Session 3 Spring 2019 Middler Zacchaeus responds LUKE 19:1 10 prepare PRAYER O God, lift me in spirit, that I might see anew your presence in my life. Thank you for the gift of Jesus, who is the embodiment of your love and mercy. Help me to comprehend how this mercy is for all people, including me. Amen. PURPOSE STATEMENT To see how an encounter with Jesus changed Zacchaeus STORY SUMMARY Zacchaeus, a chief tax collector, climbed a sycamore to see above the crowd around Jesus as he passed through Jericho. Jesus saw Zacchaeus and asked him to climb down, then invited himself to Zacchaeus home. The crowd grumbled against Jesus choice to be a guest of a tax collector. Zacchaeus told Jesus he would give half his possessions to the poor and return four times the amount he earned from cheating others. Jesus considered Zacchaeus right with God. teaching tips for middler Middlers may be quite familiar with this story. It s a childhood favorite for many and is frequently shared in church settings. Children quickly identify with a man who climbed a tree to get a better view. What child has not had to stretch or climb on something to see over a bunch of adults? Draw on this natural connection to help children enter fully into the story, deepening their understanding of Zacchaeus and his change of heart, as well as their understanding of the character of Jesus. Today marks the second Sunday of Lent. If any in your group missed the last session, you may want to look back to Teaching tips for middler and the Teaching tip near Worship together in session 2 to help explain what the season of Lent is about. Decide which Explore options to offer. Check Supplies and To do throughout this session to see what needs to be prepared. 18 / 3 Zacchaeus responds March 17, 2019
dig deeper The familiar story of Zacchaeus [Za-KEEuhs] encapsulates some of Luke s most important theological emphases, such as salvation and faithful use of wealth. Zacchaeus quest Zacchaeus is a character who does not fit easily into expected categories. First, he is a tax collector, an occupation almost universally despised. Not only did he take money from people already economically vulnerable, but he did so on behalf of Rome. In Luke s Gospel, however, Jesus consistently befriends tax collectors and holds them up as positive examples (such as 18:9 14). Second, Zacchaeus is at the top of the ladder in his occupation a chief tax collector and therefore a man of some influence. Third, Luke emphasizes that he is wealthy. The job of collecting tolls, customs, and duties was contracted out to the highest bidder, who would then increase fees to make a profit for himself, a system that was open to abuse and fraud. The fact that Zacchaeus is wealthy suggests he was very good at his job, and Luke s Gospel is consistently critical of those who amass wealth at the expense of the poor (such as 16:19 31). Fourth, the crowd regards Zacchaeus as a sinner and grumbles when Jesus, a religious teacher, goes to stay with him. Finally, Zacchaeus is short. In ancient literature, short stature was often associated with smallmindedness, greed, and ridicule. As a grown man with social and economic power, he exposes himself to more shame and ridicule when he climbs a tree to see Jesus. At the end of the story, though, Jesus says that Zacchaeus, too, is a son of Abraham, a legitimate and full member of God s covenant people. In the end, it is Jesus evaluation of him that matters. Like other characters in Luke s Gospel, Zacchaeus encounters an obstacle while on a quest. In overcoming the obstacle, Zacchaeus becomes a positive model for discipleship. Like the blind beggar in the previous story (18:35 43), Zacchaeus seeks to see Jesus (19:3). However, at the end of the story we discover that Jesus LUKE ACTS 19:1 10 10 by Sheila Klassen-Wiebe is actually the one doing the seeking, for he has come to seek and to save the lost (19:10). Salvation today Salvation is an important theological theme in Luke s Gospel. Luke is the only Gospel to explicitly name Jesus as Savior (2:11), and the beginning of the Gospel is crowded with salvation language (1:68 71; 2:30 32; 3:6). Zacchaeus story is about someone released from the captivity of wealth, a story of salvation (19:10). Although the crowds and religious leaders typically grumble when Jesus eats with tax collectors (5:29 30; 15:1 2; 19:7), Jesus mission is to search for the lost, as the parables in Luke 15 vividly illustrate. Luke s Gospel emphasizes that salvation is for the present, not just for the future; thus, Jesus tells Zacchaeus that today salvation has come to this house (19:9, emphasis added). Finally, salvation stories in Luke are infused with joy (such as 2:10 11; 15:6 7); Zacchaeus also responds to Jesus invitation with joy (19:6). The Gospel of Luke contains