Cast: Narrator, Zaccheus, Frank, Bob, Joe, Roman Guard, crowd of Jews

Narrator: “Once upon a time, there was a man named Zacchaeus, who lived in the city of Jericho. He was the chief tax collector, which meant that he was able to collect taxes and make a large profit, doing so.”

Zacchaeus: [Sits at a table with piles of money and ledgers, with a Roman guard standing next to him.] “Next!”

Narrator: “Zacchaeus became very wealthy, but the people hated him and looked down on him because the taxes that he gathered went to pay for the Roman government and soldiers, and the people didn’t like having the Romans over them. They also hated Zacchaeus because he could abuse his power to tax them, to make himself rich.”

Frank: “Hello, Zacchaeus.”

Zacchaeus: “Hello, Frank. Let’s see … so you owe 20 silver shekels for the last 3 months … uh-oh! Looks like you didn’t pay your tax last time, so that makes 40 shekels, plus a 5-shekel penalty. Forty-five shekels, Frank.”

Frank: “Wait a minute! I did pay last time! I stood right here three months ago and paid you 20 shekels. “

Zacchaeus: [Looking through his book.] “Well, I don’t see that it was marked off – do you have a receipt?”

Frank: “No, you didn’t give me a receipt. You said, ‘Don’t worry, I’ll be sure to write it down.’”

Zacchaeus: “So, are you going to pay me, or do I need to have you arrested?” [Roman guard steps forward, hand on sword.]

Frank: “This is highway robbery!”

Zacchaeus: [Looks around.] “No, this is more of a street, really. A highway has more lanes. Forty-five shekels, Frank, or I’ll turn you over to the Romans.”

Frank: “I can’t believe it! You thieving scoundrel!” [Throws 45 shekels down on the table.]

Zacchaeus: “It is always a pleasure doing business with you, Frank.” [Counts money.]

Frank: “What about my receipt?”

Zacchaeus: “Don’t worry, Frank, I’ll be sure to write it down. Next!”

Roman Guard: [Roughly] “Move along,there, you.”

[Frank exits, grumbling. Zacchaeus winks at guard, and gives him five shekels, which he pockets.]

Narrator: “And so, this continued for a long time, and Zacchaeus became very rich. But the other Jews considered him to be a traitor and a sinner, and wouldn’t have anything to do with him. But one day, everything changed: Jesus came to town.”

[Crowd of Jews stands at edge of stage, blocking view of Jesus. Zacchaeus is behind them, trying to see over or around them.]

Zacchaeus: “Excuse, me, pardon me, I can’t see!”

Bob: “Oh, dear, the short little tax collector can’t see! This breaks my heart, Joe.”

Joe: “It is a terrible shame, Bob. Something should be done for the poor little lad.”

Frank: “Yeah, I feel really sad that he can’t see. Maybe I should give up my place in the front, so he can see … NOT!” [They all laugh, unkindly.]

Narrator: “None of the people would move or let him stand in front of them, but Zacchaeus badly wanted to see Jesus. He had heard stories about how Jesus healed the sick, and how he taught about the kingdom of God. Although the Jewish leaders considered Zacchaeus to be a terrible sinner, he had a hunger to be part of God’s kingdom.”

Zacchaeus: “This crowd is so thick, I’ll never be able to see Jesus this way. I know it is undignified, but I’m going to have to climb this tree, if I’m going to get a chance to see him.”

[Zacchaeus climbs up on stage, peers over townspeople.]

Narrator: “Sure enough, soon Jesus came down the road, and Zaccheus got a good look at him.”

Jesus: [Walking down road with his disciples] “… and so, that is what will happen to you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.” [Stops, looks around, spots Zacchaeus.] “Hey, Zacchaeus!”

Zacchaeus: [Surprised at being addressed] “Um, yes, Rabbi?”

Jesus: “I’d like to stay with you, while I’m here in Jericho. Will you have me?”

Zacchaeus: “I’d be delighted! Let me run home and tell my wife the good news!” [Zacchaeus hurries away.]

Bob: “I can’t believe it! I thought that Jesus was some sort of holy man – and he’s going to stay with that sinner?”

Joe: “Out of all the people in town, he picks Zacchaeus. That weasel will probably find a way to tax Jesus and his whole group of disciples!”

Frank: “I guess he’s not much of a prophet, if he doesn’t know what kind of man Zacchaeus is.” [They exit.]

Narrator: “And so, Jesus came to Zacchaeus’ house, where they all sat down for a feast.”

[Jesus and disciples continue on, go up stairs on stage, sit down at table. Zacchaeus bustles around with platters of food and pitchers of drink, eventually he sits down next to Jesus.]

Zacchaeus: “I can still hardly believe that you are here, Lord. I want you to know that I am giving half of all that I own to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone, I will pay him back four times what I owe him.”

Jesus: [Stands up, places his hand on Zacchaeus’ shoulder or head.] “Salvation has come to this house today. For I did not come to save those who think they have it all together, but rather I came to seek and to save those who are lost.”

Narrator: “The next day, Jesus and his disciples left town, but Zacchaeus was not there to see them off. He rose early and took his place in the market … “

[Frank, Joe and Bob are standing in line at Zacchaeus’ table, where Zacchaeus is sitting, surrounded by books and money, as before. Roman guard stands beside him.]

Frank: “I can’t believe this! I just paid my taxes last week, and now I’m summoned again? I’m going to complain to the governor – the little weasel can’t get away with this!”

Zacchaeus: “Next! Oh, Frank, how good to see you!” [He stands, comes around table, shakes hands with a bewildered Frank.]

Frank: “What do you want? I just paid my taxes last week, and I paid more than double because you somehow ‘lost’ the record of my payment for last quarter. “

Zacchaeus: “Yes, I know, I cheated you. Now I’d like to make it right. Please sit down.” [Zaccheus ushers Frank into a chair.]

Frank: [Even more bewildered, sits.] “Um, OK.” [Looks nervously at the guard.] “If this is about my letter to the governor, I haven’t mailed it yet … “

Zacchaeus: “No, no, I’m not worried about anything you might say to the governor. Let’s see … I overcharged you 20 shekels for last month, plus the five shekels ‘penalty’, so that makes 25 shekels. Here’s 100 shekels, to make it right.”

Frank: “You’re giving me 100 shekels?”

Zaccheus: “Yes, that’s four times what I cheated you, right?” [Mutters under breath] “4 times 5 is twenty, carry the two … “

Frank: “So, you’re giving me 100 shekels?”

Zaccheus: “Is there an echo here? Yes, I’m giving you 100 shekels, because I cheated you before, and I’m sorry. Will you accept four times what I cheated you, to make it right? Will you forgive me?”

Frank: “Forgive you? I’ll do better than that! I’ll take you to lunch!”

Zaccheus: “Sounds great! I know a place not far from here where the borscht is out of this world! Let me just make it right with Joe and Bob, here … “ [Zaccheus gives both Joe and Bob a handful of coins, all exit.]

Narrator: “Zaccheus was as good as his word -- he tracked down all the people he had cheated, and he repaid them all four times what he had stolen. Later, after Jesus had died and rose again, Zaccheus was one of the first to believe, and he told many people about Jesus and how He had been willing to seek and to save the lost, even one as lost as Zaccheus.”

The End