Joy Robinson from Cre8ed came to visit us in school to tell us the story of Zaccheus the tax collector.

In Jericho there lived a rich man named Zaccheus, who was the head tax collector. When news came that Jesus was passing through Jericho on his way to Jerusalem, Zaccheus wanted more than anything else to see this wonderful man. Zaccheus stood with the crowd gathered beside the road, but he could see nothing. He was to short to see over the heads of the people. Down the road he ran and climbed into a sycamore tree.

Soon travelers going to Jerusalem came along the road. The people of Jericho watched eagerly to catch a glimpse of Jesus. The travelers walked until they came to the sycamore tree. Here Jesus and his disciples stood still. Jesus looked up and saw Zaccheus.

"Zaccheus," called Jesus, "come down at once, for today I must stop at your house."

How surprised Zaccheus was! Now he could take Jesus home and talk with him. Joyfully Zaccheus led the way. As they went, others followed. Some found fault because Jesus was stopping in the home of a tax collector whom they called a sinful man. The Pharisees would not enter such a house. They hated sinners. Zaccheus' heart was changed by Jesus' kind words. He told Jesus, "Behold Lord, I will give half my goods to the poor. And if I have taken more from any man than I should, I will give back four times as much as I took."

Joy told us how Zaccheus had felt before and after he had met Jesus. We tried to play music that reflected his change from being a sad and lonely to a happy and friendly person.