Salvation here is entered in (George MacDonald)

To whom the heavy burden clings,

It yet may serve him like a staff;

One day the cross will break in wings,

The sinner laugh a holy laugh.

The dwarfed Zacchaeus climbed a tree,

His humble stature set him high;

The Lord the little man did see

Who sought the great man passing by.

Up to the tree he came, and stopped.

Today, he said, with thee I bide.

A spirit shaken fruit he dropped,

Ripe for the Master, at his side.

Sure never host with gladder look

A welcome guest home with him bore!

Then rose the Satan of rebuke

And loudly spake beside the door:

This is no place for holy feet;

Sinners should house and eat alone!

This man sits in the stranger’s seat

And grinds the faces of his own!

Outspoke the man, in Truth’s own might:

Lord, half my goods I give the poor;

If one I’ve taken more than right

With four I make atonement sure!

Salvation here is entered in;

This man indeed is Abraham’s son!

Said he who came the lost to win –

And saved the lost whom he had won.

--George MacDonald, 1825-1905       

Image source:  https://ancientanswers.org/2018/01/21/the-difference-is-in-the-joy/.   
For another image of this scene, see Jacopo Palma, Christ Calling Zacchaeus (1575?), https://webapps.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/explorer/index.php?oid=564

Poem source