Jesus and the Chief Tax Collector

Jesus and the Chief Tax Collector Zacchaeus

Jesus was passing through Jericho and the crowds had gathered to see him.  There was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector. Zacchaeus was a very lonely man and very much disliked by the local people because he was a chief tax collector. He took more money than he should have from them.

Zacchaeus was a short man but he was so determined to see Jesus that he decided to climb a Sycamore tree. As Jesus was passing by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and said, “Zacchaeus, Come down, I must stay at your house today.”

Zacchaeus was overcome with joy and he wanted so much to be accepted by Jesus. He said, “Here and now, I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone, I will repay four times as much.”

Jesus said, “This day God has visited this man. He too is a child of God.”

The crowds started to mutter amongst themselves, he has gone to the house of a sinner. Jesus said, “I came to seek and save those who were lost. This day this man has come back to God. 

Just as Zacchaeus, we must also be determined to call out to Jesus and ask for his mercy, love and forgiveness.  We must not let what other people think get in the way of us calling out to Jesus! (The story of Zacchaeus is found in Luke chapter 19 in the Bible.)

Dear Jesus,

Please visit me,

And change me

Just as you changed

Zacchaeus.

Amen.

By harbajan (servant of Jesus) 23/02/14