Cloudy to Clear – A Changed Life Through Jesus | Object Lesson
Lesson Topic: Zacchaeus, Repentance, Salvation, Forgiveness, and Becoming a New Creature in Christ
Main Point: Jesus can completely change a person’s life! When Zacchaeus encountered Jesus, he didn’t simply say he was sorry for his sins. His actions demonstrated a genuine change of heart. When we truly repent and turn to Jesus, our lives should begin to reflect that change.
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
Additional Scriptures: 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.” Luke 19:10: “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
Lesson Overview
Can two cups of water help children understand how Jesus changes lives? This simple visual object lesson uses colored water and clear water to illustrate the difference between a life controlled by sinful choices and a life that has been changed through an encounter with Jesus Christ.
The lesson focuses on Zacchaeus, a wealthy chief tax collector who climbed a sycamore tree because he wanted to see Jesus. Although Zacchaeus had money and an important position, he still needed something that his wealth could never provide: salvation.
When Jesus stopped beneath the tree, called Zacchaeus by name, and went to his home, something wonderful happened. Zacchaeus demonstrated a changed heart by declaring that he would give to the poor and repay those he had wronged.
Using two clear cups of water, children will see a simple before-and-after illustration of the transformation that can take place when someone turns to Jesus.
Supplies Needed
- Two identical clear plastic cups or jars
- Water
- Food coloring (dark blue, red, or another noticeable color)
- Tray to hold the cups
- Small tree branch
- Paper label reading “Limb of Faith”
- Tape to attach the label
- Bible
Preparation
Before class, fill two identical clear cups with approximately the same amount of water.
Add several drops of food coloring to the first cup and stir until the water is noticeably colored. Leave the second cup completely clear.
Place both cups on a tray, but keep the clear cup hidden or off to the side until the appropriate moment in the lesson.
Find a small tree branch to represent the sycamore tree Zacchaeus climbed. Attach a paper label reading “Limb of Faith” to the branch. The branch doesn’t need to be large. It simply serves as a visual reminder of Zacchaeus’s determination to see Jesus.
Position the colored water where the children can easily see it. Keep the branch nearby so you can introduce it while telling the Bible story.
Teacher Tip: This lesson uses two separate cups rather than attempting to change the colored water into clear water. Explain that the cups are a visual representation of a before-and-after change, not a chemical transformation. The power to change a life comes from Jesus Christ, not from the water.
How to Teach the Object Lesson
Step 1: A Life That Looks Successful
Begin by holding up the cup of colored water.
Ask: “How many of you know someone who has a lot of money or owns really expensive things? Do you think having lots of money automatically makes someone happy or means they’re living the right way?”
Allow the children to respond.
Explain that the Bible tells us about a man named Zacchaeus who lived in the city of Jericho. Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector, which meant he was responsible for collecting taxes and had authority over other tax collectors.
He was also very wealthy!
But there was a problem. Tax collectors were often disliked because some were dishonest and collected more money than people actually owed.
Hold up the colored water.
Say: “This cup of water represents a life that has been affected by sin and wrong choices. From the outside, someone might look successful. They might have money, possessions, and everything they want. But that doesn’t mean everything is right between them and God.”
Explain that money cannot buy forgiveness, and being successful doesn’t mean someone doesn’t need Jesus.
Say: “Zacchaeus had plenty of money, but he needed something far more important. He needed a change in his life!”
Step 2: Zacchaeus Climbs the Tree
Hold up the small branch labeled “Limb of Faith.”
Explain that one day Jesus was passing through Jericho, and a large crowd had gathered to see Him.
Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus too, but he had a problem.
He was short!
There were so many people standing in front of him that he couldn’t see over the crowd.
Ask: “What would you do if you really wanted to see someone, but everybody in front of you was taller than you?”
Allow the children to suggest ideas.
Explain that Zacchaeus decided to run ahead of the crowd and climb a sycamore tree.
Hold up the branch again.
Say: “Zacchaeus wasn’t going to let the crowd stop him from seeing Jesus! He found a tree, climbed up into the branches, and waited for Jesus to come by.”
Explain that Zacchaeus may have thought he was simply going to watch Jesus pass through town, but Jesus had something much greater planned.
When Jesus reached the tree, He stopped, looked up, and called Zacchaeus 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.”
Say: “Can you imagine how surprised Zacchaeus must have been? Jesus knew his name! And not only that, Jesus wanted to go to his house!”