more teachings about wealth and poverty than any other Gospel; its message is that Jesus came to lift up the poor and oppressed and that disciples must share generously. In 18:18 27 a rich ruler is dejected when Jesus tells him to sell his possessions, give to the poor, and follow him. Zacchaeus is evidence that, even though it is harder for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God, with God nothing is impossible. Zacchaeus responds to Jesus gracious invitation by giving to the poor; he is the camel that got through the eye of the needle. John the Baptist exhorted religious leaders to bear fruit worthy of repentance and not rely on Abraham as their ancestor (3:8); Zacchaeus is a son of Abraham precisely because he demonstrates repentance with the fruit of generosity. And he does so joyfully. Zacchaeus response of giving away his wealth is not a heavy ought but a joyful response to Jesus gracious welcome. www.shinecurriculum.com Luke 19:1 10 / 19
Climbing prayer (from Additional resources) Bible memory words (from Additional resources) Shine Songbook and CD Annual Shine Songbooks CD player Sticky notes Pens/pencils Empty cross Goblet Large rounded stone resource pack Give thanks poster Bible memory poster (1 Corinthians 11) to do Copy and cut apart the Bible memory words on page 87 of this guide. media connections Zacchaeus by the Medical Mission Sisters (YouTube) Fiscus sycamorus tree on the God as a Gardener website The Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig for a story on being seen and included Wikimedia Commons search for Glasfenster Zachäus Korntal Christuskirche stained glass window gather BUILD COMMUNITY As the children arrive, ask them to think of places where they might go to see Jesus, or where they might see signs of Jesus love. Invite them to draw quick doodles of those places on sticky notes and share them with the group. Together, place the notes on the wall or a bulletin board in the shape of a tree. WORSHIP TOGETHER Gather the group around the worship visuals set up in the previous session. Let the children know that today marks the second Sunday of Lent, a special time in which we walk with Jesus through the stories of his life. Explain to the children that each week in worship during Lent we want to give thanks for Jesus in a different way. Today we give thanks for Jesus, the one who changes hearts. Highlight the image and statement on the Give thanks poster. Pray the prayer on the poster, inserting the one who changes hearts in the space provided. Listen to the song I Have Decided to Follow Jesus (track 11, page 19). Invite children to sing along if they wish. SPIRITUAL PRACTICE Today s Spiritual practice would fit best after Share the story. Invite children to participate in the climbing prayer found on page 86 of this guide. Bible memory Read the entire passage together from the Bible memory poster. Use the Bible memory words on page 87 of this guide to focus on learning verse 25. Put the words in a goblet-style cup. Pass the cup around the group and have each child pull a word from the cup. As each word is revealed, work together to put the words in the correct order. As an optional challenge, repeat the activity without the Bible memory poster. In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me. 1 Corinthians 11:25 20 / 3 Zacchaeus responds March 17, 2019
experience SHARE THE STORY If you created a sticky note tree in Build community, gather near it for Share the story. Have someone in the group find Luke 19 in a Bible and show its location. Remind the group that the Gospel of Luke is in the New Testament, which is where we find the stories of Jesus. Place a cup in front of you and the rest of the props to the side so they are accessible but not yet the focus. As you read the story on page 244 in Shine On, use the props as indicated below.... collected as much money as he could (drop coins in cup)... for all the things he wanted to own (drop coins in cup)... climbed up into a sycamore fig tree (set a branch next to cup) Zacchaeus hurried down... (use the branch to gently push the cup to the side) Why was Jesus eating with a tax collector like Zacchaeus? (set a plate next to the branch) I will give them four times what I took from them. (dump coins out of cup onto the plate) WONDER AND REFLECT Contemplate these wondering questions with the children. Show the story picture from page 244 in Shine On as children wonder silently and aloud. Invite the children to come up with their own wondering questions as well. I wonder why Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus. I wonder how Jesus knew Zacchaeus name when he called him down from the tree. I wonder why Jesus chose to eat with Zacchaeus, a man who was unkind to others. I wonder what Jesus and Zacchaeus talked about