Jesus Cares for the Sick

Prepare

Lesson Preparation

MMemory Verse

Memory Verse

Choose a Memory Verse Game and print/gather necessary items.

  Down the Line

  Look Behind You

  Review Card Relay

  Stack Em Up

  Your Turn

Down the Line

Say your part of the verse while passing the spoon—under your left leg with your right hand, that is!

Materials

• Passing Cards
• Plastic spoon
• Cotton ball
• Container

Instructions

Print and cut out one set of the Passing Cards and put them into a container. Have the students line up facing you. Put a cotton ball into the plastic spoon and give it to the student on one end of the line.

Draw a card from the container. The students must pass the spoon from one end of the line and back again according to what the card says, keeping the cotton ball on the spoon (without touching it). For example, they may have to pass the spoon with their left hand or under their right leg! As they pass the spoon, they each must say the next word in the memory verse. If the cotton ball falls or someone says the wrong word, you may have the students start the verse over. Repeat with a new card until the verse has been recited several times.

Try using a larger spoon and balancing a small orange or boiled egg on it!

Look Behind You

“What does mine say?” “Turn around!” “You go here.” Students help each other get in the right order according to the signs on their backs in this crazy group game.

Materials

• Index cards
• Masking tape

Instructions

Write one or two words from the memory verse on each index card. Tape cards onto students’ backs. Students will work together to put themselves in order according to the memory verse. Once they think they are standing in order, check the verse by reading the words out loud according to how they are standing.

If you have more cards than students, tape more than one card in the proper order on some students. Repeat the game so all students get to participate.

Review Card Relay

“On your mark, get set, go!” Teams will race to put the memory verse cards in order.

Materials

• Index cards
• Tape or poster putty

Instructions

Write one or two words from the memory verse on each index card. Make one set for each team. Divide the class into teams. Randomly lay out each set of cards facedown on the floor—one set for each team. Put a piece of poster putty or tape on each one.

Have teams line up away from the cards. When the relay begins, the first student in each line will race to the cards, pick one up, and put it on the wall or board. As the relay continues, students will put each card on the board in the proper order. They may need to rearrange the cards to fit others.

When finished, have the class read the verse aloud together.

Stack Em Up

Teams of two will stack the cups in the right order. Add a timer or make it a race!

Materials

• Colored markers
• Foam or plastic cups with the memory verse written on them for each team
• Optional: timer

Instructions

Turn each cup upside down so the stack will have a wide base. On the rim of each cup, write one or two words from the memory verse, including the reference. Make sure the words show when the next cup is stacked on top of it. (See picture below.)

Mix up the cups and have teams stack them up in the correct order. Have teams race against each other or time them as they stack the cups in the correct order.

Your Turn

Students recite the verse taking turns back and forth. Will they remember their parts?

Materials

• Optional: timer

Instructions

Pair the students together. Have each pair stand back to back. Allow pairs to take turns reciting the verse. One student begins with the first word of the memory verse. Then the other student must say the next word. Keep going back and forth until the verse is completed. If a student makes a mistake or can’t remember the right word, allow another pair to try.

After everyone has had a turn, mix up the pairs and repeat. Have students race against a timer for an extra challenge.

Play the Memory Verse song to help your students learn the verse.

Find extra verses to practice in the Additional Memory Verses list.

AStudying God’s Word

LLesson Review

  Board Game

  Bible Baseball

  Draw Dice

  Musical Questions

  Oh No

  Racetrack

  Three in a Row

  Toss for It

Board Game

Teams will answer questions and make their way to the finish on the Game Board.

Materials

• Review Questions
• Game Board (provided in the Teacher Kit)
• Dice, numbered cards, or spinner
• Buttons or other small items as game pieces for each team

Instructions

Print one copy of the Review Questions for your use. Divide the class into teams.

Team members will take turns answering the review questions. If they answer correctly, they will roll the dice, spin, or draw a numbered card and move that number of spaces on the Game Board. Follow the directions on the spaces to move ahead, fall back, or switch places with another team. If someone does not know or does not answer correctly, he may ask his teammates for help. Alternate between teams as long as time permits, repeating questions if necessary. The first team to make it all the way to the Finish wins.

