Kids sermon

Do you like to climb trees?

Luke 19:1-10

Jesus entered Jericho and made his way through the town. ² There was a man there named Zacchaeus. He was the chief tax collector in the region, and he had become very rich. Zack was a bad guy. ³ He tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowd. ⁴ So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree beside the road, for Jesus was going to pass that way.

⁵ When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” he said. “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.”

⁶ Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy. Zack was happy to be with Jesus. ⁷ But the people were displeased. “He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner,” they grumbled.

⁸ Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!”

⁹ Jesus responded, “Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham. ¹⁰ For the Son of Man^[a] came to seek and save those who are lost.”

• Jesus can make god guys of bad guys.
• People are happy to be with Jesus
• Being with Jesus is better than being wealthy, powerful or famous. Zack gave it all up to be friends with Jesus. And it cast him a lot.
• Jesus came to save people like Zack and you and me.
• His death on a cross on Good Friday was a sacrifice for ours sins to make us his friends.