Bible Story | Go Out on a Limb to See Jesus
Lesson Topic: Zacchaeus, Salvation, Repentance, Seeking Jesus, and Changed Lives
Main Point: Jesus came to seek and save the lost. When Zacchaeus met Jesus, he responded with joy and demonstrated a willingness to change his life. No matter who we are or what mistakes we’ve made, Jesus knows us, loves us, and wants to save us.
Scripture: Luke 19:10: “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
Bible Passage: Luke 19:1–10
Skit Overview
Bring the familiar Bible story of Zacchaeus to life with this simple, interactive classroom skit! Using a cardboard tree, a few volunteers, and a narrator, children will act out the events of Luke 19 as Zacchaeus struggles to see Jesus, climbs a sycamore tree, and receives an unexpected invitation from the Lord.
The skit demonstrates that Jesus notices people others might overlook. Although Zacchaeus was wealthy and held an important position as a chief tax collector, he still needed salvation. His encounter with Jesus led to a remarkable declaration about giving to the poor and making restitution for any money he had wrongfully taken.
This presentation works well with children of different ages and requires very few props. It can be performed by adult volunteers, children, or a combination of both.
Characters
Narrator: Guides the story, introduces the scenes, and reads or explains the Scripture passages.
Zacchaeus: A wealthy chief tax collector who is short in stature and determined to see Jesus.
Jesus: Walks through Jericho, notices Zacchaeus in the tree, and invites Himself to Zacchaeus’s home.
Crowd: Three or more volunteers who follow Jesus, make it difficult for Zacchaeus to see, and react when Jesus chooses to visit his home.
For smaller classes, the crowd can consist of only two volunteers. For larger groups, additional children can participate as members of the crowd.
Supplies Needed
- Bible
- Large cardboard tree or tree backdrop
- Small paper or cardboard figure of Zacchaeus
- Tape, string, or another simple method for raising the paper figure
- Floor marker or masking tape
- Optional costume scarves or simple Bible-time clothing
- Optional chair or small table to represent Zacchaeus’s house
Preparation
Before class, create a simple sycamore tree using cardboard, poster board, or another lightweight material. Make it tall enough for the children to recognize, but do not make it something they can physically climb.
Prepare a small paper figure of Zacchaeus that can be raised into the branches during the skit. The volunteer portraying Zacchaeus will remain safely on the floor beside the tree while the paper figure represents him climbing.
Mark the places where Jesus, the crowd, and Zacchaeus should stand. Rehearse the movements so the crowd knows when to block Zacchaeus’s view, when he should run ahead, and when Jesus should stop beneath the tree.
Encourage the actors to use expressive reactions and gestures. The crowd can be enthusiastic, Zacchaeus can be comically frustrated by his inability to see, and the moment Jesus calls him by name should feel surprising and exciting.
Teacher Tip: Allow the children to enjoy the humor of Zacchaeus trying to see over the crowd, but avoid making fun of his height. The focus should be on his determination to see Jesus and the wonderful change that followed their encounter.
Skit Script: Zacchaeus Climbs a Tree
Scene 1: A Very Important Man
Zacchaeus enters, walking confidently and pretending to count money. The Narrator stands to one side with a Bible.
Narrator: Our story takes place in the city of Jericho. There lived a man named Zacchaeus, and Zacchaeus was a very important man. He was a chief tax collector, and the Bible tells us that he was rich!
Zacchaeus: One, two, three, four, five! Oh, I do love counting money!
Narrator: Zacchaeus collected taxes, and many people didn’t like tax collectors. Some tax collectors were dishonest and took more money than they were supposed to.
Zacchaeus: Well, somebody has to collect the taxes!
Narrator: But even though Zacchaeus had plenty of money, there was something he wanted that money couldn’t buy.
Zacchaeus: What’s that?
Narrator: He wanted to see JESUS!
Zacchaeus: Oh, that’s right! I’ve heard about Jesus! I’ve heard He does miracles, teaches wonderful things, and changes people’s lives. I’d sure like to see Him for myself!
Narrator: And one day, Zacchaeus heard that Jesus was coming through Jericho!
Zacchaeus: JESUS IS COMING?! I’ve got to see Him!
Zacchaeus looks excitedly toward the area where Jesus will enter.
Scene 2: Too Short to See!
Jesus enters, followed by a crowd of excited people.
Crowd Member 1: Look! Here comes Jesus!
Crowd Member 2: It’s Jesus! I want to see Him!
Crowd Member 3: Everybody, come this way!
The crowd gathers around Jesus, blocking Zacchaeus’s view.
Zacchaeus: Excuse me! Pardon me! Coming through! I’d like to see Jesus too!
Zacchaeus tries looking around the crowd.
Zacchaeus: Excuse me! Could you move just a little bit?
Crowd Member 1: I’m trying to see Jesus!
Zacchaeus: So am I!
Zacchaeus moves to the other side of the crowd, but someone steps in front of him again.
Zacchaeus: Oh, come on! I can’t see ANYTHING!
Narrator: There was just one problem. Zacchaeus was short, and the crowd was so large that he couldn’t see over the people standing in front of him.
Zacchaeus: Maybe if I stand on my tiptoes!
Zacchaeus stretches as tall as possible.
Zacchaeus: Nope! Still can’t see!
Narrator: But Zacchaeus wasn’t going to give up that easily. He had an idea!
Zacchaeus: Wait a minute! I’ve got it! There’s a tree up ahead! If I climb that tree, I’ll be able to see Jesus when He comes by!
Zacchaeus runs toward the cardboard tree.
Scene 3: Up the Sycamore Tree
Narrator: Zacchaeus ran ahead of the crowd and climbed into a sycamore tree so he could see Jesus.
