ZacchaeusMeetsJesus

The Amazing Carpenter Series

Zacchaeus meets

Jesus

Zacchaeus meets Jesus

1st edition, 1st print Copyright Š Scandinavia Publishing House 2014 Drejervej 15, 3. DK-2400 Copenhagen NV, Denmark info@scanpublishing.dk www.scanpublishing.dk Author: L. Jensen Illustrator: Daniel Fernåndez Cover design by Svetlana Uscumlic Book design by Gao Hanyu Printed in China ISBN: 9788771325195

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

The Amazing Carpenter Series

Zacchaeus meets

Jesus Written by L. Jensen

Illustrations by Daniel Fernandez

A

ll the people in Judea were wearing their best clothes.

The adults waiting in the village square mingled happily, setting aside any arguments with neighbors that day. The laughter of small children filled the air. For once, they dared not wander off too far for fear they might miss out on the arrival.

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The excitement grew as they all waited there together. Now it was time, time to leave the limits of Earth. To be freed from gravity’s prison of toil and sickness and death. For aching feet to feel only air underneath as the ground with all its problems melted away. It was just what Eli imagined being a bird would feel like, lifting off in a flock. The moment had finally come when they were about to be lifted by a breath from heaven itself.

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E

li would never forget his first time. Jesus had an actual sparkling glow all around him that left a soft shimmer trailing behind him. “That’s impossible,” his master said later when Eli told him about the event.

“Only money sparkles.” But Eli didn’t need anyone else to believe what he had seen with his own eyes.

On that day the gathering had been smaller, and two of Jesus’ disciples were arguing about who was the best.

Jesus had called Eli over and had him sit down next to him. Eli had felt a little frightened at first . . . wasn’t this the man with powers mightier than any gladiator, whom even the wind obeyed? A scrawny eleven-year-old boy wouldn’t be difficult to squash if Jesus had wanted to.

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ooking up at the gentle face of Jesus that day, Eli felt reassured with just one glance. Jesus didn’t use force to do things like the muscle-bound heroes in stories.

Jesus was SO powerful that his might came from love.

be the greatest now held their breath. Jesus put a gentle arm around Eli’s small shoulders. “So you see, it is the one who is the least proud among you,” Jesus continued, “who is actually the one who is going to be great.”

That day had changed the Jesus had turned to the watching boy, whose own parents had sent him away to work at a adults. “Whoever welcomes young age. Nothing would this child in my name will be ever hurt him too badly again. welcoming me,” Jesus had said, “and welcoming me is welcoming Nothing, now, ever could.

God.” Those disciples who had been fighting about who would

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oday the air was cool and breezy sending the silk scarves of the girls billowing their iridescent colors. The twin sisters’ black eyes looked Eli over thoroughly with hidden smiles in their catshaped outlines. Their father was an important leader of the synagogue, a Pharisee, and for now the girls stood behind him. But Eli knew they would corner him as soon as they had

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the chance. Which one was it who had a crush on him . . . maybe both?

Eli looked around for an escape.

Tomboy Lizzy wasn’t hard to spot. She was keeping watch on top of the village gate. Bare toes peeked out from under a purple dress, and her strawberryblond waves hung unbrushed.

Before he could reach her, she gave the alarm, “He’s coming!”

Eli turned and rushed down the road to greet Jesus. Would Jesus remember him? Eli wondered.

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F

irst Jesus blessed the sick.

Then he told stories to those gathered and invited the children close. Eli scooted nearer to Jesus along the stone step so that he wouldn’t miss a word.

A handsome young man approached, the woven silk of his clothes gleaming. “Teacher,” he said to Jesus, “what must I do to have eternal life? I have already been following the commandments.”

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Jesus answered, “Give everything you own to the poor; then you will have treasure in heaven.”

The young man’s shoulders slumped with disappointment . . . how could Jesus expect someone as rich as he was to give everything away?

Jesus noticed his sadness.

“How hard it is for those with riches to enter the kingdom of heaven!” said Jesus.

