Teaching Time

Text: Luke 19:1-10

Make one copy of the Sycamore Fig-Tree Pages in color or black and white on cardstock.

Optional: color the leaves green and the headband strips brown if not printed in color.  

Cut out the leaves and headband strips. 

Attach four leaves to the front of the headband using tape rings or staples. 

Size the headband to the tree actor’s head, and then tape the bands together.

Cut strips of tape and form tape rings (sticky-side out) for the two hand leaves. 

Using a pencil, punch two holes a few inches apart near the top of the bag.

Thread yarn through the holes (like a belt loop). Put coins in the bag and seal it shut. 

Attach one leaf to the palms of the tree actor with tape rings.

Help Jesus, the crowd, and Zacchaeus actors with beards and costumes.    

Loosely tie the money bag above Zacchaeus’ waist.

Tell Zacchaeus only to PRETEND to climb up the sycamore tree!  

The remainder of the children can participate as the crowd.    

 

Slowly read the Bible story as outlined below. Pause after the bold text to direct the actors. Bring excitement to the story by varying your expression, voice, and volume level. 

 

●      Have the tree actor stand in the front and to one side. 

●      A crowd of people stood together in the town of Jericho. The crowd enters and stands together on one side of the tree.

●      Jesus was walking through their town! Jesus walks in front of the crowd and continues walking in place.   

●      The crowd pointed and waved to Jesus with happy faces. The crowd points and waves to Jesus with happy faces.

●      Jesus smiled at the crowd as He passed by. Jesus turns to the crowd and smiles. 

●      There was a tax collector who lived in Jericho. He came to see Jesus, too. Zacchaeus walks behind the crowd looking toward Jesus. 

●      The crowd made angry faces at Zacchaeus. They did not want him to be there. The crowd turns and makes angry faces.     

●      No one liked Zaccheus because he became rich by cheating people when they paid money for taxes. The crowd shakes heads no at Zacchaeus.   

●      Zacchaeus was a short man, so he could not see Jesus. Everyone in the crowd was taller than he was. This made him sad. Zacchaeus makes a sad face.  

●      But Zacchaeus would not give up; he needed to see Jesus! He stood on tiptoes to look over the crowd. Zaccheus stands on tiptoes, looking toward Jesus.

●      But that didn’t help. He bent down and looked underneath the crowd. Zacchaeus bends down and looks.

●      He jumped up to see, but that didn’t work. I think he jumped up three times! Zacchaeus jumps up three times.  

●      The crowd of people would not help Zacchaeus! The crowd angrily shakes heads no.   

●      Then Zacchaeus had an idea! He looked and saw a tall tree where Jesus would soon pass by. Zacchaeus ran to the tree. Now, our Zacchaeus is only going to pretend to climb that tree! He climbed higher and higher! Zacchaeus runs to the tree and makes a climbing motion with his hands.   

●      There was Jesus! Zacchaeus finally could see Him! Zacchaeus puts a hand over his forehead to see Jesus.  

●      Jesus walked to the tree, stopped, and looked up. Jesus walks to the tree and looks at Zacchaeus.

●      He called to Zacchaeus: “Zacchaeus, quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.” Say the words a few at a time slowly, and have Jesus repeat them.

●      Zacchaeus was filled with joy! Jesus knew his name! He climbed down as fast as he could. Zacchaeus climbs down with a happy face.

●      He walked with Jesus to his house. Jesus and Zacchaeus walk past the crowd to the chairs and sit down.

●      The crowd was angry! How could Jesus go to the house of a man who was not honest? The crowd looks toward Jesus and makes angry faces.

●      After Jesus talked with him, Zacchaeus was changed! He was now an honest man who loved Jesus!

●      Zaccheus stood up and said: (Say a few words at a time slowly and have Zacchaeus repeat them) “I will give half my money to the poor, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!” Zacchaeus stands up, then repeats words, and points to the money bag. 

●      Zaccheus was full of joy! His sins were forgiven, and his life was changed forever! Everyone makes a happy face, jumps up and down, and celebrates.

 

Zacchaeus was sorry for the wrong things he had done, and Jesus forgave him! When we do something wrong, Jesus will forgive us, too!     

 

Hold up the Coins or image. Who had the coins in the Bible story? Zacchaeus.

How did Zacchaeus get so many coins? He collected taxes; he was not honest. 

What did Zacchaeus do with his coins after meeting Jesus? He gave a lot of the coins back to the people whom he had cheated.

What happened when Zacchaeus said he was sorry? Jesus forgave him.