The Gospel of Barnabas · Chapter 143
Jesus Meets Zacchaeus
Then came all the disciples to Damascus, by the will of God. And on that day Judas the traitor, more than any other, made show of having suffered grief at Jesus' absence. Wherefore Jesus said: 'Let every one beware of him who without occasion laboureth to give thee tokens of love.'
And God took away our understanding, that we might not know to what end he said this.
After the coming of all the disciples, Jesus said: 'Let us return into Galilee, for thus hath the angel of God said unto me, that I needs must go thither.' Whereupon, one sabbath morning, Jesus came to Nazareth. When the citizens recognized Jesus, everyone desired to see him. Whereupon a publican, by name Zacchaeus, who was of small stature, not being able to see Jesus by reason of the great multitude, climbed to the top of a sycamore, and there waited for Jesus to pass that place when he went to the synagogue. Jesus then, having come to that place, lifted up his eyes and said: 'Come down, Zacchaeus, for to-day I will abide in thy house.'
The man came down and received him with gladness, making a splendid feast.
The Pharisees murmured, saying to Jesus' disciples: 'Wherefore is your master gone in to eat with publicans and sinners?'
Jesus answered: 'For what cause doth the physician [enter] into an house? Tell me, and I will tell you wherefore I am come in hither.' They answered: 'To heal the sick.'
'Ye say the truth,' said Jesus, 'for the whole have no need of medicine, only the sick.'
Then, by the will of God, all the disciples came to Damascus. On that day Judas the traitor made a greater show than anyone else of grieving over Jesus' absence. Therefore Jesus said: 'Let everyone beware of a person who, without cause, labors to display signs of love.'
God took away our understanding so that we did not know what purpose he had in saying this.
After all the disciples had arrived, Jesus said: 'Let us return to Galilee, for the angel of God has told me that I must go there.' One Sabbath morning, Jesus came to Nazareth. When the citizens recognized him, everyone wished to see him. A tax collector named Zacchaeus, who was short, could not see Jesus because of the great crowd, so he climbed a sycamore tree and waited there for Jesus to pass on his way to the synagogue. When Jesus reached that place, he looked up and said: 'Come down, Zacchaeus, for today I will stay in your house.'
The man came down and received him with gladness, making a splendid feast.
The Pharisees murmured and said to Jesus' disciples: 'Why has your master gone in to eat with tax collectors and sinners?'
Jesus answered: 'Why does a physician enter a house? Tell me, and I will tell you why I have come here.' They answered: 'To heal the sick.'
'You have spoken the truth,' said Jesus, 'for healthy people do not need medicine; only the sick do.'
Then came all the disciples to Damascus, by the will of God. And on that day Judas the traitor, more than any other, made show of having suffered grief at Jesus' absence. Wherefore Jesus said: 'Let every one beware of him who without occasion laboureth to give thee tokens of love.'
And God took away our understanding, that we might not know to what end he said this.
After the coming of all the disciples, Jesus said: 'Let us return into Galilee, for thus hath the angel of God said unto me, that I needs must go thither.' Whereupon, one sabbath morning, Jesus came to Nazareth. When the citizens recognized Jesus, everyone desired to see him. Whereupon a publican, by name Zacchaeus, who was of small stature, not being able to see Jesus by reason of the great multitude, climbed to the top of a sycamore, and there waited for Jesus to pass that place when he went to the synagogue. Jesus then, having come to that place, lifted up his eyes and said: 'Come down, Zacchaeus, for to-day I will abide in thy house.'
The man came down and received him with gladness, making a splendid feast.
The Pharisees murmured, saying to Jesus' disciples: 'Wherefore is your master gone in to eat with publicans and sinners?'
Jesus answered: 'For what cause doth the physician [enter] into an house? Tell me, and I will tell you wherefore I am come in hither.' They answered: 'To heal the sick.'
'Ye say the truth,' said Jesus, 'for the whole have no need of medicine, only the sick.'