Zacchaeus, the man in our story, was quite an infamous character, especially when contrasted with the many

devoutly religious figures who walked the streets of Jericho, the city of priests. He was the wealthy head of a large office of government tax collectors, and to the Jews, tax collectors were the absolute lowest of the low. Well known for being cheaters, extortionists, and robbers of the poor, these men were also considered as traitors to their brethren, since, though they themselves were Jews, they worked for the much-hated government of Rome. Zacchaeus was a man with governmental authority to bleed from the people as much tribute as possible, and anything he could gouge from them above that went straight into his own pocket.

Zaqueo era un sujeto de muy mala fama, especialmente si se le compara con la multitud de hombres piadosos y las altas personalidades eclesisticas que se paseaban por las calles de Jeric, la ciudad de los sacerdotes. Zaqueo era el acomodado director de una importante agencia de recaudadores de impuestos del gobierno romano. Para los judos, estos funcionarios eran lo ms bajo y detestable de la sociedad. Famosos por ser unos pcaros, unos tramposos y ladrones de los pobres, a estos hombres se les consideraba tambin traidores de sus hermanos, pues aunque eran judos, trabajaban para el odiado gobierno romano. He aqu un hombre a quien el gobierno haba conferido autoridad para sacarle a la gente todo el dinero que pudiera en impuestos; y lo que le lograra exprimir por encima de eso iba a su propio bolsillo.

But one day something happened that completely changed all this for Zacchaeus. He had already heard all about Jesus and the many miracles which Hed performed, yet even more fascinating was the fact that Jesus was known to be a friend of tax collectors and sinners. In fact, one of Jesus Own disciples, Matthew, had one time been a tax collector! Would Jesus be my friend too? Zacchaeus wondered. He had no real friends and more recently hed begun to feel quite dissatisfied. Hed begun to realize that it took much more than wealth to bring true satisfaction. After all, he had practically everything money could buy, but something was missing. Exactly what, he wasnt sure.

Un da, sin embargo, ocurri algo que cambi todo eso en la vida de Zaqueo. Ya haba odo hablar de Jess y de los muchos milagros que haca, pero lo que ms le intrigaba era el hecho de que Jess tena fama de ser amigo de recaudadores de impuestos y pecadores. Es ms, uno de los mismos discpulos de Jess, Mateo, haba sido cobrador de impuestos en Nazaret! Se atrevera Jess a ser amigo mo?, se preguntaba. No tena amigos y ltimamente empezaba ya a sentirse bastante insatisfecho. Se vena dando cuenta de que el dinero no bastaba, que no brindaba ese calor del alma y esa satisfaccin que tanto anhelaba. Al fin y al cabo, posea todo lo que se puede adquirir con dinero, pero algo le faltaba; no saba a ciencia cierta qu.

Then one day Jesus passed through Jericho. When Zacchaeus heard that He was in town, he dropped everything, closed up his office, and hurried off to see for himself. A large crowd with Jesus in their midst, was already moving slowly down the road, but poor Zacchaeus was so short he couldnt see a thing. Quickly he spotted a large sycamore tree up ahead of the crowd. As Jesus passed by, maybe he could see him from that tree. Completely forgetting about what people would think of him, Zacchaeus ran past the crowd and scurried up into the tree.

Un da Jess pasaba por Jeric. Cuando Zaqueo se enter de que estaba en su ciudad, dej todo, cerr la oficina y se fue corriendo a verle con sus propios ojos. Una enorme multitud de gente se desplazaba lentamente por el camino rodeando a Jess, y como el pobre Zaqueo era tan bajito, no poda ver nada. De repente descubri que ms adelante en el camino, a cierta distancia del gento, se alzaba un enorme rbol sicmoro. A lo mejor si se encaramaba en el rbol, cuando Jess pasase por all, podra verle. Sin importarle, pues, lo que la gente pudiera pensar de l, Zaqueo ech a correr dejando atrs a la multitud y trep al rbol como una ardilla.

