Level 4
Lesson 19: In the House of Zacchaeus

In the town of Jericho, in the days when Jesus was going about doing good, there lived a rich man who had no friends. His name was Zacchaeus, and he lived in a large house full of beautiful things. He had plenty to eat and drink, and fine clothes to wear, but he was very unhappy.

Everyone in Jericho hated him, for he was the chief of that men who gathered in the taxes for the king, and Zacchaeus often took more money from the people than he should have done.

Today Zacchaeus felt especially unhappy, for he had heard how another tax-gatherer named Matthew had left his work to follow Jesus and be His friend.

"Oh," sighed Zacchaeus, "how I wish I could have Jesus for my Friend too. I wouldn’t be lonely any more."

As he walked sadly towards the city gate he overheard two farmers from the country talking together. "Have you heard that Jesus is coming into Jericho today?" said one.

"Yes, indeed," replied the other. "He stayed in our village last night, and I heard His disciples saying they would be in Jericho today."

Zacchaeus could have jumped for joy when he heard that. "Jesus coming here today? Why, I must see Him, I must," he said to himself.

Just at that moment Zacchaeus saw a crowd of people coming through the city gate. They seemed very happy and excited. Whatever could be happening? In a moment Zacchaeus understood. It must be Jesus! Now was his chance.

Zacchaeus ran to meet the crowd, but the people pushed him aside angrily. He couldn’t see anything at all, for he was much shorter than the other men, and they jostled him this way and that.

"I must see Jesus," thought Zacchaeus, and he started to run down the street in front of the crowd, to where a large sycamore tree grew at the side of a house. Zacchaeus scrambled up into the branches and waited breathlessly. Now he could see Jesus.

Nearer and nearer He came. Now…He was standing under the tree—He was actually speaking to him, calling him by his name.

"Zacchaeus, make haste and come down," He said, "for today I want to stay in your house."

Zacchaeus could hardly believe his ears. He almost fell out of the tree, he was in such a hurry to get down. He led Jesus away joyfully to his house.

"You are welcome, Master," he said, as he led the way in. He called his servants to bring food and wine for Jesus, and water to wash the dust from His hands and feet.

But Zacchaeus wanted to do more than this—he wanted to do something to show Jesus how much he wished to be His friend. Then suddenly he knew what he must do. If Jesus was going to be his friend he must be kind and honest and true, so that people would not hate him any more.

"Lord," he said, "I will give half of my goods to the poor, and if I have taken anything from any man wrongly, I will give him back four times as much."

Jesus looked at him for a moment, then smiled and said, "You have learned how to be My friend today, Zacchaeus."