Zacchaeus: Seen and Saved by Jesus

Tuesday, November 5th: Luke 19:1-10

Bible Verse:

“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

— Luke 19:10 (EHV)

Devotion:

In this story, we meet a man named Zacchaeus. He wasn’t very tall, so he climbed up into a tree to see Jesus as He passed by. Zacchaeus had made some bad choices in his life, and many people didn’t like him because he was a tax collector who had cheated them. But Jesus saw Zacchaeus, even up in the tree, and called him by name. Jesus wanted to visit Zacchaeus’s house and spend time with him!

Zacchaeus was so happy that he promised to make things right and give back the money he had taken unfairly. Jesus showed Zacchaeus love and forgiveness, and it changed Zacchaeus’s heart. Just like Zacchaeus, Jesus loves and seeks out each one of us. He wants to be with us and help us grow closer to God.

Questions to think about:

1. Why do you think Zacchaeus climbed the tree to see Jesus?

2. How did Jesus show Zacchaeus love and forgiveness?

3. What can you do to show Jesus that you love Him too?

Prayer:

Dear Jesus, thank You for seeking me out and loving me, just like You did with Zacchaeus. Help me to always listen to You and do what is right. Amen.

Activity Idea:

Draw a picture of Zacchaeus in the tree, looking down at Jesus, who is calling his name.

Full Bible Reference:

“Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.’ So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. All the people saw this and began to mutter, ‘He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.’ But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, ‘Look, Lord! Here and now 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.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.’”

— Luke 19:1-10 (EHV)