4 Scripture: Luke 19:1-10

Track 25 Seeks the Savior

Zacchaeus stood on his tiptoes his way forward. But he still and stretched his neck up as far as couldn’t see a thing. he could. “Oh, I just wish I could get “I give up!” said Zacchaeus. He wrig- one good look!” he said to himself. gled out of the crowd. “I’ve GOT to But the mob of people before him fi nd another way to see Jesus.” seemed like giants. Zacchaeus was Then he had an idea. It was a funny so short that even some of the idea. And he would look very funny children were taller than he was! doing it, but he had no choice. Maybe I can try to squeeze through Zacchaeus lifted up his robe, tucked them, thought Zacchaeus. So he it into his belt and started to run. In inched and squished and pushed those days, men usually didn’t run.

1 of 3 4 Scripture: Luke 19:1-10

Especially not rich “Zacchaeus!” He called. men like Zacchaeus, Zacchaeus almost fell right out who had important of the tree. How did Jesus know his jobs with the name? Why was He talking to him? government. “Quick! Come down,” said Jesus. But Zacchaeus didn’t care! He “For I must stay at your house sprinted ahead of the crowd and today.” all the way up the road. Stay at MY house? thought Then he did something even more Zacchaeus. shocking. He climbed a tree! Before he knew it, he was sliding Usually only children climbed down the tree. He had never met trees, and Zacchaeus was a Jesus before, but now He wanted grown man. to know Him. He trusted Jesus as But Zacchaeus would do almost his Savior. anything to see Jesus. So he With a huge smile and a happy steadied himself on a sturdy song in his heart, Zacchaeus led branch of a sycamore tree and Jesus all the way to his house. waited for the Lord Jesus to pass by. From up in the tree, he had a But behind them, the crowd better view than anybody. started to grumble. In no time, Jesus arrived at the “I can’t believe Jesus is staying tree with a large crowd behind at that man’s house. He’s one Him. He stopped and looked up. of the biggest sinners in town!” someone said.

2 of 3 4 Scripture: Luke 19:1-10

“Yes, Zacchaeus is the boss of all Zacchaeus’ eyes opened wide! He the tax collectors!” said another. thought he was the one looking “He and his friends charge us for Jesus. But Jesus had been more money than they should looking for him fi rst. Jesus wanted and keep the extra money for to forgive him for his sin. themselves. Zacchaeus is a greedy, Zacchaeus hurried to get things lying thief!” ready for his guest. Yes, Jesus Zacchaeus turned around. He would only stay one night. But stood as tall as he could and said, one day Zacchaeus would stay in “Lord, I know I have done wrong. Jesus’ house in heaven forever! But I am a new man now. I’ll give half of everything I own to the poor. And I’ll pay back all the money I stole – and four times as much as that!” Then Jesus said to Zacchaeus and everyone else, “This man trusts in Me, and he has been saved today! For I have come to seek and to save sinners, just like him.”

Learn from Zacchaeus’ biography: • Jesus came to earth to seek and to save sinners. • Like Zacchaeus, we are all sinners. Trust Jesus to save you and make you into a new person.

3 of 3 Zacchaeus Seeks the Savior Scripture: Luke 19:1-10

KEY LEARNING POINTS • Jesus came to earth to seek and to save sinners. • Like Zacchaeus, we are all sinners. Trust Jesus to save you and make you into a new person.

1. Read-together activity • The crowd grumbles. Read this biography outdoors under a large, • Zacchaeus promises to pay back more shady tree with many low branches. If you money than he owes. feel especially brave, climb the tree together • Jesus says He was seeking sinners, like and sit or lean on a branch while you read. Zacchaeus. 2. Read-together activity Follow this activity by asking a few questions Ask your son or daughter to pantomime the related to the key learning points. part of Zacchaeus. (Pantomime means “to act • What was Zacchaeus like before he met without speaking, using exaggerated gestures Jesus? and body movements only.”) After you are done reading, switch places! Your child (or • How did Zacchaeus respond to Jesus’ another family member) can read while you invitation? (He welcomed Him with joy, pantomime Zacchaeus. You could also play the trusted Him as Savior, etc.) biography on the CD and pantomime together. • By the end of the biography, how had Enjoy the laughs that will inevitably follow. Zacchaeus changed? 3. Discussion activity • Why was Zacchaeus so surprised by Jesus’ words at the end? To prepare, draw a circle on a sheet of paper. Draw lines to divide the circle into six Help your child to understand that Jesus equal pie sections. Make a “biography clock” knows us long before we know Him. He by writing six key biography events in the comes to sinners like us and invites us to trust sections, in chronological order. The fi rst event Him as Savior. should be written in the top right section. Add 4. Application activity events in a clockwise direction. Then cut out the sections, mix them up, and ask your child Explain to your child that we are all born to arrange them in the correct order. (Help sinners (Romans 3:23; Psalm 51:5; Romans your child to read sections if necessary.) Here 5:12). However, when we trust Christ as are six biography events: Savior, God says we are born again by His Spirit (John 3:3-8). This doesn’t mean we • Zacchaeus can’t see Jesus because of become babies again; instead, it means we the crowd. start making new choices to love and obey • Zacchaeus climbs a sycamore tree. God. We will still sin and be tempted to sin, • Jesus invites Himself to Zacchaeus’ but God’s Spirit gives us the power to say no. house.

1 of 2 Zacchaeus Seeks the Savior Scripture: Luke 19:1-10

Play a game to illustrate this point. Find The person holding the old shoe will give an an old, smelly shoe and a clean, new shoe. example of a sinful response to the scenario Tell your child that the old shoe stands for (e.g., fi ghting, yelling, etc.). The person sin (the bad choices we used to make) and holding the new shoe will say a “born again” the new shoe stands for holiness (the right response to the scenario (e.g., forgiveness, choices God helps us to make). Gather a few gentle words, etc.). Repeat the game several family members or friends to sit in a circle. times with different scenarios. Pass the shoes around the circle for less than End with prayer, thanking Christ for saving us a minute. (People will probably want to pass and making us into new people who can say the old shoe quickly!) Then stop and present no to sin. an everyday scenario to the group (e.g., your little brother breaks your favorite toy).

2 of 2