The verse anchor
"For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost."
Luke 19:10 · King James Bible
The story
In the town of Jericho there lived a man named Zacchaeus. He was the chief tax collector. That means he took money from people to give to the Romans — and often he took more than he was supposed to, and kept the extra for himself. He was very rich, but nobody liked him.
One day Jesus came walking through Jericho. A great crowd followed him. Zacchaeus wanted to see who this Jesus was. But there was a problem: Zacchaeus was a very short man, and the crowd was too tall.
So Zacchaeus ran ahead and climbed up into a sycomore tree. From up there he could see over everyone's head.
When Jesus came to that place, he looked up. He looked right at Zacchaeus in the tree, and he called him by name.
"Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house."
Zacchaeus climbed down as fast as he could. He received Jesus into his house with joy.
But the crowd was upset. They murmured. "He is gone to be a guest with a man that is a sinner!" they said.
Something happened in Zacchaeus's heart that day. He stood up and said to Jesus, "Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold."
Jesus said, "This day is salvation come to this house… For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost."
One thing we learn
Jesus saw Zacchaeus up in the tree — and Jesus knew his name. Jesus sees you, too. He knows your name. He came to seek and to save.
Memory verse
"For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost."
Luke 19:10 · KJV
Say it three times before bed. In seven days you will know it forever.
A prayer
Lord Jesus, thank you for calling Zacchaeus down.
Thank you for knowing my name.
Come to my house today.
Amen.
Beneath the story · for grown-ups
To read this whole passage in the King James Bible with your child, or to walk further with the household: