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Zaccheus (Reid/Mayfield, arr. SM)
Now Zaccheus was a bad man, he was tight and hard and mean
He gathered in the taxes, every penny, every bean
He cheated and he swindled and he fiddled where he could
He had a lousy reputation and in town his name was mud
When Jesus came to visit, the streets were full of noise
There was pushing, shoving, jostling, men and women, girls and boys
Now Zaccheus was tiny and he found it hard to see
So with all those people crowding round he climbed the nearest tree
He’d heard of this bloke, Jesus, how he healed the blind and lame
He hoped to get a peek, but then he suddenly heard his name
There was Jesus standing smiling at the bottom of the tree
He was looking up at Zaccheus saying “Can I have some tea ?”
So Jesus went to Zac’s house and they chatted as they ate
The other folk were furious - how could Jesus be his mate
Don’t they know he’s snide and stingy ?
Don’t they know he nicks our cash ?
If Jesus knew the truth then He’d be out there in a flash.
But Jesus got the picture and He went there all the same
He told Zac “Change and right your wrongs and go and clear your name”
“I’m sorry, Jesus” Zaccheus said, “I don’t deserve Your kindness,
I’ll mend my ways and pay my dues
Forgive me for my blindness”
He went into the street and there was booing, hissing, jeering
“Sssh” said Zaccheus “Listen here, and please give me a hearing”
The crowds all gasped as Zaccheus said he’d pay back all he owed them
“I’m different now since Jesus came” said Zaccheus, then he showed them
Zaccheus was a very little man
And a very little man was he
He climbed into a sycamore tree
For the Saviour he wanted to see
And when the Saviour passed that way
He looked into the tree
And said “Now, Zaccheus, you come down
For I’m coming to your house for tea”