The following lesson was created for a small class of children ranging from age 5-10. The students discover that Jesus’ miracles helped people believe in Him for eternal life.
Bible Passage: John 4:46-54
Bible Story Title: Jesus Heals Official’s Son
Target Age Group: Ages 5-11 (K-5th Grade U.S.A.)
Target Time Frame: 60 Minutes
Original Teaching Context: Sunday School
Supply List: Bibles, map of Israel in the time of Jesus, Activity pages, index cards, pens, markers, soil, cups, seeds
Learning Goal: Students will learn that Jesus’ miracles demonstrated His divine authority and helped people believe in Him.
Learning Activity #1: Students can plant flower seeds in cups of potting soil. When we plant a particular seed we believe that with the right conditions (Sunlight, water, soil, good seed) a flower will grow. When we hear God’s Word and believe His words to be true we have faith that what He says, He will do.
Learning Activity #2: Activity Pages
Learning Activity #3: Miracle Charades-On index cards write several miracles found in the Bible. Have students act our or try to draw the miracle for the other students to guess the miracle.
Test: Review Questions
Memory Verse: John 20:30-31 “Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.”
Bible Lesson: Jesus Heals Official’s Son
(Begin with prayer)
Today we are going to discover an answer to this question: What happened when Jesus performed miracles?
Let’s turn in our Bibles to John 4:45. Before we begin, what is a miracle? (Allow responses) From a Biblical point of view a miracle is something only God can do. A miracle shows God’s power. Can you think of any miracles you have read about in the Bible?
Read John 4:45. Show map and point out Galilee. When Jesus got to Galilee he went to Cana. On a different occasion Jesus had been in Cana for a wedding. It was in Cana that Jesus performed his first miracle by changing water into wine. (John 2:11)
News of Jesus being in Cana traveled all the way to Capernaum (show on map) which is about 20 miles away. What kind of things do you think were being said about Jesus as the news travelled to different towns and cities?
In Capernaum there was a man who was an official, someone who worked for the king. When this official heard that Jesus was in Cana he left as quickly as he could. This man needed Jesus’ help. His son had gotten sick and no one was able to help him get better. Actually instead of getting better he was getting worse. He was so sick he was going to die. The official needed a miracle if his son was going to live!
When the official arrives in Cana he finds Jesus and says, “Please come home with me and heal my son, he is dying.” Jesus looks at the man and says, “Unless people see signs and wonders they will not believe.” Jesus wanted to help people but He knew there was a bigger purpose to why He had come to this earth. He had come to this earth to offer eternal life to all who believe that He is Messiah.
The official was desperate and said, “Sir, come down before my child dies.”
Let’s read what Jesus says in John 4:50: Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way. (ESV) The NIV translation says, “The man took Jesus at His Word and departed.”
This man believed. He took Jesus at His Word. What did he believe? His son would live. This man had faith that Jesus would do what He said He would do.
The man travelled back to his home in Capernaum. When he was almost home his servants met him and told him that his son was getting better. “When did he start getting better?” the man asked. The servants said, “Yesterday at 1:00 in the afternoon his fever left him.”
The father knew that was the exact time Jesus spoke and said, “Your son will live.”
What Jesus did was a miracle! He spoke the word and the son began to get better at that very moment.
Our question we began with was: What happened when Jesus performed miracles? Let’s read John 4:53 to find out what happened to this official because Jesus performed a miracle for him. “The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” And he himself believed, and his entire household.”
Let’s look at our question for today again: What happened when Jesus performed miracles? The answer to our question today is: Jesus’ miracles helped people believe in Him.
As you study Jesus’ miracles this month you will learn that His miracles show that He is God and has power to do things only God can do. Jesus’ miracles help people believe He is the Messiah who offers eternal life.
Before we pray let’s talk about what we mean when we say Jesus’ miracles helped people believe in Him. Why is it important to believe in Jesus? Without faith in Jesus we are dead in our sins, separated from God. Faith in Jesus as the Savior of the World gives us eternal life.
Today may be the day that you understand that Jesus is the Son of God and He died on the cross for your sins, was buried and rose again the third day. Today is the day you can believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God and receive the gift of eternal life.
Close in prayer.
Review Questions:
1. In our lesson what town was Jesus in? (Cana)
2. What had Jesus done another time He was in Cana? (Performed His first miracle)
3. Where did the official live? (Capernaum)
4. Why did the official travel to Cana? (His son was sick and close to death)
5. How did Jesus heal his son: a) He sent the man back with medicine b) spoke that his son would live c) went with the man and touched his son
6. What time did the boy’s fever leave him? (The exact time Jesus said his son would live)
7. How did Jesus’ miracle help the official? (The official put his faith in Jesus)
8. What has Jesus done for you to help you believe in Him?
9. How do you show you believe Jesus’ words?
Related Lesson Ideas:
- Children’s Church Bible Lesson: Jesus Heals A Man Born Blind (John 9)
- Children’s Bible Story Lesson Plan: Jesus Is The Bread Of Life from John 6:22-40
- Lesson: Jesus Heals Jairus’ daughter
- Lesson: Peter Heals the Crippled Beggar in Jesus’ Name
- Jesus Feeds The Five Thousand (Children’s Church Lesson) from John 6:1-14