are sorry matters, and so does trying to repair what we have done.

We can return something we took, speak honestly, or help someone we hurt. Jesus' welcome gives us hope to change.