19Then Jesus entered and walked through Jericho.G2532G1525G1330G24102There was a man there, his name Zacchaeus, the head tax man and quite rich.G2532G2400G435G3686G2564G2195G2532G846G2258G754G2532G3778G2258G41453He wanted desperately to see Jesus, but the crowd was in his way—he was a short man and couldn't see over the crowd.G2532G2212G1492G2424G5101G2076G2532G1410G3756G575G3793G3754G2258G3398G22444So he ran on ahead and climbed up in a sycamore tree so he could see Jesus when he came by.G2532G4390G1715G305G1909G4809G2443G1492G846G3754G3195G1330G1223G15655When Jesus got to the tree, he looked up and said, "Zacchaeus, hurry down. Today is my day to be a guest in your home."G2532G5613G2424G2064G1909G5117G308G1492G846G2532G2036G4314G846G2195G4692G2597G1063G4594G3165G1163G3306G1722G4675G36246Zacchaeus scrambled out of the tree, hardly believing his good luck, delighted to take Jesus home with him.G2532G4692G2597G2532G5264G846G54637Everyone who saw the incident was indignant and grumped, "What business does he have getting cozy with this crook?"G2532G1492G1234G537G1234G3004G3754G1525G2647G3844G435G2688Zacchaeus just stood there, a little stunned. He stammered apologetically, "Master, I give away half my income to the poor—and if I'm caught cheating, I pay four times the damages."G1161G2195G2476G2036G4314G2962G2400G2962G2255G3450G5224G1325G4434G2532G1536G4811G1536G5100G4811G591G50739Jesus said, "Today is salvation day in this home! Here he is: Zacchaeus, son of Abraham!G1161G2424G2036G4314G846G3754G4594G1096G4991G1096G5129G3624G2530G846G2532G2076G5207G1110For the Son of Man came to find and restore the lost."G1063G5207G444G2064G2212G2532G4982G62211While he had their attention, and because they were getting close to Jerusalem by this time and expectation was building that God's kingdom would appear any minute, he told this story:G1161G846G191G5023G4369G2036G3850G1223G846G1511G1451G2419G2532G846G1380G3754G932G2316G3195G3916G39812"There was once a man descended from a royal house who needed to make a long trip back to headquarters to get authorization for his rule and then return.G2036G3767G5100G444G2104G4198G1519G3117G5561G2983G1438G932G2532G529013But first he called ten servants together, gave them each a sum of money, and instructed them, 'Operate with this until I return.'G1161G2564G1438G1176G1401G1325G846G1176G3414G2532G2036G4314G846G4231G2193G206414"But the citizens there hated him. So they sent a commission with a signed petition to oppose his rule: 'We don't want this man to rule us.'G1161G846G4177G3404G846G2532G649G4242G3694G846G3004G2309G3756G2309G5126G936G1909G224815"When he came back bringing the authorization of his rule, he called those ten servants to whom he had given the money to find out how they had done.G2532G1096G1722G846G1880G2983G932G2532G2036G5128G1401G5455G846G3739G1325G694G2443G1097G5101G5101G128116"The first said, 'Master, I doubled your money.'G1161G3854G4413G3004G2962G4675G3414G4333G1176G341417"He said, 'Good servant! Great work! Because you've been trustworthy in this small job, I'm making you governor of ten towns.'G2532G2036G846G2095G18G1401G3754G1096G4103G1722G1646G2192G2468G1849G1883G1176G417218"The second said, 'Master, I made a fifty percent profit on your money.'G2532G1208G2064G3004G2962G4675G3414G4160G4002G341419"He said, 'I'm putting you in charge of five towns.'G1161G2036G2532G5129G1096G4771G2532G1883G4002G417220"The next servant said, 'Master, here's your money safe and sound. I kept it hidden in the cellar.G2532G2087G2064G3004G2962G2400G4675G3414G3739G2192G606G1722G467621To tell you the truth, I was a little afraid. I know you have high standards and hate sloppiness, and don't suffer fools gladly.'G1063G5399G4571G3754G1488G840G444G142G3739G5087G3756G5087G2532G2325G3739G4687G3756G468722"He said, 'You're right that I don't suffer fools gladly—and you've acted the fool!G1161G3004G846G1537G4675G4750G2919G4571G4190G1401G1492G3754G1473G1510G840G444G142G3739G5087G3756G5087G2532G2325G3739G4687G3756G468723Why didn't you at least invest the money in securities so I would have gotten a little interest on it?'G1302G2532G1325G3756G1325G3450G694G1909G5132G2532G2064G1473G302G4238G846G4862G511024"Then he said to those standing there, 