Bible Craft: Zacchaeus Climbs the Tree – A Moving Bible Craft

Lesson Topic: Zacchaeus, Seeking Jesus, Repentance, and Changed Lives

Main Point: Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus so badly that he climbed a tree to get a better view. But when Jesus noticed him and came to his house, Zacchaeus experienced something far greater than simply seeing Jesus. His encounter with the Lord changed his life!

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

Craft Overview

Bring the story of Zacchaeus to life with this fun, interactive Bible craft that allows children to make Zacchaeus climb up and down a tree!

Using a coloring sheet, a separate Zacchaeus figure, yarn, and a craft stick, children will create a moving picture of the famous Bible story. By pulling a tab behind the picture, they can make Zacchaeus climb the sycamore tree just as he did when Jesus passed through Jericho.

This simple craft is a wonderful way to reinforce the story while giving children something they can take home and use to retell it to their families.

The moving feature makes the activity especially engaging for younger children, and the finished craft provides a visual reminder that Jesus knows us personally and wants to change our lives.

Original Craft Inspiration: Zacchaeus Climbs a Tree – Bible Class Creations

Supplies Needed

• Coloring sheet featuring Jesus, a crowd of people, and a tall tree
• Separate cutout figure of Zacchaeus
• Yarn or sturdy string
• Wooden craft sticks or popsicle sticks
• Tape
• Crayons or colored pencils
• Scissors (teacher use for younger children)
• Hole punch
• Optional: Cardstock for a sturdier background and Zacchaeus figure

Preparation

Before class, prepare a coloring sheet showing the scene from Luke 19. The picture should include a large sycamore tree, Jesus standing nearby, and a crowd of people.

Make sure the tree is tall enough to allow the Zacchaeus figure to move visibly from near the ground to the upper branches.

If you don’t have a printable template, you can draw a simple scene yourself. The picture doesn’t need to be elaborate. A large tree with a sturdy trunk and several branches will work well.

Prepare a separate picture of Zacchaeus that can be cut out and attached to the yarn. The figure should be small enough to move easily along the tree without covering too much of the background.

Use a hole punch to make a hole near the upper portion of the tree. This hole will allow the yarn to pass from the front of the picture to the back.

Test the mechanism before class. The yarn should pass through the hole, with Zacchaeus attached to the front end and a craft-stick pull tab attached to the back end. When the child pulls the back tab downward, Zacchaeus should move upward toward the treetop.

For younger children, consider precutting the Zacchaeus figures, punching the holes, and preparing the yarn ahead of time.

Teacher Tip: Print the background on cardstock if possible. Regular paper will work, but cardstock provides a sturdier surface that is less likely to bend or tear when children operate the moving mechanism.

How to Make the Zacchaeus Craft

Step 1: Introduce the Story of Zacchaeus

Before beginning the craft, tell the children the story from Luke 19:1–10.

Explain that Zacchaeus lived in the city of Jericho and worked as a chief tax collector. He was a wealthy man, but many people disliked tax collectors because they were often associated with dishonesty and taking more money than they should.

One day, Zacchaeus heard that Jesus was passing through town. He wanted to see Jesus, but there was a problem.

Zacchaeus was short, and the crowd was so large that he couldn’t see over the people standing in front of him!

Ask: “What would you do if you really wanted to see someone important, but there were so many people in front of you that you couldn’t see anything?”

Allow the children to respond.

Explain that Zacchaeus came up with a creative solution. He ran ahead of the crowd and climbed into a sycamore tree so he could see Jesus when He passed by.

But something amazing happened. 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.”

Explain that Zacchaeus was thrilled! He had climbed the tree hoping to catch a glimpse of Jesus, but Jesus already knew who he was and wanted to come to his house.

Say: “Zacchaeus thought he was looking for Jesus, but Jesus was looking for Zacchaeus too!”

Step 2: Color the Bible Scene

Give each child a coloring sheet featuring the tree, Jesus, and the crowd.

Allow the children to color the picture using crayons or colored pencils. Encourage them to make the tree colorful and easy to recognize.

