Text Version | Afrikaans | Italian
“Quick!” said Ruth to her brother Luke. “We've got to help Uncle Reuben.”
“Oh no!” said Luke, munching on a falafel. “This is going to be painful. I just know it.”
Ruth handed her brother a long stick and said, “Follow me!” She ran from the house and Luke hopped after her, fighting to get his sandals onto the right feet.
“But where are we going?” he called out, finally securing his footwear. “And what are the sticks for?”
“You'll see!” she shouted back as she sped up the hill towards Jericho. The two children were always rushing out to help Uncle Reuben. He was the local administrator and that meant if ever there was any trouble, he had to sort it out, and there was certainly trouble this morning.
Ruth and Luke raced through the streets of Jericho until….
“Aaargh!” They crashed, sliding into a large crowd of people, all of them seemingly fighting with each other.
“Ouch!” said Luke as an old lady started to bash him on the head with a watermelon.
“Sorry!” said Ruth to the lady and pulled her brother to the ground. They began to frantically crawl between the legs of the crowd.
“Ouch! Ooh! Ouch!” said Luke as people kept missing Ruth but treading on him. “I knew this would be painful.”
Finally they crawled out from the crowd at the base of a large, gnarled sycamore tree. The tree was nearly forty feet high with a short trunk and spreading branches.
Uncle Reuben was standing at the foot of the tree, scratching his hairy chin and looking up into the branches.
“What's the problem, Uncle?” asked Luke, feeling bruised but wondering what all the panic was about.
“He's the matter,” said Reuben, pointing up into the tree.
There perched in the branches was a man. He was short, podgy and far too old to be climbing trees.
“He's refusing to come down! He says he's going to stay there to get a better look.”
“We've brought sticks,” said Ruth helpfully. “We could get him down with these.”
Their Uncle looked down at them, shaking his head.
“No!” he said. “I don't think that would be very kind, and, besides, I've tried everything. I've tried reasoning with him. I've tried shaking the branches. I've even tried climbing up to get him, but I just can't budge him. It'll take a miracle to get him out of that tree.”
At that moment, the crowd cheered as a man walked along the road. But instead of walking past, he turned to the tree. The crowd parted. He was serene and calm. He looked up into the branches and said, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.”
Instantly, and without the slightest grumble, Zacchaeus climbed down from the branches and embraced the man.
“Wow!” said Luke, amazed at how easily the man had got Zacchaeus out of the tree. “That was a miracle!”
“You bet!” whispered their Uncle as Zacchaeus and the man walked off into the crowd. “That was Jesus, and he's the world's greatest miracle.”
THINK!
1. Was Zacchaeus short or tall?
2. Why did Zacchaeus climb a tree?
3. Why didn't Zacchaeus want to come down at first?
4. Who persuaded Zacchaeus to come down from the tree?
5. Why was he willing to obey Jesus' request to come down from the tree?
REMEMBER
You can wait for Jesus anywhere!
A VERSE TO LEARN
“So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:33).
ALTERNATIVE VERSES TO LEARN
“He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him” (John 14:21).“For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10).
PRACTICAL APPLICATION
Would you climb a tree and wait just so you could see Jesus? What if you had to climb a mountain to see Jesus, or cross an ocean, or travel the world in order to see Him? Would you do whatever it takes to get to see Jesus? What if, in order to get to see Jesus, you had to do something others wouldn't like you to do? Do you think God ever expects us to obey Him even when others laugh at us or get angry over our decision?
[After discussion:] The good news is that you don't have to climb a tree or a mountain, or cross an ocean, or travel the world to see, or talk to, or get to know Jesus. Jesus wanted Zaccheus to invite Him into his house. He wanted to go home with Zaccheus.
In the same way, Jesus wants you to invite Him to live in your heart, make Him Lord of your life and obey Him. Jesus said that if you obey Him, He will show Himself to you. Are you willing to give your life to Jesus even when others make fun of your decision?
Go ahead right now. In simple faith, pray to Jesus and invite Him into your life.
LET'S PRAY
****************************************************
Dear Lord, help me not to be afraid
when people are unkind to me
because I believe in You.
Please teach me to hear Your voice
above the shouts of the crowd
and to be brave enough to follow you anywhere.
In the Name of Jesus. Amen.
