Jesus And Zacchaeus
Drama
Robert Lakey
Readers’ Theater for Children’s Church
Object:
Characters
Narrator
Man 1
Man 2
Man 3
Zacchaeus
Jesus
Questions
1. Why was Zacchaeus having difficulty seeing Jesus?
2. What did he do to see Jesus?
3. What favor did Jesus ask of Zacchaeus?
4. What did Zacchaeus say he would do?
5. What did Jesus say about Zacchaeus?
Narrator: Jesus is heading toward Jerusalem for the Passover. As he approaches Jericho, a crowd is gathering.
Man 1: (excitedly) Have you heard the news? Jesus is coming through our town.
Man 2: You mean "the" Jesus, the prophet and healer from Nazareth?
Man 3: That's the one. I'd sure like to get a look at the man.
Man 2: Me, too. A man who can heal must be someone special.
Man 1: Hurry! Let's find a place along the road. There's already a huge crowd.
Zacchaeus: Excuse me, sir. May I squeeze in here?
Man 3: Hey, watch who you're shoving. I was here first.
Zacchaeus: If you'd just let me through, I'll stand in front. I won't block your view. I'm rather short.
Man 1: You sure are a shrimp, but I'm not giving my place to anyone. You can stand behind me.
Zacchaeus: But, I won't be able to see from back there.
Man 1: That's your problem, shorty. Now, get lost! Hey! Wait a minute! Aren't you Zacchaeus, that tax collector?
Zacchaeus: Well, I ... ah ... I ...
Man 2: This is the guy who sold out to the Romans. Bleeds his own people to fill the pockets of others. Buster, I wouldn't let you through if my life depended on it.
Man 3: I'd like to punch him right in the nose. Hear that, scum? You'd better take off before something ugly happens.
Zacchaeus: I'm going. (to himself) But where can I find a spot to see? I simply must see Jesus. They say he cares for all sorts of people, even the tax collectors, but how'll I get through this mob to ask him how a man can have so much money and yet be so miserable? Nobody will let me through. Hey! (gets idea) I'll climb that sycamore tree over there. I'll be able to see Jesus from that limb. (grunts as he pretends to climb)
Man 1: Look, the tax collector! He's climbed that tree.
Man 3: Always knew he was more monkey than human. (laughter)
Man 2: I think he's up there, stealing eggs from the birds. (laughter)
Zacchaeus: Let 'em laugh! If I can just see ... (excitedly) Look! There's Jesus coming by. No! He's stopping! He's looking up this way!
Jesus: (calls out) Hello there; you up in the tree.
Zacchaeus: Ah! Are you speaking to me?
Jesus: Friend, I have a favor to ask of you. My disciples and I need a place to stay for the night. How about your place?
Zacchaeus: (appears shocked) You want to stay at ... you mean you'd consider coming ... (happily) Oh, yes! I want you to come. I'd love to have you come. Oh, please do.
Man 3: He can't mean he'd actually stay at the home of a tax collector.
Man 2: If he were a man of God, he'd never consider it.
Zacchaeus: I'll get down from this tree. (calls out) I'm coming, Jesus. Thank you! Thank you for coming to my home.
Narrator: Jesus did stay at Zacchaeus' home. Many of the townspeople shook their heads in unbelief, but Jesus had seen a hunger for God in this lonely man. For several hours they talked of faith and forgiveness, of love and righteousness.
Zacchaeus: Lord, I don't want to go on living this way. God's forgiven me. He's given me a new start. I'm a new person. To prove it, I'm changing the way I handle my money.
Jesus: Money's always been very important to you, hasn't it?
Zacchaeus: The most important thing in the world, but no longer. It's a cruel idol, for I've been rich, yet miserable. But now I'm giving half my wealth to the poor and to those I've swindled, I'm giving back four times what I've taken.
Jesus: Zacchaeus, you are changed. You've entered God's kingdom. You've become a son of Abraham, a child of God.
