Zacchaeus Meets Jesus
Luke 19:1-10
Ilumi Kids · Stories
Jesus was passing through the city of Jericho, and a huge crowd was following him.
Zacchaeus lived in that city. He was the chief tax collector, and he was very rich, but almost nobody liked him: tax collectors worked for the Romans, and many of them charged people more than they should.
Zacchaeus really wanted to see Jesus. But there was a problem: he was short, and the crowd blocked his view!
"He was trying to see who Jesus was, and couldn't because of the crowd, because he was short."
Luke 19:3Zacchaeus was the chief tax collector of Jericho, rich and disliked by the people. Because he was short and the crowd kept him from seeing Jesus, he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree. Jesus stopped under the tree, called him by name, and said he would stay at his house. Zacchaeus came down with joy, promised to give half of his goods to the poor and to pay back four times anything he had taken from anyone. Jesus said that salvation had come to that house that day.
Where it is in the Bible: Luke 19:1-10
Jesus knows each of us by name and came to seek the lost; meeting him changes our hearts and our actions.
After reading, use these questions to help your child remember and apply the story.
Jesus was passing through the city of Jericho, and a huge crowd was following him.
Zacchaeus lived in that city. He was the chief tax collector, and he was very rich, but almost nobody liked him: tax collectors worked for the Romans, and many of them charged people more than they should.
Zacchaeus really wanted to see Jesus. But there was a problem: he was short, and the crowd blocked his view!
"He was trying to see who Jesus was, and couldn't because of the crowd, because he was short." — Luke 19:3
Zacchaeus had an idea. He ran ahead of everyone and climbed a tall sycamore tree, right on the road where Jesus would pass.
From up there he could see everything! And then something nobody expected happened: when Jesus reached that spot, he stopped, looked up, and called Zacchaeus by name.
Jesus to Zacchaeus: Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house.
Zacchaeus hurried down from the tree and welcomed Jesus into his home, full of joy!
But the people who saw it started to grumble: "He has gone to stay with a sinner!"
Meeting Jesus changed Zacchaeus's heart. He stood up and made a promise in front of everyone:
Zacchaeus to Jesus: Behold, Lord, half of my goods I give to the poor. If I have wrongfully taken anything from anyone, I restore four times as much.
Jesus was glad about Zacchaeus's decision and said: "Today, salvation has come to this house."
Everyone saw Zacchaeus as someone who could never change. Jesus looked at him with love, called him by name, and wanted to stay at his house.
This story teaches us that no one is too small or too far away for Jesus. When he comes into our hearts, our lives change too!
"For the Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost." — Luke 19:10