****************************************************
CAN YOU FIND THIS STORY IN THE BIBLE?
Luke, chapter 19, verses 1-10
BIBLE STORY ARCHIVE
childrenschapel.org/bibstory2.html
Used by permission. Copyright © 2022 by Steve Wilson.
You may NOT re-post this Bible story.
However, you may freely link to it,
provided visitors can see our web address
when they click on the link.
More Resources To Go Along with the Story
************
JUST FOR FUNFill in the Blanks (online)
Activities (online)
Zacchaeus Puppet Skit (online)
Zacchaeus Readers Theater (online)
Beginner Coloring Page (online)
Color Zaccheus in the Tree (online)
Bible Colour and Learn: 17 People in The Life of Jesus
My Bible Stories Coloring Book 2
Zachaeus and Jesus (online)
Zachaeus Coloring Pages (online)
Action Bible Coloring Book
Coloring Through the Bible (online)
Beginner's Bible Super-Duper Mighty Jumbo Coloring Book
Bible Stories Kids Love Coloring Book (ages 2 to 4)
Big Book of Bible Story Coloring Pages for Elementary Kids
Jesus Loves Me, This I Know, Coloring Book
My Bible Coloring Book
My Gospel Story by Colors--Activity Book
My Jumbo Bible Story Coloring Book
The Super-Sized Book of Bible Coloring & Art
The Super-Sized Book of Bible Verse Coloring Pages
Children's Bible Coloring Books
Zaccheus Bible Craft (online)
Zacchaeus and Jesus Toilet Paper Roll Craft (online)
Zacchaeus Crafts (online)
Bible Crafts
Bible Crafts & More (Ages 3-6)
Bible Craft Videos (online)
Crafting the Word of God (online)
Easy-to-Make Bible Crafts PDF for Kids
& Digital Album Download [PDF Download]
Encyclopedia Of Bible Crafts For Preschoolers
Hot Crafts for Cool Kids pdf download
Maker-ific WOWS! (ages 8-12): 54 Surprising Bible Crafts
More! Bible Crafts on a Shoe String Budget:
Paper Sacks & Cardboard Tubes
(Reproducible: Ages 5-10)
Puppet Crafts For Kids (online)
Crossword Puzzle (online)
Fill-in-the-Blanks (online)
Jigsaw Puzzle (online)
Maze (online)
Multiple Choice Questions (online)
Word Search (online)
Word Shape (online)
Zacchaeus Activities (online)
Zacchaeus Anagram (online)
Best Book of Bible Activities
Bible Puzzles: Word Search
Big Book Of Bible Puzzles
Big Book Of Bible Story Activity Pages V1
Bingo (online)
Children's Activity Books
Children's Puzzles
Christian and educational toys
Crossword Books
Encyclopedia Of Bible Games For Children's Ministry
Games
Jumbo Bible Activity Book 4
Memory Verse Games for Kids
Sticker Books
The Humongous Book of Games for Children's Ministry
The Super Sized Book of Bible Puzzles
Arch Books Bible Stories: Zacchaeus
HOBC Bible Big Book: Zacchaeus
Little Bible Heroes Board Book: Zacchaeus
Little Me, Big God: The Little Man Whose Heart Grew Big
Saving Zacchaeus (online)
The Awesome Book About God for Kids
The Little Giver
Zacchaeus (online)
Zacchaeus (Tiny Readers)
Zacchaeus and Jesus
Zacchaeus Meets Jesus (I Can Read! Books)
Zacchaeus the Tax Collector (online)
Beginner's Bible
Beginner's Bible for Little Ones
Bible in Pictures For Toddlers
Bible stories
Children's Books
Early Reader's Bible
100 Bible Stories 100 Bible Songs w/2 CD
Pilgrim's Progress Comic
Spanish Children's Books
365 Activities For Kids:
A Bible Story And Activity For Each Day Of The Year
365 Read-Aloud Bedtime Bible Stories
The Children's Illustrated Bible
The Picture Bible (also in Spanish)
The Preschooler's Bible
Toddler's Bible
Cedarmont Kids: Zacchaeus (online)
Do You Know You've Been Born Again? (online)
Everybody Ought To Know (online)
Let the Lord Have His Way (online)
Neither Is There Salvation in Any Other (online)
Tax Collector's Song (online)
VeggieTales: Zacchaeus (online)
Ye Must Be Born Again (online)