'Take the money from him and give it to the servant who doubled my stake.'G2532G2036G3936G142G575G846G3414G2532G1325G2192G1176G341425"They said, 'But Master, he already has double . . .'G2532G2036G846G2962G2192G1176G341426"He said, 'That's what I mean: Risk your life and get more than you ever dreamed of. Play it safe and end up holding the bag.G1063G3004G5213G3754G3956G3588G2192G1325G1161G575G2192G3361G2532G3739G2192G142G575G84627"'As for these enemies of mine who petitioned against my rule, clear them out of here. I don't want to see their faces around here again.'"G4133G1565G3450G2190G3588G2309G3361G3165G936G1909G846G71G5602G2532G2695G1715G345028After saying these things, Jesus headed straight up to Jerusalem.G2532G5023G2036G4198G1715G305G1519G241429When he got near Bethphage and Bethany at the mountain called Olives, he sent off two of the disciples with instructions:G2532G1096G5613G1448G1519G967G2532G963G4314G3735G2564G1636G649G1417G846G310130"Go to the village across from you. As soon as you enter, you'll find a colt tethered, one that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it.G2036G5217G1519G2968G2713G1722G3739G1531G2147G4454G1210G1909G3739G3762G444G2523G4455G3089G846G7131If anyone says anything, asks, 'What are you doing?' say, 'His Master needs him.'"G2532G1437G5100G2065G5209G1302G3089G3779G2046G846G3754G2962G2192G5532G84632The two left and found it just as he said.G1161G649G565G2147G2531G2036G84633As they were untying the colt, its owners said, "What are you doing untying the colt?"G1161G846G3089G4454G2962G846G2036G4314G846G5101G3089G445434They said, "His Master needs him."G1161G2036G2962G2192G5532G84635They brought the colt to Jesus. Then, throwing their coats on its back, they helped Jesus get on.G2532G71G846G4314G2424G2532G1977G1438G2440G1909G1977G4454G1977G1913G2424G191336As he rode, the people gave him a grand welcome, throwing their coats on the street.G1161G846G4198G5291G846G2440G1722G359837Right at the crest, where Mount Olives begins its descent, the whole crowd of disciples burst into enthusiastic praise over all the mighty works they had witnessed:G846G1448G1161G2235G4314G2600G3735G1636G537G4128G3101G756G5463G134G2316G3173G5456G4012G3956G1411G3739G149238Blessed is he who comes, the king in God's name! All's well in heaven! Glory in the high places!G3004G2127G935G2064G1722G3686G2962G1515G1722G3772G2532G1391G1722G531039Some Pharisees from the crowd told him, "Teacher, get your disciples under control!"G2532G5100G5330G575G3793G2036G4314G846G1320G2008G4675G310140But he said, "If they kept quiet, the stones would do it for them, shouting praise."G2532G611G2036G846G3004G5213G3754G1437G3778G4623G3037G289641When the city came into view, he wept over it.G2532G5613G1448G1492G4172G2799G1909G84642"If you had only recognized this day, and everything that was good for you! But now it's too late.G3004G3754G1487G1097G2532G4771G2534G1722G5026G4675G2250G3588G4314G4675G1515G1161G3568G2928G575G4675G378843In the days ahead your enemies are going to bring up their heavy artillery and surround you, pressing in from every side.G3754G2250G2240G1909G4571G2532G4675G2190G4016G5482G4016G4671G2532G4033G4571G4033G2532G4912G4571G4912G384044They'll smash you and your babies on the pavement. Not one stone will be left intact. All this because you didn't recognize and welcome God's personal visit."G2532G1474G4571G1474G2532G4675G5043G1722G4671G2532G863G3756G863G1722G4671G3037G1909G3037G473G3739G1097G3756G2540G4675G198445Going into the Temple he began to throw out everyone who had set up shop, selling everything and anything.G2532G1525G1519G2411G756G1544G4453G1722G846G2532G5946He said, "It's written in Scripture, My house is a house of prayer; You have turned it into a religious bazaar."G3004G846G1125G3450G3624G2076G3624G4335G1161G5210G4160G846G4693G302747From then on he taught each day in the Temple. The high priests, religion scholars, and the leaders of the people were trying their best to find a way to get rid of him.G2532G2258G1321G2596G2250G1722G2411G1161G749G2532G1122G2532G4413G2992G2212G622G84648But with the people hanging on every word he spoke, they couldn't come up with anything.G2532G2147G3756G2147G5101G4160G1063G537G2992G1582G191G846
Dublin, OH