Explain that Zacchaeus quickly came down from the tree and joyfully welcomed Jesus.
Step 3: Jesus Changes Zacchaeus’s Life
Return the children’s attention to the cup of colored water.
Explain that Zacchaeus had lived a life focused on collecting money. But after his encounter with Jesus, his priorities began to change.
Bring out the second cup containing clear water and place it beside the colored cup.
Say: “Look at these two cups. One represents Zacchaeus’s life before his encounter with Jesus, and the other represents the change that took place when he responded to Jesus!”
Explain that the Bible tells us Zacchaeus made an incredible declaration.
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.”
Explain that Zacchaeus promised to give half of his possessions to the poor. He also declared that if he had cheated anyone, he would repay them four times the amount he had taken.
Ask: “Does that sound like the same man who was only interested in collecting money?”
Allow the children to respond.
Say: “Something had changed in Zacchaeus’s heart! He wasn’t just saying that he wanted to do better. He was willing to make things right with the people he had wronged!”
Point to the two cups.
Explain that the colored water represents his former way of living, while the clear water represents the new direction his life was taking.
Important Teaching Point: The clear water doesn’t mean Zacchaeus had become perfect or would never make another mistake. It represents the change in his heart and his willingness to turn away from sin and begin living differently.
Step 4: Jesus Came to Seek and Save the Lost
Explain that some people in the crowd weren’t happy when Jesus went to Zacchaeus’s house. They complained because Zacchaeus was known as a sinner.
But Jesus wasn’t concerned about Zacchaeus’s reputation the way the crowd was. He knew Zacchaeus needed salvation.
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.”
Then read Luke 19:10: “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
Explain that Jesus came to save people from their sins. He didn’t come only for people who already seemed good or religious. He came for people who needed His mercy and forgiveness.
Say: “Jesus knew all about Zacchaeus. He knew his name, his reputation, and the mistakes he had made. But Jesus still loved him and wanted to change his life!”
Remind the children that Jesus knows everything about us too. He knows our mistakes, our struggles, and the things we may try to hide from others.
But He still loves us and wants us to come to Him.
Step 5: Becoming a New Creature in Christ
Hold up both cups of water again.
Read 2 Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
Explain that when we truly turn to Jesus, He can change our hearts, our attitudes, and the way we live.
Repentance isn’t simply saying we’re sorry because we got caught doing something wrong. Genuine repentance means being sorry for our sins and making the decision to turn away from them.
Zacchaeus demonstrated that kind of change through his actions.
Say: “Zacchaeus didn’t just tell Jesus, ‘I’m sorry for the things I’ve done.’ He was willing to give to the poor and repay the people he had cheated. His actions showed that something had changed inside him!”
Explain that the same principle applies to us today.
If we’ve been dishonest, repentance means choosing to tell the truth. If we’ve taken something that doesn’t belong to us, we should return it. If we’ve treated someone unkindly, we should apologize and begin treating them differently.
We cannot earn salvation by doing good deeds, but a heart that has genuinely turned toward God should produce changes in the way we live.
Remind the children that Jesus is the one who makes us new. We respond to Him through faith, repentance, and obedience to His Word.
Bringing the Lesson Home
Place both cups side by side where everyone can see them.
Say: “These two cups remind us of something wonderful. Jesus doesn’t want us to stay the same. He wants to forgive our sins, change our hearts, and help us live a new life!”
Explain that Zacchaeus was willing to go to great lengths just to see Jesus. He ran ahead of the crowd and climbed a tree, but the most important thing wasn’t how high he climbed. It was how he responded when Jesus called him.
Zacchaeus welcomed Jesus and demonstrated a changed life.
Ask: “If you tell someone you’re sorry for doing something wrong, what could you do to show that you really mean it?”
Allow the children to suggest examples such as telling the truth, returning something they took, apologizing sincerely, or changing the way they treat others. Do not pressure children to share personal mistakes in front of the class.
Explain that God wants us to do more than simply hear Bible stories or attend church. He wants us to respond to His Word and allow Him to change our lives.
Hold up the branch labeled “Limb of Faith” one final time.
Say: “Zacchaeus climbed a tree because he wanted to see Jesus. But when he met Jesus, his whole life began to change. And the same Jesus who changed Zacchaeus can change us today!”
Encourage the children to seek Jesus with all their hearts and be willing to obey Him, even when it means making difficult changes.
