Zacchaeus

Zacchaeus' climb up to success, A tax collector, caused great distress Now he climbed a sycamore tree And watched and waited to see The famous Rabbi was coming his way A very exciting, curious day Those he'd cheated pressed in close Looking on him with grim morose Zac's conscience pricked him with sin's doubt Then Jesus saw him, and called him out "Zacchaeus! Come down from there! Zac scrambled down in a joyous flair I'm coming to your house today!" But the people said "To his house He'll stay??" The disgruntled crowd muttered and complained "Zac's a sinner unrestrained" But they too would be filled with joy When they saw righteousness employ. Zac soon proclaimed happily, he'd get to work quite speedily: “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; ---I will now surely by fourfold restore!" Then in joy Jesus announced “Today salvation's come to this house!" ~ <3 ~ "..... for the Son of Man has come to seek... and to save that which was lost.” Written by BJ Legros Kelley with special thanks to Anna M. Kaianna for her wonderful assistance with the editing of this poem Bible scriptures in reference to this poem are from Luke 19:1-10, Revelation 3:20, and John 3:16 New King James Version Jesus Comes to Zacchaeus’ House 19 Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. 2 Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. 3 And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up [a]and saw him, and said to him, “Zacchaeus, [b]make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.” 6 So he [c]made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully. 7 But when they saw it, they all [d]complained, saying, “He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner.” 8 Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.” 9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; 10 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Revelation 3:20 20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.