DESCRIPTION
This short drama reenacts the story of Zacchaeus the Tax Collector from Luke 19:1-10. It is intended to make the story a little easier for young minds to understand or to give new perspective for older minds.
PREPARATION
- Have a ladder ready and off to the side for “Zach” to use.
- Assemble a costume for the person playing Jesus (white robe, sash or shawl, beard, etc.)
SCENE: A crowd of three or four people is standing around waiting for something special to happen and straining to see who is coming in the distance. Zach enters from behind the crowd but can’t see what all the excitement is about. The actor should come in on his knees to simulate being much shorter than all the others.
Zach – “Hey, what’s going on?”
Person 1 – (Not even looking at Zach but still watching for something special to happen) “Quiet down, little man! We’re waiting for the miracle worker.”
Zach – (Trying to pry a space between people so that he can see) “Miracle worker? I want to see! Can you let me through?”
Person 2 – (Intentionally blocking his way) “Oh, no you don’t! The miracle worker isn’t interested in someone like you. You’re a bad person!”
Zach – (Trying to pry a space between people in another part of the crowd) “Come on, guys! I just want to see him! I heard he has someone like me on his team.”
Person 3 – (Blocking the way) “You mean a tax collector? (Looking puzzled and asking a question of the person next to him/her) Yeah, why DID he pick that Matthew guy to be on his team? All those tax collectors are criminals. He must have chosen Matthew because he is rich from stealing our money!”
Zach – (Still trying to break through) “I don’t think that’s why…I heard Matthew left all his money behind when he followed the miracle worker. Please let me through! I should be allowed to see him, too!”
Person 1 – (Blocking the way) “Not if I can help it! Any miracles he does today will be for me!”
(Zach realizes he can’t get through the crowd and comes up with a better idea. He grabs a ladder and climbs up on top (on his knees if possible and safe). Just then, Jesus arrives and calls out to him.)
Jesus – “Hi, Zach! What are you doing up there? Come down so that I can spend some time with you!”
(The crowd gasps! Zach climbs down and forces his way through the crowd to Jesus.)
Person 2 – “Doesn’t he know what a bad person that guy is?”
Person 3 – “That’s TWO tax collectors he has talked to! What kind of miracle worker is this?”
Person 1 – “Hey, what about me? I want a miracle!”
Zach – (Looking up at Jesus) “Jesus, they are right. I’ve been a bad person…but I’m willing to fix it right here and right now! I will give half of what I own to the poor, and I’ll pay back anyone I’ve cheated four times as much as I took!”
Jesus – (Smiling) “Okay, Zach, it’s a start…and a good one. I don’t care as much about what you’ve done in the past as I do about what you choose to do today, and you are choosing well.”
Zach – (Taking Jesus by the hand and walking toward the door) “I want you to meet my friends. (Pausing) Uh….they are a lot like me…you don’t mind, do you?”
Jesus – “Of COURSE I don’t mind, Zach…those are exactly the people I came to find. I want to meet all your friends!”
Zach – “Awesome! They are going to love you! (Pausing before opening the door) Hey, can you do one of those miracles and make me taller?”
Jesus – (Opening the door for Zach, and walking through) “Zach, you stood taller today than you have in your entire life!”
EXIT
END SCENE
Teach Them 