__________
Read the questions again, and prompt answers from the children.
Narrator
Man 1
Man 2
Man 3
Zacchaeus
Jesus
Questions
1. Why was Zacchaeus having difficulty seeing Jesus?
2. What did he do to see Jesus?
3. What favor did Jesus ask of Zacchaeus?
4. What did Zacchaeus say he would do?
5. What did Jesus say about Zacchaeus?
Narrator: Jesus is heading toward Jerusalem for the Passover. As he approaches Jericho, a crowd is gathering.
Man 1: (excitedly) Have you heard the news? Jesus is coming through our town.
Man 2: You mean "the" Jesus, the prophet and healer from Nazareth?
Man 3: That's the one. I'd sure like to get a look at the man.
Man 2: Me, too. A man who can heal must be someone special.
Man 1: Hurry! Let's find a place along the road. There's already a huge crowd.
Zacchaeus: Excuse me, sir. May I squeeze in here?
Man 3: Hey, watch who you're shoving. I was here first.
Zacchaeus: If you'd just let me through, I'll stand in front. I won't block your view. I'm rather short.
Man 1: You sure are a shrimp, but I'm not giving my place to anyone. You can stand behind me.
Zacchaeus: But, I won't be able to see from back there.
Man 1: That's your problem, shorty. Now, get lost! Hey! Wait a minute! Aren't you Zacchaeus, that tax collector?
Zacchaeus: Well, I ... ah ... I ...
Man 2: This is the guy who sold out to the Romans. Bleeds his own people to fill the pockets of others. Buster, I wouldn't let you through if my life depended on it.
Man 3: I'd like to punch him right in the nose. Hear that, scum? You'd better take off before something ugly happens.
Zacchaeus: I'm going. (to himself) But where can I find a spot to see? I simply must see Jesus. They say he cares for all sorts of people, even the tax collectors, but how'll I get through this mob to ask him how a man can have so much money and yet be so miserable? Nobody will let me through. Hey! (gets idea) I'll climb that sycamore tree over there. I'll be able to see Jesus from that limb. (grunts as he pretends to climb)
Man 1: Look, the tax collector! He's climbed that tree.
Man 3: Always knew he was more monkey than human. (laughter)
Man 2: I think he's up there, stealing eggs from the birds. (laughter)
Zacchaeus: Let 'em laugh! If I can just see ... (excitedly) Look! There's Jesus coming by. No! He's stopping! He's looking up this way!
Jesus: (calls out) Hello there; you up in the tree.
Zacchaeus: Ah! Are you speaking to me?
Jesus: Friend, I have a favor to ask of you. My disciples and I need a place to stay for the night. How about your place?
Zacchaeus: (appears shocked) You want to stay at ... you mean you'd consider coming ... (happily) Oh, yes! I want you to come. I'd love to have you come. Oh, please do.
Man 3: He can't mean he'd actually stay at the home of a tax collector.
Man 2: If he were a man of God, he'd never consider it.
Zacchaeus: I'll get down from this tree. (calls out) I'm coming, Jesus. Thank you! Thank you for coming to my home.
Narrator: Jesus did stay at Zacchaeus' home. Many of the townspeople shook their heads in unbelief, but Jesus had seen a hunger for God in this lonely man. For several hours they talked of faith and forgiveness, of love and righteousness.
Zacchaeus: Lord, I don't want to go on living this way. God's forgiven me. He's given me a new start. I'm a new person. To prove it, I'm changing the way I handle my money.
Jesus: Money's always been very important to you, hasn't it?
Zacchaeus: The most important thing in the world, but no longer. It's a cruel idol, for I've been rich, yet miserable. But now I'm giving half my wealth to the poor and to those I've swindled, I'm giving back four times what I've taken.
Jesus: Zacchaeus, you are changed. You've entered God's kingdom. You've become a son of Abraham, a child of God.
__________
Read the questions again, and prompt answers from the children.