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T

here was no place like Jericho, and Eli loved coming home. The way the pink mountains at last opened to reveal, like twinkling emeralds, the green oasis of the city below. The gray Jordan River coiled around it like a protective snake. And as Eli got closer, a ripple in the palms promised a rush of activity below.

“Eli, welcome home!” The lanky potter dropped the handles of his cart to a clatter of clay jars.

“You saved my business with that loan,” he said, slapping Eli so hard on the back that he was thrown forward two whole steps.

to dinner, Eli?” asked a merchant. “See you at synagogue, Eli!” waved the girls skipping rope.

Eli couldn’t stop to chat; he was already hours late.

“Our little secret,” he answered and rushed on.

Everyone lit up with smiles as he passed. “Here’s a free loaf!” called the baker. “Coming

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Z

acchaeus was dead asleep in his chair. His gray head was leaning against the backrest. He was so short that he fit furniture like a small child.

Although Eli was average for eleven, he was a whole two inches taller than his master.

Without cause, Zacchaeus bolted awake. The stacks of coins went flying, ringing out as they hit the white marble floor. Zacchaeus darted a look around as if to discover the thief who woke him up. Eli said, “It’s only me, Master.”

Eli looked at the stacks of silver and gold coins aligned on the table. The elderly man still held his pen over the logbook that was filled with names, dates, and sums.

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he metal bars on the windows were all firmly latched. But still not convinced, Zacchaeus dropped to gather the spilled coins as quickly as possible. “That Pharisee, I don’t trust him,” he said. His silvery hair that was usually neat and straight now looked frayed with a few wiry hairs poking in different directions. “I want you to go back; go back I say, and get the entire sum.” Eli held in a groan.

He watched Zacchaeus gather up his silk robe now full of coins and pull out a brass key hidden inside the richly embroidered collar.

“I don’t care if he serves God; I don’t care WHO he entertains

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. . . if it’s Jesus or the Almighty himself!” The shattering sound of metal on metal rang down the halls as the coins fell into the giant mahogany chest. Then Zacchaeus slipped on his sandals and started toward the door.

At the mention of Jesus, Eli had forgotten all about his dread over seeing the twins. He quickly rolled up the logbook and chased his master outside where Zacchaeus triple-bolted the door.

Eli opened his mouth nervously, “Jesus . . . he told a story today.”

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Z

acchaeus didn’t look up but charged down the street. “Listening to stories again when I pay you to be gathering debts,” he said. He was pretending to be angrier than he really felt.

The truth was Eli had a talent for always securing what was owed with a nice profit on top.

“This one was about a Pharisee and a tax collector,” Eli said.

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One quick sideways glance from Zacchaeus showed that he was interested. “Both went to the temple. The Pharisee was proud.

But the tax collector, he was sorry for cheating others and asked God’s forgiveness. And so, God honored only the tax collector.” Zacchaeus’ back was turned, but because he finally stood still, Eli knew he was thinking about the story carefully.

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Z

acchaeus turned slowly around. “A tax collector in heaven you say?”

Eli laughed out loud; sometimes his master acted as innocent as a child. “Yep,” Eli said. “Even a tax collector can make it to heaven . . . so Jesus says.”

Zacchaeus rubbed a knobby finger on the embroidery of his collar. His eyes searched the horizon where the hills grew purple with the dropping sun. Eli continued, hiding a smile, “But what’s that you always say—who wants gold in heaven when it’s already on earth?” Zacchaeus

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looked around self-consciously at the street that had cleared out as he’d passed. Eli was enjoying his master’s attention. “Though some would say that a friend is worth even more than gold . . . ” Eli lightly tossed a gold coin he had acquired that morning in his hand. “But you’re right, that Pharisee had better pay up.” Then as he turned off down a side street, he flicked the coin toward Zacchaeus. Left alone behind, Zacchaeus hadn’t reacted quickly enough and now stood watching the gold coin on the ground as it slowly settle in the dust.

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E

li’s horse was still saddled when he reached the stables. He was feeding it a snack of grain when a shadow fell over them. “Liz!” he said, thrown back in surprise.

