One day, our Lord Jesus Christ was walking through the city of Jericho. Many people were with Him. A man named Zacchaeus was there too. Zacchaeus was a tax collector. In those days, tax collectors often got rich from taking extra taxes from people and keeping the extra money for themselves. Zacchaeus was a rich man. Zacchaeus also was not very tall. When the crowd was passing by, he wanted to see who Jesus was. But because Zacchaeus was short, he could not see over the crowd.

There was a sycamore tree growing nearby. Sycamore trees can grow to be very high. Zacchaeus saw the tall tree and climbed it. Now he could see who Jesus was!

When Jesus came by the place where Zacchaeus was, He looked up into the tree. Then He said, “Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for I must stay at your house today!”

Zacchaeus hurried down the tree. He very happily welcomed Jesus into his home. People who saw this said to each other, “Jesus has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”

But Zacchaeus’ heart was changed. He said to Jesus, “I will give half of my stuff to people who are poor. And anyone that I cheated, I will repay four times as much as I took from them.”

Jesus said, “Today salvation has come to this house. For I came to find and save people like Zacchaeus who are lost.”

Who wanted to see Jesus?

Why couldn’t he see Jesus?

What did Jesus say when He saw Zacchaeus?

Does Jesus love Zacchaeus? What makes you think that? Jesus loves us, too, even when we sin.

Zacchaeus let Jesus change his heart. Jesus said Zacchaeus and his household were being saved. What about you? What can you ask Jesus to change in your heart today to help you be saved?