Zacchaeus Wants to See Jesus

January 25, 2015 Zacchaeus Sunday Luke 19:1-10 Preschool Edition ZACCHAEUS WANTS TO SEE JESUS

At that time, Jesus came to a place called Jericho. There was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a tax collector and rich. He wanted to see Jesus. He could not because he was short, so he climbed a tree.

When Jesus came near, he looked up and saw Zacchaeus. Jesus said, “Zacchaeus, hurry up and come down. I want to stay at your house today. Zacchaeus came down and was very happy to have Jesus in his house. The others in the crowd said, “Jesus has come to the house of a sinner.” Zacchaeus heard what they said and turned to the Lord.

“Lord,” he said, “I give half of what I have to the poor. If I have cheated someone, I give them back four times what they lost.” Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, for I came to seek and save those who are lost.”

WHAT DO YOU THINK? 1. What was the man’s name who wanted to see Jesus?

2. What did he do to see Jesus?

3. What did Jesus say to him when he saw him in the tree?

4. The people said that Zacchaeus was not a good man and Icon courtesy of Iconographics (www.theologic.com) that Jesus should not go with him.

5. Jesus always knows what is in our hearts. He loves us even if we have done something wrong.

6. What would you talk to Jesus about if He came to your house?

Let Us Attend! is published by the Antiochian Orthodox Department of Christian Education (www.antiochian.org). If you would like information on our present programs and future initiatives, contact Mrs. Carole Buleza at [email protected]. We gratefully acknowledge support from the Order of St. Ignatius which funds, in part, the work of the Department.

Visit www.antiochian.org/LetUsAttend for free downloads related to this Gospel story: mp3 audio, coloring sheet, script for readers’ theater, and handouts for preschool through Pre- high school. Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AODCE.

B January 25, 2015 Zacchaeus Sunday Luke 19:1-10 Coloring Sheet

Icon courtesy of Iconographics (www.theologic.com)

Visit www.antiochian.org/LetUsAttend for free downloads related to this Gospel story: mp3 audio, coloring sheet, script for readers’ theater, and handouts for preschool through high school. Pre- Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AODCE.

B January 25, 2015 Zacchaeus Sunday Luke 19:1-10 Grades K-2 Edition ZACCHAEUS WANTS TO SEE JESUS

One day, our Lord Jesus Christ was walking through the city of Jericho. Many people were with Him. A man named Zacchaeus was there too. Zacchaeus was a tax collector. In those days, tax collectors often got rich from taking extra taxes from people and keeping the extra money for themselves. Zac- chaeus was a rich man. Zacchaeus also was not very tall. When the crowd was passing by, he wanted to see who Jesus was. But because Zacchaeus was short, he could not see over the crowd. There was a sycamore tree growing nearby. Sycamore trees can grow to be very high. Zacchaeus saw the tall tree and climbed it. Now he could see who Jesus was! When Jesus came by the place where Zacchaeus was, He looked up into the tree. Then He said, “Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for I must stay at your house today!” Zacchaeus hurried down the tree. He very happily welcomed Jesus into his home. People who saw this said to each other, “Jesus has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” Icon courtesy of Iconographics (www.theologic.com) But Zacchaeus’ heart was changed. He said to Jesus, “I will give half of my stuff to people who are poor. And anyone that I cheated, I will repay four times as much as I took from them.” Jesus said, “Today salvation has come to this house. For I came to find and save people like Zacchaeus who are lost.”

WHAT DO YOU THINK? 1. What was the name of the man who wanted to see Jesus? What did he do to see Him?

2. What happened when Jesus passed by?

3. Tax collectors worked for the Romans. They collected money from the people to give to the government. Many people thought tax collectors were bad because they kept some money for themselves.

4. Zacchaeus told Jesus something that showed that his heart was changed. What did he say to Jesus?

5. Jesus told him the best news ever, that Jesus, the Savior, came to save people just like Zacchaeus. And like us!

B January 25, 2015 Zacchaeus Sunday Luke 19:1-10 Grades 3-5 Edition ZACCHAEUS WANTS TO SEE JESUS

At that time, Jesus entered Jericho guest of a man who is a sinner.” and was passing through. And there And Zacchaeus stood and said to the was a man named Zacchaeus; he Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my was a chief tax collector, and rich. goods I give to the poor; and if I have And he sought to see who Jesus was, defrauded anyone of anything, I re- but could not, on account of the store it fourfold.” crowd, because he was small of stat- And Jesus said to him, “Today salva- ure. So he ran on ahead and climbed tion has come to this house, since he up into a sycamore tree to see Jesus, also is a son of Abraham. For the Son for he was to pass that way. of man came to seek and to save the And when Jesus came to the place, lost.” he looked up and said to him,

“Zacchaeus, make haste and come down; for I must stay at your house today.” So he made haste and came Photo of a sycamore tree courtesy of freeimages.com down, and received him joyfully.

