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(WT) Jesus and Zaccheus Art Workshop Lesson

Rotation.org Writing Team

Jesus and Zaccheus

“Seeing as Jesus Sees” Art Workshop


Summary of Activities

Students will use a special "secret" message decoder in several activities, including "decoding" the scripture, to discover and share the important message in the story of Zaccheus of how Jesus sees us and accepts us into the family of God.

Jesus' Good News drawing shown encoded and decoded
Pictured: A child's Good News drawing of Jesus accepting Zaccheus (done in blue)
that is obscured by the crowd's opinion of Zaccheus (done in red)
and is revealed when a red filter "decoder" is used.

How it Works

The red filter makes any red message or red drawings disappear and makes readable those things written or drawn with light blue. This effect is used three times in the lesson plan: with student nametags, the scripture reading, and an encoded Good News Drawing.

Jesus; Good News done as a blue drawingGood News drawing obscured by red wordsDecoded with a red filter--Good News drawingYou may need to experiment with the shades of red and light blue pencils or crayons to determine which shades work best with the red filter material(s) you have available. Ideally, you want the reds to match. Several "red filter" options are found at the end of this lesson plan. Depending on the shade of red plastic you are using, you may find that lighter or darker shades of red and blue pencil or crayon work best. Experimenting is part of the fun. See the lesson plan below and notes at the end of the lesson for tips!

Scripture for the Lesson

Luke 19:1-10 ~ The story of Zaccheus

Key/Memory Verses: “Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:9-10, NRSV)

Students will use their "decoder" to read a special "blue" version of the Luke 19:1-10 story attached as a PDF to this lesson. The handout gives you the choice of NRSV or NIV. To use another translation for that activity you will need to create your own scripture handout by typing the text in blue and printing it.

Lesson Objectives

See the Bible Background at rotation.org for this set's complete list of objectives.

Preparation and Materials

  • Read the Bible Background and scripture.
  • Print the "Jesus Sees and Loves Me" nametag sheets (there are 4 nametags per page). Cut them into nametag squares. You must print these with your color printing turned on so that the words are in blue. Alternately, you can have your students write their nametag with a "sky" or "light" blue crayon or pencil using the same phrasing found in the printable version. Have at least one extra nametag that will get used in your lesson.
  • Print one copy per student of the "Blue" Luke 19:1-10 scripture handout—either the NRSV version (pg 1 of the PDF) or the NIV version (pg 2 of the PDF). You must print these with your color printer/copier setting turned on, and the blue should be "light" so that it will be made more readable when students use their red filter.
  • Print one copy of the "Word List" to help when you discuss creating their blue "Good News" drawings.
  • Red filter material—enough for a 4"x4" piece (approx.) for each student using red cellophane, red glasses, or red plastic (See filter notes at the end of this lesson.)
  • Red and "sky" or "light" blue crayons or pencils. Test your colors with your filter material to determine the optimal shade. Purchase or have on-hand enough crayons or pencils that work best with your red filter material.
  • Masking tape
  • Sheets of copy paper for students to create their "Encoded Good News Drawing"
  • Whiteboard or easel with marker


Lesson Plan

Opening ~ Nametag Activity

As each student arrives, have them create their own nametag using a pre-printed "Jesus Sees and Loves Me" nametag,  My Name TagStudents add their name in BLUE, and then draw RED hash marks across the entire nametag—not a solid section, just enough lines to obscure the blue writing. Have them use their red filter decoder to test how many hash marks are enough to obscure their name and message without over-doing it. When done, fix the nametag on their clothing with masking tape—leaving the red filter separate.

Following the nametag activity, welcome everyone and explain what you hope they will learn today—that Jesus sees us with loving eyes and accepts us into his family, and that Jesus also wants us to look on others with his eyes. We will be using our red "decoders" to see the Good News of Jesus.

Once they have made their nametag, go around the room and have everyone introduce themselves by putting their red filter decoder over their nametag and reading it out loud. (The words are: My name is ___ and Jesus sees and loves me.)

Ask them if they've ever heard the story of Zaccheus and invite them to tell as much of it as they can. Make sure to include the part of the story where the crowd "grumbles"—accusing Zaccheus of being a sinner whom Jesus should not be spending time with.

Ask and Do: What kinds of grumbly things do people say to other people to make them feel bad, unworthy, unloved, unwanted, or like an outsider?  (You're a jerk, you're ugly, you are stupid, you are no good, you're too little, nobody likes you, you're a bad person, etc.)

As they answer this question, draw their words IN RED over the top of an extra blank "blue" nametag. (This step visually connects the Bible story to the nametag activity.) Add the word, "SINNER" in red.

