A Paralyzed Man Got to Meet Jesus Teach children that Jesus Christ wants to save them. Dear Lord, we praise your power to overcome the suffering that evil causes. You sometimes heal us and always forgive our sins. Thank you for taking evil from our hearts and giving us a life that will last beyond death. We know that when we are finally with you, there will be no more suffering. Choose any of these children's learning activities. 1. Let an older child or teacher read about the Paralyzed Man Who Met Jesus, Mark 2:1-12. It tells how we can help our friends to meet Jesus who can save them. After telling the story, ask these questions: · What did the sick man’s friends do when they heard that Jesus had come? (See verse 2) · How did the sick man’s friends get him to Jesus? (4} · What did Jesus notice about the man’s friends? (5) · What did Jesus say first to the sick man? (5) · What did the teachers of the law think of Jesus’ words? (7) ·
How did Jesus show that he had
power to forgive people’s sins? (10-12)
2. Dramatize the account of Jesus healing the paralyzed man, Mark 2:1-12. Use your time with the children to prepare the drama. You do not have to use all the parts. Older children or adults play these parts: Narrator (Tell the story and help actors remember what to say.) Jesus Younger children play the parts of: Paralyzed man Four friends People Teacher of the law Narrator
Tell
the first part of the story from Mark 2:1-4. Say, Friend
1
“Jesus is
in that house. Let us take our paralyzed friend to Jesus. Friend 2 “But there are too many people in the house!” Friend 3 “How will we get our friend into the house?” Friend
4
“Let us
climb onto the roof and open a hole in it. Friends (All four) Climb on chairs or a table and pretend to remove tiles from the roof. Narrator
Tell
the second part of the story from Mark 2:5-7. Say, People
(Some
say) “Look! Those men are tearing a hole in the roof!” Paralyzed man Lie down under where the four friends are working. Jesus
Look up
and say, Teacher
Talk
angrily. Say, Narrator
Tell
the third part of the story from Mark 2:8-12. Say, Jesus
Say to
the crowd, “I
will show you that I can forgive sins.” Paralyzed man Jump up and say, “Praise God, I can walk!” People
(Some
say) “We praise God!” Narrator Thank everyone who helped with the drama. Thank the adults for listening. 3. Let a child query the adults (if it is appropriate for children to do so in your culture): “What are other ways that Jesus
saves us from the power of evil in our lives? 4. Arrange with the worship leader for the children to present what they have prepared. 5. Ask the adults the questions that are listed under #1 above. 6.
Present
the poem and anything else that they have prepared.
7. Draw a Picture of a bed that reminds us of the eternal rest that Christ gives us. · Ask older children to help younger ones to copy it. They can show it to the adults at worship time. Children may also like to colour the picture found at the end of this lesson. · Let them explain: * The empty tomb shows how God saves us from all the results of evil and sickness. * Although we suffer in this life, Jesus gives us a new, good life that lasts forever. 8. Memorize Luke 19:10. 9. Let three children each recite one of the verses from Psalm 25:1, 2 and 7. To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul. O my God, in you I trust; do not
let me be put to shame; Do not remember the sins of my
youth or my transgressions; 10. Let the older children write a poem, song or short story, or give a testimony about an example of healing that they have seen, or how Jesus came into their hearts. More detailed drama about Jesus
healing the paralytic because of his friends’ faith:
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