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Jesus meets Zacchaeus

Jesus meets a cheating chief tax collector.
Contributed by LUMO project
Story also available on our translated websites: Spanish, Portuguese, Polish, German, Arabic, Simplified Chinese
1
Jesus and His disciples were in a large crowd of people passing through the city of Jericho on their way up to Jerusalem. Zacchaeus, who lived in Jericho, wanted to see Jesus as He passed by. But as Zacchaeus was a short man he couldn’t get a glimpse of Jesus. – Slide 1
2
Zacchaeus was the chief tax collector of the region. Most Jews hated tax collectors as they worked for the Romans occupying their land and often charged much more than they should to make themselves rich. Many believed that God would never forgive a tax collector. – Slide 2
3
Zacchaeus suddenly had an idea how he could get a view of Jesus. He ran ahead of the crowd... – Slide 3
4
... and climbed up a sycamore-fig tree. – Slide 4
5
When Jesus came to the tree that Zacchaeus had climbed, He suddenly stopped and looked up at the tax collector. – Slide 5
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Zacchaeus must have wondered what Jesus would say to a corrupt tax collector and how the large crowd might treat him. – Slide 6
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Jesus called up to him, ‘Zacchaeus, come down immediately. – Slide 7
8
‘I must stay at your house today.’ – Slide 8
9
A very surprised Zacchaeus started to climb down the tree right away. – Slide 9
10
When he reached the ground he welcomed Jesus and Jesus welcomed him. – Slide 10
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Then an excited Zacchaeus led Jesus towards his house. People in the crowd began to mutter disapprovingly, ‘Jesus has gone to be the guest of a sinner.’ – Slide 11
12
Zacchaeus knew he had been greedy for money and cheated many people. ‘Look, Lord!’ he told Jesus, ‘I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.’ – Slide 12
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Jesus explained, ‘Today salvation has come to the house of a Jewish tax collector. I came to seek and to save the lost.’ – Slide 13
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Slide 14