while they ate together. What do you think the people said about Zacchaeus when he gave back four times what he took from them? PEACE NOTES The change in Zacchaeus heart resulted in his offer to make things right with members of his community by giving back a large amount of his wealth. Help the children to consider how they can work to make things right even in everyday situations. Read pages 8 9 in Glow together and invite the children to work with a partner to complete their responses. Zacchaeus responds Luke 19:1 10 Shine On, p. 244 Bible Shine On: A Story Bible Glow magazines Pencils storytelling props Several coins Cup Tree branch (or something to symbolize a tree branch) Dinner plate to do Become familiar with sharing the story using the props and movements provided. www.shinecurriculum.com Luke 19:1 10 / 21
explore CREATE Jesus knew Zacchaeus name and talked with him as a friend as they ate together. Each of us is welcome to get to know Jesus as a friend too. Using page 10 in Glow, invite children to design their own personalized nameplates to share who they are with Jesus and with one another. Take a moment for everyone to share their nameplate, either in pairs or with your entire group. Highlight the My name is Jesus poster. Ask the children to identify any names for Jesus that they think fit today s story. My name is Jesus poster (from resource pack) Glow magazines Crayons or markers Stickers, stamps, and so on (optional) other ideas MOVE Invite children to consider how they would get someone s attention in a crowd. Have the children stand in a circle. One child begins the game by saying, They re coming; can they see me? That child then does an action that she or he would do to get the person s attention. Continuing to perform the action, she or he then points to another child. The second child repeats the phrase and the first action, and then adds a second action. Continuing to perform both actions, the second child points to a third child. The game continues until each child has had a turn and everyone is moving! Getting someone s attention can be exhausting! Invite the kids to notice that Zacchaeus climbed a tree to see Jesus, but didn t have to do anything to get Jesus to notice him. Jesus simply looked up at him and called him by name. For smaller groups: Have each child take more than one turn to increase the number of actions. Share a snack of figs or fig bar cookies as you consider Zacchaeus, a full-grown man, climbing a sycamore fig tree (be mindful of food allergies). Create a mural of animals that undergo major changes or transformations in their lifetimes (reptiles, insects, caterpillars, chameleons, and so on). On the back cover of Glow is a crossword to work on throughout the quarter. Children can look for the clues for the previous and current sessions. The solution is on page 94 of this teacher s guide. RETELL Invite the children to conduct news-style interviews. In groups of three, assign the roles of interviewer, Zacchaeus, and Jesus. The interviewer will ask Zacchaeus and Jesus to tell the events in today s story from their individual perspectives. GLOW Challenge the children to use what they have learned about today s story to complete the anagram and word maze on page 11 in Glow. Anagram solution: Jericho, sycamore, house, climbed, money, salvation, Jesus, tax, guest, Zacchaeus. Glow magazines Pencils 22 / 3 Zacchaeus responds March 17, 2019
bless PRAY Gather the children in a circle for a time of prayer and blessing. Remind them that Zacchaeus became a friend of Jesus and that friendship changed him and caused him to live differently. Pray a prayer of thanksgiving for the change in Zacchaeus life. Ask Jesus to guide the group during the week as they try to be loving friends in the way of Jesus. Sing They ll Know We Are Christians (track 10, page 18). leader s closing prayer SEND Invite the children to turn to face outside the circle as you speak these words of blessing: Go from this place knowing that Jesus welcomes you as a friend and invites you to share his love with others. Imagine yourself as a child, pulling yourself up into your favorite climbing tree. Imagine Jesus walking by, turning his gaze upward with a smile on his face as he says, Come down, my child. Today I must stay at your house. What a blessing! Lead me, O God, on my journey of friendship with Jesus. When my heart is tempted to harden, help me to see the smiling face of Jesus, offering the softening yet strengthening guidance of your love. Amen. Shine Songbook and CD Annual Shine Songbooks CD player One young man said, My pastor came up to me last week and he knew my name! That was enough to tell him that he belonged, that he was a brother in the Lord to this pastor. Syd Hielema Ancaster, Ontario www.shinecurriculum.com Luke 19:1 10 / 23