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The Man Nobody Liked

Zacchaeus was the chief tax collector in the busy town of Jericho. He was very rich, but he was not happy at all. He owned fine clothes and a large house, but no real friends. Each day he collected taxes for the rulers, and he kept extra coins for himself. The people had to pay him, yet they hated him for his greed. When he walked down the street, neighbors turned their faces away. Zacchaeus felt small inside, and not only because he was short.

A Teacher Was Coming

One morning, exciting news rushed through the streets like a strong wind. A teacher named Jesus was passing through Jericho that very day. People said that he was kind to the poor and the forgotten. Zacchaeus wanted to see this teacher with his own eyes. But a thick crowd filled the road and blocked his view completely. Because he was short, he could not see over anyone's shoulders.