Page 8 - Hide and Seek

Chapter Six

T
he ministry of Jesus attracted many onlookers. His

presence drew an interest from a wide spectrum of
people. News would spread, upon His arrival into a
city and people from miles around would gather
together and follow Him through the streets of the city. Cu-
riosity seekers, people with incurable diseases, and local re-
ligious leaders made up the faces in the crowded assembly.
Often in that collection were those who were labeled as not
having any religious or moral values. Such was a man
named “Zacchaeus”. He was a man of small physical stat-
ure; yet known for his deceptive and dishonest dealings as a
tax collector for the Caesar.
The arrival of Jesus was noised throughout Jericho and
Zacchaeus went out to see who He was. The press moving
through the city streets was too large for Zacchaeus to break
through. Advancing ahead of the crowd, Zacchaeus climbed
a tree adjacent to the route where Jesus would pass by.
Perched in the branches of the tree, he was comfortable to
watch Jesus as He passed by. On the look-out for anyone
trying to conceal themselves, Jesus spies him; hiding, aloft
in the trees and says to Zacchaeus,“Come down...”.

The command for Zacchaeus to come down was urgent.
“Make haste...”, said Jesus, “for today I must abide at thy
house.”

At some point the “Hide and Seek” game must come to an
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