Zacchaeus Was A Wee Little Man (online)
Zacchaeus Was A Wee Little Man sheet music (online)
100 Ways To Know God Loves Me & 100 Songs
100 Bible Stories 100 Bible Songs
Action Bible Songs
Bible Songs on CD
Bible Songs on DVD
150 All-Time Favorite Veggietunes
100 Singalong Bible Songs For Kids
Platinum Bible Collection of Classic Christian Songs on DVD
The Bible in a Minute (sing along)
25 Favorite Sunday School Songs
Children's Music
A Little Man With a Big Heart (online)
Bible on the Go Vol. 40: Zacchaeus and More
Cedarmont Kids: Action Bible Songs DVD
God's Story: Zacchaeus (online)
Jesus Storybook Bible Animated DVD, Vol. 4
The Man Who Didn't Have Any Friends
The Skit Guys: Little Billy - My God is So Big (online)
All the Shows, Volume 1: 1993-1999
Do You Wonder Why? (watch online)
God's Story from Creation to Eternity (listen & watch online)
Read and Share DVD Bible
The Jesus Storybook Bible Curriculum Kit
Bible story DVDs
Children's DVDs
************
RESOURCES FOR TEACHERSA Little Man with a Big Problem (online)
Eikon Bible Art Legends of Faith: Zacchaeus
Instant Puppet Skits: 20 Stories From People Who Met Jesus
Lesson Plans (online)
Pin Zacchaeus to the Tree Game (online)
Play-n-Worship for Toddlers and Twos Booster Pack
The Conversion of Zaccheus by George Whitefield (1717-1770) (online)
Zacchaeus (Bible Encyclopedia)
Zacchaeus Goes Out on a Limb group activities (online)
Zacchaeus Hurry Down (online)
Free Bible story images (online)
801 Questions Kids Ask About God
Absentee Postcards
African American Resources
Almost Every Answer for Practically Any Teacher
Bible for Children in 232 languages (online)
Children's Ministry
Bible Memory Match Game
My Jumbo Bible Story Coloring Book
The Jesus Storybook Bible Curriculum Kit
Big Book of Bible Games
Bulletin Board helps
Chicken Soup for the Teacher's Soul
Children's Ministry Volunteers That Stick
Children's Sermon (online)
Church Supplies
Closing Prayer (online)
FREE materials to Bible schools, Bible colleges, seminaries,
churches, missionaries & individuals worldwide (online)
52 Games That Teach The Bible
Free educational videos (online)
God's Servants Teach Me
God's Wisdom for Little Boys:
Character-Building Fun from Proverbs
Help! I'm a Sunday School Teacher
How To Lead a Child To Christ
King James Version Gift & Award Bibles
Leading Little Ones to God:
A Child's Book of Bible Teachings
Lord Teach Me To Pray For Kids
Making Children Mind Without Losing Yours
Memory Verse Resources
Object Talks
Opening Prayer (online)
Parenting Resources
Pray & Play Bible for Young Children
Puppet Scripts
Review Activities for Bible Lessons (online)
Seven Laws of the Learner
Spanish Resources
Sunday school resources
Sunday School Songs: Lyrics and Tunes (online)
Talking to God
Teachers' Reproducible Classroom Pages
Teaching Children Memory Verses Ages 4-5
Teaching Children To Pray Ages 4-5
Teaching to Change Lives
The Beginner's Bible Curriculum Kit
The Humongous Book of Bible Skits
for Children's Ministry
Vacation Bible School
What Every Sunday School Teacher Should Know
Children's resources (online)
Free Bible Stories!
To receive a new Bible story each week, enter your e-mail address under “Subscribe…” at
You will be sent a message requesting confirmation of your subscription request.
IMPORTANT! YOU MUST REPLY to this confirmation request to activate your subscription to this list.
Copyright © 2022 - www.childrenschapel.org
Photo pictures Courtesy of Free Bible Images
Webmaster
Last updated July 28, 2022
Welcome!/
What's Here/
Bible Stories/
E-Mail Us/
Around the Piano/
4 Things
Events/
Children's Chapel/
Adult Chapel/
Missing Link/
Links/
Resources