Bible Baseball

Students will answer questions and run the bases!

Materials

• Review Questions
• Three chairs set out for bases
• Optional: gift wrap tube and a large balloon

Instructions

Print one copy of the Review Questions for your use. Set out chairs as bases. Have the students line up by the home base area facing you (at the pitcher’s mound). Each student up to “bat” will have a chance to answer a review question. If he can answer it correctly, let him run the bases. If he can’t answer correctly, give the answer and ask him to go to the end of the line and try again.

You may want the students to sit on the chair at each base while they wait to run to the next base or have them run all the way around and return to the line. Repeat the questions until all the students have run around the bases.

For some added fun, you can use a gift wrap tube as a bat and toss a large balloon for students to hit after they answer each question.

Draw Dice

Teams will answer questions and complete a simple drawing to win. Who will finish their drawing first?

Materials

• Review Questions
• One drawing area for each team (paper, white board, etc.)
• Pencils or white board markers
• One die

Instructions

Print one copy of the Review Questions for your use. Divide the class into two teams. Give each team a sheet of paper and a pencil, or divide the white board in half. Draw a mouse on the board as an example.

Ask the first team a question from the lesson. If they answer correctly, have them roll the die.

To begin drawing their mouse, each team must wait until they get a six. They will then draw the mouse’s body on their paper or the board. After they have drawn the body, as they give correct answers to the questions, they can continue to draw the other parts of the mouse according to the numbers they roll.

They can draw according to the numbers below:

6 = body

5 = nose

4 = whiskers

3 = eyes

2 = ears

1 = tail

Continue giving each team a turn to answer a question and roll the die. Repeat the questions as necessary. The first team to finish their mouse wins.

You may choose to draw a simple object from the lesson, such as a crown, an open Bible, a fish, etc. Be sure to assign numbers (as above) to each part of the object to be drawn before the game begins.

Musical Questions

When the music stops, who will answer the question?

Materials

• Review Questions (included in lesson)
• Chairs
• Worship Music
• Different color/style chair, masking tape, colored paper, etc.

Instructions

Print one copy of the Review Questions. Set up chairs either in a circle or in two rows back to back so students have room to walk around them. Mark one chair as the “question” chair (use a different color/style chair or mark it with tape, a paper question mark, etc.)

Instruct students to walk in front of the chairs when you play the music. When the music stops, they will race to find a seat. The student in the question chair answers a review question. Continue playing music and having students change seats until all the review questions are answered.

Oh No

Not every roll of the dice will be good for the team. Answer the question, roll the dice, and be prepared to say, “Oh no!”

Materials

• Review Questions
• Two dice

Instructions

Print one copy of the Review Questions for your use. Divide the class into teams. Each team will take turns answering review questions. When a team answers correctly, have them roll the dice to determine their points. If a team does not answer correctly, give the answer and repeat the question later. Keep track of team scores.

Numbers aren’t always a winner! If students roll:

• 2 or 3 that team gives 5 points away to the other team
• 4 or 5 that team takes 5 points from the other team
• 6–10 face value
• 11 subtract 10 points from the team score
• 12 double the team score

(Note: no team can have less than 0 points.)

Racetrack

Who will reach the checkered flag first? Teams will race to the finish by answering review questions.

Materials

• Review Questions
• White board or chalkboard
• Markers/chalk
• Optional: paper cutouts for each team (cars, animals, circles, etc.), tape/poster putty

Instructions

Print one copy of the Review Questions for your use. Draw a racetrack on the board. It may be as simple as a straight horizontal path or a curvy circle. Label “Start” and “Finish” (with a checkered flag) at either end of the track. Add numbers along the track (e.g., 1–10) at equal intervals between Start and Finish. The numbers will be used as placement points for the racers as they progress along the track.

Divide the class into teams. You may draw a different symbol (e.g., stick figure, circle, X or O) to represent each team at the Start, or use paper cutouts as team markers and stick them to the board with tape/poster putty.

Ask the first team a review question. If they answer correctly, move their marker or redraw their symbol along the track at #1. If they answer incorrectly, give the next team a chance to answer and move to the first number. If they do not know, give the answer and ask that question again later. Continue to alternate asking review questions and moving teams’ markers along the racetrack according to the numbers along the track. The first team to reach the Finish wins!