Now make this important point: We live in a world full of things that try to block our view of God and block us from doing what God wants. Just like the crowd blocked Zaccheus' view and put him down, we live in a world full of distractions and people trying to tell us Jesus isn't worthy of looking for, or that we are not worthy of Jesus' attention because we are sinners; that we are "unacceptable" to God or not worthy of being part of his family. It gets worse when we start to believe that about ourselves; when we start to believe we are unworthy and unloved. But as we will learn today in Zaccheus' story when we get ABOVE the crowd—the distractions and wrong ideas about God—we realize that Jesus sees us as beloved children of God and that Jesus wants us to treat other people with that same love and acceptance.

Let your students use their red filter decoders to see the blue "Jesus Sees Me" message hidden behind all the "red" negative comments you wrote on the nametag.

Decoding and Reading "Blue" Luke 19:1-10

Give each student a copy of the "Blue" Luke 19:1-10 scripture handout.

Ask your students to share some excuses why people don't read the Bible or why they don't follow Jesus. (These can include "not enough time," "don't own one," "don't think he's important.") As answers are offered, write them IN RED over the top of a "Blue Luke" handout. Show how using a red filter decoder cancels out these excuses. Jesus can help us "see," read, and obey God's word, telling us to "love others," and "go to Sunday School to learn more about Jesus!" ;)

Luke scripture in blue

Have students use their red filter to "decode"/read the scripture passage together, then ask the following questions.

  1. How do you think Zaccheus felt not being able to see through the crowd? (Do you think the crowd was trying to exclude him? Why? and has that ever happened to you?)  Note that "the crowd" was "obscuring" Zaccheus' attempt to meet Jesus—just like our red crayon/pencil obscures the story on our paper.

  2. What was Zaccheus hoping to "see" when he climbed the tree to look for Jesus? (An answer to prayer? Someone who could save him from his sins? Maybe he didn't know, but something inside of him was pulling him toward God? Have you ever felt the "pull of God" ...the desire to know more about him, to have more faith, to be a better person? What are some ways you can respond to this desire to know Jesus? What "trees" can you climb!)

  3. What did the CROWD and Zaccheus learn that day about Jesus, his mission, and his heart? (verses 9-10)


Main Activity:
Drawing the "Blue" Good News obscured by the "Red" Crowd Message

Students will first create a blue drawing expressing with words and images the good news of acceptance found in Zaccheus' story. Then using red, they will draw over and around the blue message to obscure/block the good news just like the crowd did and said that day in Jericho. Once everyone is done with their drawing, they'll let other students "decode" it with their red filters and describe the message they drew, and learn how to share the message at home with their family and friends. The "nametag" activity at the beginning of this lesson previewed some of the concepts that you can use in creating the blue and red messages. Below are more suggestions for words and images. We have also attached a printable Word List which can serve as suggestions and talking points.

To begin, draw a blue message on the board for all to see—discussing what "blue" good news words and images might be used.

Discuss ways to draw ideas like "love" and "sins" (hearts, frowny/angry faces, etc.) See the suggestions below. As they begin to create, invite students to see what other students are doing. Encourage them to share and borrow ideas. Make sure that they know that "starting over" is perfectly acceptable in God's Kingdom!

Have students work on their blue "good news" messages first and hopefully finish at the same time. If some are not done with their blue messages when the group is ready to move on to the red message, have them pause their blue drawing and return to it after they hear about the red message they will also need to draw.

Begin discussing and drawing the red "obscuring" messages, connected them to the Zaccheus story, and suggesting various words and images that could be included (see below).

BLUE Good News Message/Image Suggestions:

  • Words from the story that express the "good news" Jesus had come to share.
  • Jesus and Zaccheus happy at home together.
  • Jesus welcoming Zaccheus and others into the family of God.
  • Hallelujahs and thanksgivings Zaccheus might have said to Jesus about being welcomed into God's family.
  • Jesus "crossing out" all the judgmental and bad things people say about others and God.
  • “Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost.”
  • A picture of Zaccheus' face when Jesus accepted him. A picture of your face when you learn that Jesus accepts you!
  • An image or word about how you feel about being included in God's family.
  • A blue tree with you up in it and Jesus welcoming you into his family.
    Create this message in blue on your paper by writing words and drawing images. You can draw images and characters from the story (such as Jesus, Zaccheus, and the tree) and symbols (such as hearts). You can caption your drawing or add "talk bubbles" to express ideas or dialog from the story.

RED "Bad News" Message/Image Suggestions:

  • Words people say that make you feel small, unworthy, unloved, unappreciated, left out, sad.
  • Faces: Angry faces yelling at sad faces.  Angry Jesus. Lightning Bolt God punishing sinners. Upset Zaccheus.
  • A locked lock. A broken heart.
  • How "small" you feel when people put you down and make you feel lonely or unwanted.
  • The things people say about God (or that you used to believe) that made you want to NOT look for him or talk to him.
  • Words that people say, making others afraid of God or not believing in God.
  • The things people say to put down going to church, going to Sunday School.
  • Sin like a huge weight squishing you.