The volunteer portraying Zacchaeus stands beside the tree while the teacher raises the paper Zacchaeus figure into the branches.
Zacchaeus: Up I go! A little higher… a little higher… THERE! Now I can see everything!
Narrator: Zacchaeus had found the perfect place to watch Jesus pass by. But something was about to happen that he never expected!
Jesus and the crowd begin walking toward the tree.
Crowd Member 1: Here comes Jesus!
Crowd Member 2: Look! He’s coming this way!
Zacchaeus: This is wonderful! I’ve got the best seat in Jericho!
Jesus reaches the tree and suddenly stops.
Narrator: When Jesus came to the place where Zacchaeus was waiting, He stopped, looked up into the tree, and called him by name!
Read Luke 19:5: “And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.”
Jesus: Zacchaeus! Make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.
Zacchaeus: ME?! You’re talking to ME?!
Jesus: Zacchaeus, come down!
Zacchaeus: You know my NAME?! And You want to come to MY house?!
Narrator: Zacchaeus was amazed! He had climbed the tree just hoping to see Jesus, but Jesus already knew who he was!
The teacher lowers the paper figure as Zacchaeus steps away from the tree.
Zacchaeus: I’m coming! I’m coming! Jesus wants to come to MY house!
Narrator: Zacchaeus hurried down and welcomed Jesus joyfully!
Scene 4: The Crowd Complains
Jesus and Zacchaeus begin walking toward the area representing Zacchaeus’s house. The crowd watches with surprise.
Crowd Member 1: Wait a minute! Did Jesus just say He’s going to Zacchaeus’s house?
Crowd Member 2: Zacchaeus?! The tax collector?!
Crowd Member 3: Why would Jesus want to visit HIM?
Crowd Member 1: Doesn’t Jesus know what kind of man Zacchaeus is?
Crowd Member 2: He’s a sinner!
Narrator: The people began complaining because Jesus was going to be a guest in the home of a man they considered a sinner.
Crowd Member 3: I don’t understand! Why would Jesus choose Zacchaeus?
Narrator: But Jesus hadn’t come only for people who already seemed good or religious. He came to seek and save people who were lost!
Jesus and Zacchaeus move toward the house.
Zacchaeus: Jesus, I can’t believe You’re coming to my house! What an honor!
Scene 5: A Changed Heart
Narrator: Something wonderful happened when Zacchaeus welcomed Jesus. The Bible tells us that Zacchaeus made an important declaration.
Zacchaeus: Lord, I’ve made a decision!
Jesus: What is it, Zacchaeus?
Zacchaeus: I’m going to give half of my possessions to the poor!
The crowd reacts with surprise.
Crowd Member 1: HALF?!
Crowd Member 2: Did he say HALF of everything he owns?!
Zacchaeus: That’s right! And if I’ve taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I’m going to repay them FOUR TIMES as much!
Crowd Member 3: FOUR TIMES?!
Crowd Member 1: That’s a lot of money!
Narrator: Zacchaeus was demonstrating a change in his heart. He was no longer simply focused on collecting money. He was willing to help the poor and make things right with anyone he had wronged.
Read Luke 19:8: “And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.”
Zacchaeus: I want to do what’s right!
Narrator: Zacchaeus’s words showed that his encounter with Jesus had affected his priorities and the way he intended to live.
Scene 6: Jesus Came to Save the Lost
Narrator: Then Jesus made a wonderful statement about what had happened in Zacchaeus’s life.
Read Luke 19:9: “And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.”
Jesus: This day is salvation come to this house.
Narrator: And then Jesus explained the reason He had come into the world.
Read Luke 19:10: “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
Jesus: For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
Narrator: Zacchaeus had climbed a tree because he wanted to see Jesus. But Jesus had come to do something far greater than simply let Zacchaeus see Him. Jesus came to bring salvation!
Zacchaeus: I’m so glad Jesus came to Jericho!
Narrator: And that’s the wonderful message of our Bible story. Jesus knows us, loves us, and wants to save us from our sins!
The actors remain in place briefly before exiting.
Bringing the Lesson Home
After the skit, remind the children that Zacchaeus was a wealthy man, but his money couldn’t give him the salvation he needed.
He wanted to see Jesus so badly that he ran ahead of the crowd and climbed a tree. But when Jesus stopped and called him by name, Zacchaeus received something far greater than he had expected.
Say: “Zacchaeus thought he was looking for Jesus, but Jesus already knew exactly where Zacchaeus was! Jesus knew his name, and He wanted to come to his house!”
Explain that Jesus knows each of us personally. He knows our names, our struggles, and the mistakes we’ve made. Yet He still loves us and wants us to turn to Him.
Remind the children that Zacchaeus demonstrated a willingness to change. He declared that he would give half of his possessions to the poor and repay anyone he had wrongfully cheated.
Say: “When we truly repent, we don’t just say we’re sorry. We make a decision to turn away from sin and begin doing what’s right. If we’ve stolen something, we should return it. If we’ve lied, we should tell the truth. If we’ve hurt someone, we should apologize and try to make things right.”
Explain that we cannot earn salvation through good deeds, but genuine repentance should produce a change in our attitudes and actions.
Point back to the cardboard tree.
Ask: “What if Zacchaeus had decided the crowd was too big and simply gone home? He would have missed that wonderful opportunity to meet Jesus!”
Encourage the children not to allow distractions, other people’s opinions, or difficulties to keep them from seeking God.
Remind them that Jesus didn’t come only for people who seemed important, popular, or religious. He came to seek and save the lost.
Conclude by reading Luke 19:10: “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
Say: “Zacchaeus climbed a tree to see Jesus, but Jesus came to change his life. And the same Jesus who knew Zacchaeus by name knows you too. He loves you, and He wants you to follow Him!
