Godly Play story - Jesus & Zacchaeus Movements
Slowly take the box of Zacchaeus materials and place it beside you (make sure it doesn’t restrict any child’s view of the story). Sit back and begin when you and the children are ready.
Words
Lift the lid of the box, keeping the contents concealed from the children. This increases the mystery and decreases the distraction of the other items in the box. Take out the purple underlay and lay it out carefully in front of you. As you begin to tell the story, take the beige road, smooth it out and place Jerusalem at the end of the road to your left. Place Jericho at the edge of the beige road in front of you and place the tree down the road to your left. Place three people on the side of the road closest to you and three people opposite them on the other side.
Once every year the people of God go up to Jerusalem, the holy city of God, to celebrate the feast of the Passover, to remember how God led them through the waters to freedom.
This year Jesus was going through the city of Jericho on his way to Jerusalem. Crowds of people wanted to see him.
Place Zacchaeus on the underlay Zacchaeus was the chief tax collector. People didn’t like Zacchaeus. He took too much of their money. So he was very rich. Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus too.
Put Zacchaeus behind the three people and move him up and down, trying to see over them.
But he was too short…
Show him trying to squeeze between them and move people close together so he can’t get through. Move him behind the people and up into the tree.
...and the people would not let him through.
Move Jesus along the road between the people and stop him beside the tree.
When Jesus came…
Take him down and walk Jesus and Zacchaeus back along the road together.
Move them off the road by Jericho and stop them, with Jesus and Zacchaeus facing each other and with Jesus’ back to the crowd.
So Zacchaeus climbed a sycamore tree.
… he looked up … and called him … by name. “Zacchaeus, come down. I must stay with you today.” Zacchaeus was so happy, he couldn’t help but come right down.
But the people were angry. “Why is Jesus staying with Zacchaeus? Zacchaeus does bad things. He’s a tax collector. He takes money that isn’t his.”
Then Zacchaeus said, “Jesus, I will give half of everything I have to the poor. And if I have taken money that doesn’t belong to me, I will give it back and four times more.” Jesus said, “Zacchaeus, today you are saved. You are right with God, and you are right with people.”
Now turn Jesus toward the people.
Sit back and ponder the whole story. Leave the materials where they are as you begin the wondering. As you ask the questions you can make eye contact with the children. Don’t hurry the questions. Allow time for pupils to wonder in silence and/or to share their responses.
“I, the Son of God, have come to find and to save everyone who is lost.”
I wonder what it is like to be so short that you can’t see what you want to see? I wonder how Zacchaeus felt when Jesus called him by name? I wonder what Jesus and Zacchaeus said as they walked together? I wonder if it was hard for Zacchaeus to give back what didn’t belong to him?
As the children respond acknowledge their responses. For example: ‘Yes, Zacchaeus might have felt proud … or … joyful … or embarrassed … Perhaps he did feel grateful.’ You may need to gently clarify something a child has said to make sure it’s understood, but avoid the temptation to share any of your own thoughts. It is important that the children wonder and find meaning for themselves.
I wonder how he felt when he gave half of his things to the poor? I wonder how the poor felt? I wonder how Zacchaeus felt when he was right with God and right with people? I wonder what Jesus meant when he said he came to find the lost?