Next, give each child the separate Zacchaeus figure and have them color it as well.

Explain that Zacchaeus will not be glued permanently to the picture because they’re going to make him move up and down the tree.

Once the coloring is complete, have the children cut out their Zacchaeus figures. Younger children may need assistance with cutting.

Step 3: Prepare the Moving Mechanism

Take the completed background picture and locate the hole near the treetop.

Thread a piece of yarn through the hole so that one end hangs down the front of the picture and the other end hangs down the back.

The front end of the yarn will hold Zacchaeus, while the back end will be attached to the pull tab.

Position the Zacchaeus figure near the bottom of the tree and tape the front end of the yarn securely to the back of the figure, near his shoulders.

Make sure the tape holds firmly without covering too much of the figure.

Teacher Tip: If the yarn is difficult to thread through the hole, wrap a small piece of tape around the end to make it easier to guide through.

Step 4: Attach the Pull Tab

Turn the picture over and attach the back end of the yarn to a wooden craft stick using tape.

The craft stick will serve as a handle that children can pull to make Zacchaeus climb.

Adjust the yarn length so that Zacchaeus begins near the bottom of the tree when the pull tab is in its starting position.

Test the mechanism by gently pulling the craft stick downward behind the picture. As the yarn moves through the hole, Zacchaeus should rise toward the treetop.

When the tab is moved upward again, Zacchaeus should be able to slide back down toward the ground. Children may need to guide the figure gently if it catches on the paper.

Make any necessary adjustments before allowing the children to operate their crafts independently.

Step 5: Make Zacchaeus Climb!

Once the craft is assembled, show the children how to operate it.

Say: “Remember how Zacchaeus couldn’t see Jesus because he was too short? Well, let’s help him climb that tree!”

Have the children gently pull the craft-stick tab downward to raise Zacchaeus toward the top of the tree.

Say: “Up, up, up he goes! Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus, so he climbed higher and higher!”

Once Zacchaeus reaches the treetop, remind the children that Jesus stopped beneath the tree and called him by name.

Say: “But then Jesus looked up and said, ‘Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down!'”

Have the children move the tab to lower Zacchaeus back toward the ground.

Allow them to repeat the movement several times while retelling the story.

Bible Connection: Jesus Changes Lives

Explain that the most important part of the story isn’t simply that Zacchaeus climbed a tree. It’s what happened after he met Jesus.

Zacchaeus welcomed Jesus joyfully, but some of the people complained because Jesus was going to the home of a man they considered a sinner.

However, Jesus saw something more than Zacchaeus’s reputation. He saw a man whose life could be changed.

After his encounter with Jesus, Zacchaeus made an important 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 was willing to give half of his possessions to the poor and repay anyone he had cheated four times what he had taken.

That was a big change!

Before meeting Jesus, Zacchaeus had been focused on collecting money. But after welcoming Jesus, he demonstrated a willingness to make things right and help others.

Explain that genuine repentance involves more than simply saying we’re sorry. When we turn to Jesus, we should be willing to change our behavior and make things right when we’ve done something wrong.

Read Luke 19:10: “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

Remind the children that Jesus came to seek and save people who were lost in sin. He didn’t come only for people who already seemed good or important. He came for people who needed His forgiveness and salvation.

Just as Jesus knew Zacchaeus by name, He knows each of us personally and wants us to have a relationship with Him.

Using the Finished Craft to Retell the Story

Once the children have completed their moving Zacchaeus crafts, encourage them to use the pictures to retell the Bible story.

Have them begin with Zacchaeus standing near the bottom of the tree. As they explain that he couldn’t see over the crowd, they can move him upward into the branches.

When they reach the part where Jesus stops and calls Zacchaeus by name, have them lower the figure back down.

Encourage them to continue the story by explaining that Zacchaeus welcomed Jesus into his home and demonstrated a changed heart through his willingness to give and make restitution.

For younger children, the teacher can guide the retelling while everyone moves their figures together. Older children can take turns telling the story in their own words.

Encourage the children to take their crafts home and use them to tell their families about Zacchaeus and how meeting Jesus changed his life.