Zaccheus

ZACCHEUS is a wealthy tax collector, he was so short that he could not look over the heads of the people.

One day, when Jesus entered and passed through Jericho, he wanted to see who Jesus was, so he frantically ran ahead of the crowd, climbed up a sycamore tree and waited to see him as Jesus had to pass that way.

When Jesus came to that place, he looked up and saw Zaccheus. He stopped and said unto Zaccheus, “come down, for I want to stay at your house today.”

Zaccheus was so surprised that Jesus would speak to him, but he climbed down at once and led the way to his house. When the people saw this thing happening, they murmured and commented that why a teacher as great as Jesus wanted to stay with that sinful Zaccheus.

Zaccheus soon discovered that being in the presence of Jesus made him ashamed of every wrong thing he has ever done. He wished to be forgiven. He stood up and told Jesus that he would give half of his goods to the poor, and if he had cheated anyone, he would pay him back four times as much.

And Jesus said unto him, “Zaccheus, this day salvation has come to you. I have come to the world to save people like you.”