Bartimaeus and Zacchaeus

Title ideas:A blind man and a rich cheater [man] showed that they trusted Jesus.Bartimaeus and Zakias.Jesus saved [found] two men who needed help [were lost].

Jesus and his disciples came near to Jericho Town, where many people [a crowd] were following them on the road.

A blind man named Bartimaeus was seated beside the road, begging [for money] from people who were passing by him.

When Bartimaeus heard many people passing by, he asked [called loudly], “What is happening?”

Someone replied to him, “Jesus has come [just entered] into town!”

When Bartimaeus heard this, be began shouting, “Jesus! David’s son! Show mercy [kindness \ be merciful] to me!”

Several people said to him, “Be quiet!” But he shouted louder, “David’s son! Show mercy to me!”

Jesus stopped walking and said, “Tell that man to come to me!”

So someone said to Bartimaeus, “Stand up! Jesus is calling [inviting] you to come to him!” So Bartimaeus jumped up quickly and went to Jesus!”

Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?”

Bartimaeus replied, ”Sir! I want to be able to see! [Give me my sight / Let me see]!”And Jesus said to him, “Alright, see! Your faith [trust in me] has healed your eyes!”

Suddenly, Bartimaeus could see! He began following Jesus, joyfully thanking God. Everyone who saw him also praised God.

Jesus continued walking through Jericho Town, surrounded by a crowd [many people]. But there was a rich tax collector [official who worked for the Roman government] named Zacchaeus [Zakias]. Zacchaeus was too short to see Jesus through the crowd.

So Zacchaeus ran ahead of the people [crowd], climbed into a tree beside the road [street], and waited for Jesus to pass by [come along].

When Jesus came by, he looked up into the tree and said, “Zacchaeus! Climb down from there, because I must be a guest at your house today!”

So Zacchaeus quickly climbed [came] down from the tree and gladly led Jesus to his house.

Since Zacchaeus was a hated [despised] tax collector, people began saying, “Jesus has gone into a house belonging to a sinner!”

Later at Zacchaeus house, Zacchaeus said to Jesus, “Sir [Lord!] I shall give half of all that I have to help poor people. And to those whom I have cheated, I shall pay back four times as much as I stole from them!”

Jesus replied to Zacchaeus and all who were listening, “Today God has forgiven you and the other people in this house, because you [sg] have shown by your actions that you have trusted in God just like Abraham [your ancestor] did.

“[You should] understand that I have come to seek [find] and save people like you who have gone far away from God! [like a shepherd who searches for his lost sheep that has wandered away.]”