And when they saw it they all murmured, “He has gone in to be the

WHAT DO YOU THINK? 1. What part of this story do you like the most? What part of this story do you identify with?

2. Why do you like this part of the story?

3. Why do you think the people in this part of the story do what they do or say what they say?

4. What do the people in this part of the story hope will happen as a result of their actions or words?

5. What does this part of the story tell us about God?

6. What does it show you about yourself or who you can be?

B January 25, 2015 Zacchaeus Sunday Luke 19:1-10 Readers’ Theatre ZACCHAEUS WANTS TO SEE JESUS

Characters: Narrator, Jesus, People, Zacchaeus Narrator: At that time, Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. And there was a man named Zac- chaeus; he was a chief tax collector, and rich. And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not, on account of the crowd, because he was small of stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Jesus, for he was to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, Jesus: Zacchaeus, make haste and come down; for I must stay at your house today.

Narrator: So he made haste and came down, Photo of sycamore trees courtesy of freeimages.com and received him joyfully. And when they saw it they all murmured, People: He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner. Narrator: And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, Zacchaeus: Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold. Narrator: And Jesus said to him, Jesus: Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man came to seek and to save the lost.

B January 25, 2015 Zacchaeus Sunday Luke 19:1-10 Middle School Edition ZACCHAEUS WANTS TO SEE JESUS

At that time, Jesus en- the half of my goods I give “Today salvation has come WHAT DO YOU THINK? tered Jericho and was to the poor; and if I have to this house, since he also 1. What is Zacchaeus passing through. And defrauded anyone of any- is a son of Abraham. For trying to do at the there was a man named thing, I restore it fourfold.” the Son of man came to beginning of this Zacchaeus; he was a chief And Jesus said to him, seek and to save the lost.” Gospel? tax collector, and rich. And 2. When have you he sought to see who Je- seen other people sus was, but could not, on strain to see some- account of the crowd, be- thing? When have you done this? cause he was small of stat- What does it feel ure. So he ran on ahead like? Why do peo- and climbed up into a ple do this? sycamore tree to see Je- 3. How does Jesus sus, for he was to pass respond to Zac- that way. And when Jesus chaeus’s efforts? came to the place, he 4. How might you or looked up and said to him, someone else re- “Zacchaeus, make haste spond if this happened as a result of and come down; for I must straining to see a stay at your house today.” person? So he made haste and 5. How do you think came down, and received people feel when him joyfully. And when they get to meet or they saw it they all mur- speak to a movie mured, “He has gone in to star they idolize? be the guest of a man who 6. What does this Gos- is a sinner.” And Zac- Photo courtesy of freeimages.com pel suggest about chaeus stood and said to our relationship with God? What the Lord, “Behold, Lord, does it say about our role in that relationship? What does it suggest about God’s role in that relationship? 7. How can you imi- tate Zacchaeus?

B January 25, 2015 Zacchaeus Sunday Luke 19:1-10 High School Edition ZACCHAEUS WANTS TO SEE JESUS

At that time, Jesus entered Jericho and WHAT DO YOU THINK? was passing through. And there was a 1. What does Jesus man named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax say to Zacchaeus collector, and rich. And he sought to see when he comes to who Jesus was, but could not, on account the place where of the crowd, because he was small of Zacchaeus is at? stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed 2. Why would Jesus up into a sycamore tree to see Jesus, for say he must stay he was to pass that way. And when Jesus with Zacchaeus? came to the place, he looked up and said 3. How does Zac- to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come chaeus respond to down; for I must stay at your house to- Jesus? day.” So he made haste and came down, and received him joyfully. And when they 4. Why do you think Photo by Timm Wenger Zacchaeus volun- saw it they all murmured, “He has gone in teered to give away to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” half his possessions And Zacchaeus stood and said to the and repay those he Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods had wronged? I give to the poor; and if I have defrauded What happened anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” that caused this And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation dramatic change in has come to this house, since he also is a him? son of Abraham. For the Son of man came 5. What does this sug- to seek and to save the lost.” gest about repen- tance? What is the cause of repen-

tance in this Gos- pel? What is the nature of the re-

sponse to that cause according to this Gospel?

6. What do you think this says about go- ing to Confession?