When Jesus finally reached the tree where Zacchaeus was, all of a sudden He turned and looked up. Drawing near and looking straight up at Zacchaeus, Jesus called, Zacchaeus, hurry and come down. I must stay at your house today! Wha what did He say? Zacchaeus was shocked! He called me by my name! He wants to stay at my house? As Zacchaeus slid down from the tree, it was hard to believe that there hadnt been some sort of mistake. How could Jesus have known his name? But as soon as he realized that Jesus was serious, he answered, Why, this is an honor! Please do come to my house! Youre so very welcome! And Zacchaeus joyfully escorted Jesus to his home.

Cuando Jess lleg hasta el rbol donde se hallaba Zaqueo, de repente se dio la vuelta y mir hacia arriba como buscando algo. Acercndose a Zaqueo, le mir fijamente y le dijo, Zaqueo, date prisa, desciende, porque hoy es necesario que pose Yo en tu casa! Qu qu fue lo que me dijo? se pregunt Zaqueo asombrado! Sabe mi nombre! Y quiere posar en mi casa? Zaqueo se dej deslizar del rbol, pero le costaba creer que todo aquello no era una equivocacin. Cmo es posible que Jess conociera su nombre? Mas apenas se dio de cuenta que Jess hablaba en serio, le respondi, Por supuesto, es un honor! Cmo no! Ven a mi casa! Eres bienvenido! Y as, contentsimo, l lev a Jess a su casa.

In that one moving meeting with Jesus, Zacchaeus had found the answer! Now wealth and possessions were not important. Excitedly, Zacchaeus declared, Jesus, right here and now I want You to know that Ive made up my mind! I am going to give to the poor one half of all that I own! And to make amends for those whom I have cheated or taken advantage of, I promise to restore unto them four times more than I took from them! What an amazing commitment, considering that that sum must have been very large! This was the beginning of a new life for Zacchaeus! No longer would he be indifferent to the people and the World around him. Now, he was going to take a personal interest in helping the needy.

Ese conmovedor encuentro con Jess bast para dar a Zaqueo la solucin que buscaba! Ya las riquezas y las posesiones no tenan importancia. Entusiasmado, Zaqueo declar, Jess, quiero que sepas que en este mismo instante acabo de tomar una decisin! Voy a dar a los pobres la mitad de mis bienes! Y para compensar a todos los que he engaado y de los que he abusado, prometo devolverles cuatro veces ms de lo que les quit! Qu compromiso para un hombre como Zaqueo, teniendo en cuenta que la suma que adeudaba a la gente probablemente era enorme! As comenz toda una nueva vida para Zaqueo! Ya no volvera a mostrarse indiferente con la gente y con el mundo que le rodeaba. A partir de entonces, se preocupara por invertir sus riquezas para ayudar a los que padecan necesidad.

Zacchaeus found that giving, instead of being painful, brought happiness and satisfaction! He was learning the truth of Jesus Words: Give and it will be given you. (Luke 6:38) It was this path of unselfishness that he followed for the rest of his days. * * *

Zaqueo descubri que dar, en lugar de ser una experiencia dura y desagradable, es una dicha y una satisfaccin! Con ello aprenda la verdad de aquellas Palabras de Jess: Dad y se os dar! (S. Lucas 6:38) As, el resto de su vida transit por la senda de la generosidad. * * *

According to tradition and the writings of Clement of Alexandria (c. 150-215), Zacchaeus became a companion of the apostle Peter and in time was appointed bishop of Caesarea.

Segn la tradicin y los escritos de Clemente de Alejandra (c. 150-215), Zaqueo lleg a ser compaero del apstol Pedro y con el tiempo fue nombrado obispo de Cesarea.

Historias de la Biblia para nios www.freekidstories.org

La salvacin de un Estafador est basado en Lucas 19:1-10.
Art courtesy MMBOX Productions/Microsoft clipart. Text The Family International.