Jesus Teaches About Friendship-Zacchaeus

Zacchaeus by Jennifer Tolbert

Jesus came to teach us how we should live on Earth to please God, who is in heaven. One of the ways he taught was through parables. Other times, he preached like on the Sermon on the Mount. Sometimes, he would teach through his miracles. In this story, we can learn about how to live through Jesus's example. 

Jesus taught us how we can show friendship to others--especially those who did not have many friends. This person's name was Zacchaeus and he was a tax collector. 

Key Themes:
1. God wants us to love others. 
2. Jesus was a true friend to others, even if they were not popular. 
​3. Jesus is the best friend you can have. 

Memory Verse

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. -Mark 10:45

Songs

Books of the New Testament
Zacchaeus was a Wee Little Man
Make Me a Servant
Jesus is My Best Friend
​Love is Something if You Give It Away

Story

Begin Class with Songs, Games, Table Activity, or Sharing Time
 
Open Class in Prayer

Introducing the Story Ideas
1. Measure up
Bring a measuring tape or a make a ruler on the wall and measure each child. Who is the tallest? Who is the shortest? Discuss what it would be like to be in a crowd and not able to see. How would you feel? Frustrated? Left out? 

2. Size sort
Bring some items that are different heights (bottles, dolls, blocks, etc.) and let the kids arrange them by size. SAY: Today, we are talking about a man that know for his size. But he wasn't know for being big...he was known for being very short. His name was Zacchaeus. 

3. Sharing Time
Talk about a time when you felt alone or left out. How did it feel? How does it feel when you are included? What are things good friends do? 

Story: Jesus came to Earth to show us how to live in a way that pleased God. Sometimes, he told us through stories called parables and other times through his miracles. Many times, we can learn how to please God through his EXAMPLE or the way Jesus lived while he was here on Earth. 

One of the things that made Jesus very special was how he treated others. What made him extra special was how he treated the people others were unkind too. Jesus was kind to a Samaritan woman that others would not have even spoken to. He showed kindness to the sick and poor. He took time for children and widows. He even showed kindness to people that were considered sinners, like tax collectors. Tax collectors had a bad reputation among the Jewish people. They were considered thieves and traitors. Let's learn about how Jesus showed friendship to this man.  

READ the story of Zacchaeus the Tax Collector OR read Luke 19:1-10. 

EMPHASIZE that:

• Jesus knows what we need and can provide it. 
• Jesus was a servant. 
• We should be willing to share what we have with others. 

Visual Aids

Video: Zacchaeus Meets Jesus by FreeBibleImages.com

Printable Bible Story by TruewayKids.org

Video: Zacchaeus by Saddleback Kids

God is...

Connect the story back to God and his character. Explain how this story fits into God's overall story. 

Activities

Zacchaeus Mini Sticker Scenes by Oriental Trading

What A Friend We Have Jesus Craft by Oriental Trading

Zacchaeus Tree by TruewayKids
Supplies: Template, Colors, Scissors, Tape, String

Zacchaeus Finger Print Tree
Supplies: Template, Colors, Scissors, Glue, Green Paint OR Green Tissue Paper OR construction paper in the shape of leaves