Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon with Zacchaeus from the Bible

Have you ever heard of the game "Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon"? It’s a fun party game where you try to connect any actor to Kevin Bacon within six steps. Well, how about connecting Zacchaeus from the Bible to Kevin Bacon using the same method? Let’s give it a try!

Step 1: Zacchaeus to Jesus

Zacchaeus was a wealthy tax collector who wanted to see Jesus one day, but he was too short to see over the crowd. So he climbed up a sycamore tree to get a better view. Jesus saw him and called him down, saying "today I must stay at your house" (Luke 19:5).

Step 2: Jesus to Mary Magdalene

Mary Magdalene was a follower of Jesus and was present at his crucifixion. She was also the first person to see him after his resurrection. Many consider her a saint in the Christian faith.

Step 3: Mary Magdalene to Peter

Peter was one of Jesus’ twelve apostles. He was also the first pope of the Catholic Church. He denied knowing Jesus three times before the rooster crowed, but he later became a strong leader of the early Christian church.

Step 4: Peter to Constantine the Great

Constantine the Great was the first Roman emperor to convert to Christianity. He is known for his Edict of Milan, which granted religious tolerance to Christians and ended the persecution of the faith.

Step 5: Constantine the Great to Charlemagne

Charlemagne, also known as Charles the Great, was a medieval emperor who ruled over much of Europe. He was known for his military conquests and was later crowned as the Holy Roman Emperor by Pope Leo III.

Step 6: Charlemagne to Kevin Bacon

Kevin Bacon is an American actor who has appeared in numerous movies and TV shows. He is known for his roles in Footloose, A Few Good Men, and Apollo 13, among others.

Now that we’ve connected Zacchaeus to Kevin Bacon within six steps, let’s take a closer look at Zacchaeus. Despite his reputation as a tax collector, he showed a change of heart when he met Jesus. He pledged to give half of his possessions to the poor and to repay anyone he had cheated four times the amount he had taken from them (Luke 19:8). This shows that even the most unlikely person can experience a transformation and do good in the world.

As the famous Bible verse goes, "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost" (Luke 19:10). Zacchaeus was lost in his ways, but Jesus sought him out and saved him. This story reminds us that no matter how lost we may feel, Jesus is always there to guide us back on the right path.