Saturday, February 29, 2020

Jesus Heals a Woman & a Girl

In this passage of Luke's gospel, Jesus is on His way to heal Jairus' daughter, when a desperately sick woman reaches out by faith to touch the hem of His garment, and receives her healing. The intersection of these two women's lives, and their needs, poses some striking differences and similarities. Twelve years is obviously significant for each of them. For twelve years, the woman's life slowly drained from her body. For twelve years the little girl lived a vibrant life, before she was suddenly overcome with sickness, and eventually death.

On this day, at the convergence of twelve years, they both needed a miraculous healing.  When the woman reached out to touch Jesus, the steady flow of blood that drained her of life, stopped in an instant, and she received new life.  When Jesus reached out, taking the little girl by the hand, life-giving blood instantly flowed through her lifeless body, and she opened her eyes to new life.

Both of these stories demonstrate that the life-giving power is released from Jesus to our need at the moment that His life touches ours.  I pray that Jesus touches you, and your precious children as you love them and lead them to Jesus this week.

Bible Truth: Jesus heals me.
Bible Story: Jesus healed a woman who had been sick for a very long time, and raised a little girl back to life.
Bible Study: Luke 8:40-56, 1 Peter 2:24, Psalms 103:1-3


teach


doctor, doctor


A woman who had been very sick for many years went to see many doctors, but none of them could heal her, or make her feel better again.  A first aid kit, with either real supplies, or toys, helps the children to connect their experiences at the doctor, with this woman.  I begin the lesson by bringing out a first aid kit.  I briefly talk about each item, and how doctors use these things to help us.



touching Jesus


As I considered this lesson, I wanted movable visuals that could actually reach out and touch at the very moment of the miracle.  I made extremely simple felt tunics for a few of our dollhouse figurines with movable arms, and belted them with strands of leather lacing.  You could use figurines, dolls, or even stuffed animals, in the same way.  As I read the story from a children's Bible, or narrate with my own words, I manipulate the characters.

The woman who was very,very sick, Jesus and Jairus' daughter

The woman pushed through the crowd, and got close enough to reach out and touch the edge of Jesus' clothing.
As soon as she touched Him, all of the sickness left her body and she was healed!

Jesus told the woman that her faith made her well.  The woman said thank You to Jesus and praised God for healing her!

Jesus took the little girl by the hand and said, "My child, get up!"

The little girl got up, and Jesus told her mom and dad to give her something to eat.

Jesus did a miracle!  Only Jesus can raise somebody from the dead and bring them back to life!  

Thank God for doctors who can give us medicine or a shot when we need it.  They take care of us when we are sick or hurt, and help us to get better, but Jesus is the best doctor of all!  He doesn't need to use medicine or band-aids.  He just has to touch us, and we can be healed!

crowd participation


I'm always looking for ways for the children to participate in my lesson.  This story includes a large crowd of people following Jesus, as well as a large crowd gathered at the home of Jairus.  I give each child their own doll figurine to hold during the story so that they can participate.  They can crowd around Jesus, cry when Jairus' daughter dies, laugh when Jesus says she is only sleeping, and gasp in amazement when she is raised from the dead.


sing


Theses are great songs to sing about God's power and His love for us! 

Bigger Than Big - great song for kids to join in for worship

My God is So Big - one of our favorites



play


touch Jesus relay


This relay game gives kids the chance to let our some energy as they race to touch Jesus, and cheer each other on!  Choose a child to be "Jesus" and have them stand at one end of the room, with their hands down at their sides, palms facing out.  Divide the rest of the children into two teams, and line them up at the opposite end of the room.  At your signal, direct one child from each team to run across the room, touch the hand of "Jesus", shout "Jesus healed me!" and run back to their team.  The next children in each line then runs across the room in the same way until all the children from both teams have run the race.  Continue playing, giving as many children as time allows the opportunity to be "Jesus".


craft


miracle sequence


You will need:
To prepare, cut out a set of pictures as three separate pieces, and the scripture for each child.

In class provide a glue stick, and a piece of construction paper for each child.  After they color their set of pictures, help them glue the scripture and each of the three pictures, onto their piece of construction paper, in the correct order.  As you are discussing the series of events in the story, use sequencing language (beginning, middle and end) to encourage vocabulary development, while you reinforce today's lesson!


*the typo on the page for you to print is corrected*


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