“What’re you doing in Jericho?”

Lizzy looked down at him from her horse as if examining a rock.

She had no expression. Her hair was pulled back and hidden

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under a bedouin scarf, and she wore a boy’s robe that was just a little too big. “Selling crops,” Lizzy said coldly. “YOU, of course, wouldn’t know anything about what it takes to make a farm run.” Her glance made him wish he’d changed out of his fancy suit. Before Eli could say anything back, Lizzy kicked her horse and disappeared.

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irls,” said the stable hand. “Can’t live with ‘em . . . ” He tossed the reigns up to Eli. “But you can certainly live without ‘em!”

“Thanks for the advice,” Eli shot back.

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He was moving at a canter now, trying to outrun the question of why Lizzy suddenly disliked him so much. He was so lost in thoughts of her, in fact, that it hardly surprised him to hear her voice screaming out. He saw a swirl of dust and Lizzy’s bright strawberry-blond head where she lay crumpled in the dirt.

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H

er horse was gone.

“Hop on,” Eli ordered and pulled Lizzy onto his horse in one swoop.

The bandits were fast. But they hadn’t counted on Eli’s horse, a racing steed that Zacchaeus had received for a debt. Neither had the older boys counted on Eli’s strength with a slingshot. Coming up alongside them, he aimed

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for them one by one as his legs squeezed the horse. In seconds the pack was scrambling, each bandit taking off in a different direction to avoid another hit.

The boy who rode with Lizzy’s horse willingly dropped it’s reigns, knowing he would be the one Eli would come after first.

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L

izzy wiped away tears leaving streaks of dirt across her checks. She rested her forehead against her horse still heaving from the sprint.

Eli wasn’t sure what to say.

“You’ve got your horse back.”

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“The money’s gone,” she answered. “All of it. This harvest was our only chance to— to—” Eli made his voice as gentle as possible. “You can tell me,” he said.

She swung her head to glare at him straight on. “To pay Zacchaeus!” she blurted, her face red with fury. “Now we’ll never afford the taxes he demanded. We’ll lose the farm, our home—all of it!”

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E

li had been too stunned to answer. But he knew she was right. Zacchaeus didn’t let any of his debts go.

Even if Eli were to try and help by torching the logbook, it would be no use. The truth was, Zacchaeus had every name and amount in it memorized.

Eli arrived on the doorstep of a Pharisee, who was just

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grateful it was not Zacchaeus.

Eli promised that he would get any loan he needed next year if he paid his tax in full. “I know you’re good for your word, boy,” the Pharisee said slipping Eli a pouch of coins. “But hear my words—keep that master of yours indoors when Jesus arrives next week. Jesus hates nothing more than a rich cheat.”

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li excused himself quickly before the twins could discover him. So . . . Jesus was coming through Jericho, Eli’s very own town! He couldn’t help but wonder if there wasn’t something Jesus would do to help Lizzy’s family. He knew in his heart that Jesus did a lot of other miracles, but he was not in the business of handing out money.

Even still, he could hardly wait.

He flew through his work visits

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that week, making sure everyone knew who was coming.

Everyone but Zacchaeus. “What’s all your whistling about?” the old man grumbled, dipping a feather delicately in a silver inkwell.

“It’s nothing,” Eli fibbed.

Zacchaeus probably wouldn’t care to know anyhow. And Eli wasn’t having anyone ruin his excitement.

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he street was packed. Eli looked all around for Lizzy, but she was nowhere.

And that’s when he saw him— Zacchaeus! His master had shown up after all, and being too short to see over the crowd, he was trying to wedge his way through.

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But when any townsperson looked down to notice him, they glanced away without interest. On any other day, Zacchaeus might boss them around or else demand they pay up. But today, Jesus was coming. No one was willing

to worry about how much money they owed. No one was going to stand for getting pushed around. No, not today.

As Jesus arrived, every eye turned. Eli slipped to the front with the rest of the kids. What sort of miracles would Jesus do today . . . healing? Make the blind to see? The lame to walk?