Reminder: There's a printable Word list of good news and bad news words and phrases attached to this lesson.  You can share this with your students.=

Closing

Close by having each student share their blue/red message by passing it around so others can "decode" it.

Ask students to explain in two or three simple sentences how the blue and red messages describe the messages found in the Zaccheus story.

Have students do a "laying on of hands" prayer over the Messages, with each student expressing gratitude for Jesus and his good news.

Remind them to take their drawing and red filter home. If possible, let them take red and blue drawing supplies home with them.

Blue/Red Drawing Tips:

Use "light blue" or "sky blue" crayons or pencils, not regular or dark blue.

Do not densely color over the top of your blue drawing with too much red. Rather, draw some words or images "around" the blue drawing and lightly over the top of the blue so as to "visually obscure" the blue without covering it with too much red. Add lines and shapes to fill in. The goal is to create "just enough" red visual confusion over and around the blue so that the blue words and images are not easily seen until you use the red filter.

Jesus' Good News drawing obscured by red words
Do not use markers because your blue and red colors will "mix" to purple and the red filter will then show the purple as black instead of hiding it, thus ruining your drawing's clarity and message.

Experiment on scrap paper with different shades of red and blue crayons/pencils, and how much color to apply or overlap. The "shade" of your red filter needs to closely match the red pencil or crayon you are using. Experiment!




Adaptations

For younger students or students new to English:

Use the Zaccheus Story Card Illustrations, pages 2-10, along with your reading. (These story cards were created for other lessons in this set.) Or use a storybook version.

Teach them how to read the important basic message found on the nametags: "Jesus Sees and Love Me."

Come up with more visuals rather than words, to express the suggested blue and red messages they are to draw on their Good News Drawing.

For older students:

Have them discuss deeper the various words and phrases on the printable Word List for the Good News drawing.

For At-Home Use or Shorter Lesson Plan:

Skip the nametag activity and use the explanation of its meaning in the "Encoded Good News Drawing" activity.

Skip the marking up of a copy of the "Blue" Luke scripture with excuses.

To create their "Encoded Good News Drawing" offer more suggestions of words and phrases by using the "Word List."

For those with more class time:

Have the students make their own Jesus Eyeglasses using various printable "eyeglass" templates found online or of their own creation, or decorate purchased "red decoder glasses."

Take more time to have the kids brainstorm lists of words and images for the "Encoded Good News Drawing."

Make more than one drawing to decode, using different ideas about "what blocks or keeps people from faith in Christ."

Red filter options
Red Filter Options

Make your own "Jesus Decoder Eyeglasses"
Here are instructions for making a paper frame set of eyeglasses into which you can glue or tape your red filter material: https://www.firstpalette.com/c...aper-eyeglasses.html  Alternately, you can replace the lenses of old eyeglasses or sunglasses with red plastic. For glasses, only use actual red transparent filter "film"—the kind you buy online or in a hobby store. Plastic cellophane and report covers typically aren't clear enough for eyeglasses. Making your own eyeglasses will take a lot of extra time.

Red Transparent Film/Filters
Hobby sheets of "red plastic filter" material are inexpensively available on Amazon and hobby stores. These can be cut and used "as is" or glued/taped to a cardboard frame of your own making. You'll need approximately 4" squares for each student. The frame can be labeled with the Luke 19:9-10 memory verse.

Red Decoder Glasses
Search online or Amazon for “decoder glasses red lenses.” Not too expensive. An easy solution for those who want to save time and those with larger groups. Consider labeling them with a slogan, such as "Seeing As Jesus Sees" and adding the memory verse.

Red Cellophane
Sold in stores in the gift wrap section. It can be an inexpensive source of red filter if the plastic is true red and relatively transparent. Because it easily tears, you will want to tape or glue a simple cardboard frame around it. Some "light red" cellophane shades don't do a good job of hiding darker reds so you may need to double layer the cellophane.

Clear Red Plastic Report Covers
Sold at Walmart, office supply stores. Sturdy, strong color hides reds, doesn’t need a frame, can be cut into shapes. Don't use plastic that's not clear or is off-red.

Jar of Water with Red Food Coloring.
Make your own decoder using a clear wide glass or jar that you fill with water and red food coloring until the water matches the red in your message. Looking down through a glass or a jar with clear bottom works best. This is a cheap and easy solution if you have the right kind of glass. It's also easy to adjust the amount of red coloring to match your drawing shades.

Laptop or Cellphone Solution
The following website can apply a red or blue filter to whatever you hold up to your computer or cellphone’s camera lens: https://cdpn.io/danwilson/debug/zpZPJm. Test in advance if the webpage's code works on your cellphone's internet browser. For example, the webpage filter code works on an iPhone running Safari, but not on an iPhone running a Chrome browser.

Written by Sharon Hamilton and the Rotation.org Writing Team
Copyright Rotation.org Inc.



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Last edited by CreativeCarol
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