Buildup to Easter, Week Three: Zacchaeus

We’re continuing The Sunday School Zone Buildup To Easter with the story of Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-10) during the week beginning on Sunday, February 25, 2024. While on His way to Jerusalem in order to be crucified, Jesus traveled through Jericho shortly before His triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. It was on this final journey to Jerusalem that Jesus encountered Zacchaeus. Zacchaeus is typically remembered because he was a man of short stature and climbed into a tree in order to be able to see Jesus as He passed by. But as entertaining and relatable as the story might be, the account is more than merely an enjoyable story.

The Reason Jesus Came

Luke records the event, in part, because it underscores the real point of Jesus’ life and ministry. Luke had made it clear just a few chapters earlier that “there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 righteous people who don’t need repentance” (‭‭Luke‬ ‭15:7). Zacchaeus was a good example of the “one sinner who repents.” Luke then drove the point home with Jesus’ own words here in Luke 19:10… “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost” (‭‭Luke‬ ‭19:10). People like Zacchaeus were the reason Jesus had come! To learn more about the story, read this more extensive article.

Personalize It

Luke is careful to make the point that Zacchaeus was “a sinful man” (Luke 19:7). He was not the kind of man that good Jews or a prophet like Jesus should be hanging out with. But, we’ve seen in the story of Cain and Abel that sin is not something “in them but not in us.” We are all sinners and we all need Jesus. We are all broken like Zacchaeus. We may not be tax collectors getting rich at the expense of our neighbors, but we stand condemned as sinful before God and we need an encounter with Jesus just as much as Zacchaeus did. The story of Zacchaeus reminds us that we are the reason Jesus came. We, like Zacchaeus, are the reason Jesus died. We as individuals and humanity as a whole are “the lost” that Jesus came to “seek and to save.”

Prayer

Jesus, thank You for being able to declare and bestow salvation. Thank You for restoring us. Thank You for wanting to come to our “house.” We confess that we are just like Zacchaeus. And like Zacchaeus did, we commit ourselves  to following You and living for others rather than ourselves. You are the “Son of Man” and we praise You for coming to “seek and to save the lost.” We praise You for coming to seek and to save US! – Amen

For Your Kids

You can find a number of free, printable activities related to when Zacchaeus Met Jesus on the site. Encouraging kids to study this story during the Easter season can help them place the crucifixion and resurrection in its larger biblical context. Other activities and resources related to Easter can also be found on the site.

This has been the week of Sunday, February 25: Zacchaeus for The Sunday School Zone Buildup To Easter. To see all weeks, go here.

Recent Posts

FOLLOW US