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W

hen Jesus spoke the words, no one believed it.

Yet there it was again— “Zacchaeus . . . come down.”

Eli kept his body perfectly still to draw as little attention as possible. Very, very slowly, he turned his head to follow where Jesus was looking. There, on a branch up in a sycamore tree

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perched his master Zacchaeus, still rosy-faced from climbing to where he could get a full view, eyes as wide as the crowd’s.

The old man scrambled as quickly as he was able, first shimmying back toward the trunk, then carefully dropping branch to branch while the whole town watched in a hush. Now they were all going to watch this rich cheat get the lecture he deserved.

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esus’ clear voice rang out.

“Today, Zacchaeus, I will stay at your house.”

Stunned, the townspeople looked across at one another . . . had Jesus just said he would be sleeping at the house of Jericho’s tax collector? At the house of a man who could take the last penny from a widow while hoarding

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his own wealth? Impossible!

All that Jesus told people was wrong to do, Zacchaeus had done in broad daylight.

cried Zacchaeus clasping his hands. “Half of everything I have I will give to the poor.

And whatever I have taken from others unfairly, I will give back four times as much.”

As soon as his feet touched the ground, the old man ran up to Jesus. His robe had bits of bark stuck to it, which he didn’t bother brushing off. Tears were bursting in his eyes. “Lord!”

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E

li felt like he was in a dream. . . First, Jesus was actually going to be sleeping at his own house. And now, had his master just promised to give back his riches to the poor?

A small hand slipped itself into his. Eli looked up into Lizzy’s hazel eyes that were pinched

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and bursting with happiness.

She had heard it, too.

Jesus turned to the confused faces of the townspeople around him. “Today, Zacchaeus is forgiven,” said Jesus, “because I have come to seek and to save those who are lost.”

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hat night, the bars came off the windows.

The chests of money were opened. Those who had been hungry filled up on roast turkey and cake and all the fine foods they’d only ever dreamed about. And the cold marble halls at Eli’s house rang out with music and laughter for the first time as Zacchaeus hosted a bash like the townspeople had never seen.

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Who Is the Greatest?

Luke 9:46-48 (CEV) Jesus’ disciples were arguing about which one of them was the greatest. Jesus knew what they were thinking, and he had a child stand there beside him.

Then he said to his disciples, “When you welcome even a child because of me, you welcome me. And when you welcome me, you welcome the one who sent me. Whichever one of you is the most humble is the greatest.”

A Rich and Important Man Luke 18:18-24 (CEV) An important man asked Jesus, “Good Teacher, what must I do to have eternal life?”

Later that day Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “I will give half of my property to the poor. And I will now pay back four times as much to everyone I have ever cheated.”

Jesus said to Zacchaeus, “Today you and your family have been saved, because you are a true son of Abraham.

The Son of Man came to look for and to save people who are lost.”

Jesus said, “Why do you call me good? Only God is good. You know the commandments: ‘Be faithful in marriage. Do not murder. Do not steal.

Do not tell lies about others. Respect your father and mother.’”

He told Jesus, “I have obeyed all these commandments since I was a young man.”

When Jesus heard this, he said, “There is one thing you still need to do. Go and sell everything you own! Give the money to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven. Then come and be my follower.”

When the man heard this, he was sad, because he was very rich.

Jesus saw how sad the man was. So he said, “It’s terribly hard for rich people to get into God’s kingdom!

Zacchaeus Luke 19:1-10 (CEV) Jesus was going through Jericho, where a man named Zacchaeus lived. He was in charge of collecting taxes and was very rich. Jesus was heading his way, and Zacchaeus wanted to see what he was like. But Zacchaeus was a short man and could not see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree.

When Jesus got there, he looked up and said, “Zacchaeus, hurry down! I want to stay with you today.” Zacchaeus hurried down and gladly welcomed Jesus.

Everyone who saw this started grumbling, “This man Zacchaeus is a sinner! And Jesus is going home to eat with him.”

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