Zacchaeus

(Information from Sermon4Kids)

The session began by asking if anyone has ever been to watch something but couldn’t see over the people in front of them. Everyone had lots to talk about and when asked how they felt they all agreed they weren’t very happy.

We then went on to talk about someone who joined a crowd of people waiting to see Jesus but he couldn’t see over the crowd because he wasn’t very tall. -  Zacchaeus, the tax collector.

Story

Now, Zacchaeus really wanted to see Jesus so he decided to climb a tree and wait there to see him pass by. As Jesus travelled along the road he looked up and saw Zacchaeus in the tree. He stopped and called to Zacchaeus, saying “Come down because I’m going to your house today”. Wow! What a surprise that would have been not only to Zacchaeus but to everyone around. Zacchaeus was one of the most hated men around and the people in the crowd were shocked because Zacchaeus had a big problem! He was a cheat and a thief. He was the chief tax collector and had become very rich because he cheated people by collecting more taxes than they owed and keeping it for himself. The people just couldn’t believe that Jesus would go to the home of someone like that!

But Zacchaeus knew he’d cheated people and when he and Jesus arrived at his house he confessed and said sorry for what he had done. He told Jesus he would give half of all that he owned to the poor, and if he had cheated anybody out of anything ,he would pay them back four times the amount.    Because Zacchaeus was sorry for what he’d done and confessed his sin, Jesus forgave him saying, “Today salvation has come to this house”.

Yes, Zacchaeus was a little man with a big problem  -  sin  - but  when he met and became friends with Jesus and his life was changed.

Jesus wants to be friends with us too and it doesn’t matter if we’re short or tall or who we are when we become friends with Jesus he will always be there to help and guide us and willing to forgive our wrongdoings, if we are truly sorry.

Prayer   Dear Lord, we are thankful that you want to be our friend and that you forgive us when we are sorry for the wrong things we do. Help us to be willing to be your friend so we might be guided by you each day. Amen

The group then created a wonderful picture of Zacchaeus in a tree with Jesus looking up at him, using their own cut out leaf rubbings and dried leaves.