Zacchaeus was Short

Jesus knew all about Zacchaeus. He knew that Zacchaeus was stealing from people, but Jesus let Zacchaeus know that he was forgiven. What will Zacchaeus do now?

Transcript

Do you ever have trouble because you are not tall enough?  Until you grow up, you might need to stand on a chair to reach something. Even grownups can have trouble reaching, or seeing over peoples’ heads. In this story, Zacchaeus was a grownup but he was short.  He heard that Jesus was coming. When Zacchaeus heard that Jesus was coming he was excited.  A lot of people were excited! A big crowd gathered near the road.  He couldn’t see over the crowd because he was so short.  Zacchaeus was short, but he was also smart.  He saw a big tree up ahead.  What did he do?  ANSWERS He climbed into the tree.  Why?  ANSWERS  So he could look down and see Jesus. Now more people came, and finally, Jesus came along the road and passed through the crowd and stood under the tree.  He looked up into the tree.  Jesus said, “Zacchaeus.  Come down.  I’m going to your house today.”  What did Zacchaeus think?  ANSWERS  He was surprised! Jesus even knew his name!  He scrambled down the tree 

As they walked toward Zacchaeus’ house, he had time to think. He knew Jesus was from God’s kingdom.  Jesus could do miracles! He changed water into wine.  Jesus made sick people well.  Zacchaeus wasn’t sick, but he felt sick inside.   Zacchaeus knew he was being bad. He was so bad that it scared him sometimes. What if Jesus knew how bad he was?. Zacchaeus  tried to keep it a secret.  Just yesterday he had taken the tax money from Micah. Micah needed to pay only 5$ to the city, but Zacchaeus told him it was 7$ Zacchaeus gave the 5$ to the city and secretly put the 2$  into his own pocket.  Was that right? Was he supposed to take money for himself?  ANSWERS  No, that is stealing.  Nobody liked Zacchaeus because he took their money.  

When they got to his house, Zacchaeus gave Jesus and his disciples some lunch. Jesus knew all about Zacchaeus.  But Jesus still loved him.  Jesus made sure Zacchaeus knew that God forgives sins.  What does forgiveness mean?  ANSWERS  It means you don’t hold it against someone.  Let’s say you do something bad to me.   I could hold that against you.  Every time I see you I could get mad, or I could stay away from you because of this sin. But what did Jesus do? He forgave Zacchaeus. He told him.   “Zacchaeus, I love you, and I want you to be my friend.  Would you like to come into God’s kingdom?”  Zacchaeus was so happy!  He realized that God was on his side now. He didn’t need all this extra money. It wasn’t worth it! He got out his money - he took half of it.   He said.  “I’m giving half of my money to the poor people!  And then he said if I took anyone’s money, I’m going to pay them back 4 times as much.” 

Jesus said “Today, Zacchaeus is safe.  He is now in God’s kingdom.  I came to find people who are lost - they are wandering around in the dark -  and bring them back to God.”