Three in a Row

Which team will be the first to get three in a row?

Materials

• Review Questions (included in lesson)
• Six paper/plastic plates per team in different colors
• Masking Tape
• Optional: whiteboard and markers

Instructions

Print one copy of the Review Questions. Use masking tape to make a 9-section grid on the floor. The grid should be three sections wide by three sections long. Each section should be larger than a single plate. Use two different-colored plates as markers for the two teams.

Divide the students into two teams. Give each team six plates. Teams will take turns answering review questions. If they answer correctly, they can place a plate in a square on the grid. The first team to get three in a row wins the game. Keep track of games won and repeat as time allows.

Option: Draw the 9-section grid on the board and have teams mark X or O for each correct answer.

Toss for It

How many points? Toss for it! Students answer the questions and toss the beanbag to earn points for their team.

Materials

• Review Questions
• A deck of numbered cards, or numbers and “wild” written on index cards
• One beanbag
• Masking tape
• Two baskets or containers for cards

Instructions

Print one copy of the Review Questions for your use. Place several rows of numbered cards facedown with a few inches between them to form a grid pattern (make sure to put several wild cards or Jokers down, too). Use the masking tape to make a tossing line several feet from the cards.

Divide students into teams and have them line up behind the tossing line. Ask the first student a review question. If he gives the correct answer, have him toss the beanbag onto a card. Turn the card over to reveal the points he receives for his team. Face cards or word cards are 10 points each. Wild or Jokers are also 10—plus another turn. All other cards are face value.

Have the student pick up his card and put it in the team’s basket to be counted at the end of the game. Next team’s turn. If a student gives an incorrect answer, he should go to the end of the line. Give the answer and repeat that question later. Continue taking turns until all the questions have been answered. Add more cards to the grid if necessary.

GGo to Prayer

Optional Supplements

Hands-On Activities

Do these activities when you think best—before, during, or after the lesson.

• Leper Tag
  Students will run to avoid the “leper” in this game of tag where only “Jesus” can heal.
• Real World Skit
  Students will read a skit discussing God’s healing.
• Coloring Sheet
  Students will color as you review today’s lesson with them.
• Word Search
  Students will search for words from today’s lesson. Make it a challenge: have students race against each other or the clock to find all the words.

PowerPoint

Come On In

As students arrive, direct them to the activity you chose for today.

After all the students arrive, pray with them before beginning the lesson.

Memory Verse

Be sure to explain the memory verse to the students and then practice it by playing a memory verse game or singing the memory verse song.

Studying God’s Word

Studying God’s Word

Introduction

Jesus Heals Many

We haven’t used Mark’s Gospel much up to this point, but we are going to look at today’s accounts from his point of view. Refer to the Books of the Bible Poster.

• Think back to the lesson where we studied the four Gospels. Does anyone remember what Mark’s focus was? Mark’s Gospel presents Jesus as a suffering servant, showing compassion for those he came to save. Show Lesson 123 Theme Poster.

  We are going to read several accounts from the Gospel of Mark where Jesus demonstrated compassion through healing.

Turn to Mark chapter 1. This event happened in Capernaum right after Jesus cast out the demon who called him the Holy One of God. Jesus commanded the demon to be silent and come out without harming the man, and the demon obeyed. The people were amazed, and Jesus’ fame spread.

• Who will read Mark 1:29–34? Choose readers.
• Where did Jesus go after he left the synagogue? He went to the house of Simon (Peter) and Andrew.
• Who were Simon and Andrew? They were brothers and among the first disciples who followed Jesus.

  Jesus was traveling around Galilee, and it is likely that Simon’s house became the home base for Jesus and his disciples after Jesus was rejected in Nazareth.

• Slide #9
  Who else went with Jesus to Simon’s house? James and John.

  These two sets of brothers were fishermen before Jesus called them to follow him. They left their jobs and traveled with Jesus as his disciples. Refer to Lesson 132 Theme Poster.

• What was wrong with Simon’s mother-in-law? She had a fever.

  Luke, the physician (doctor), recorded in his Gospel that she had a high fever. Because she could not get out of bed to greet or serve the guests, her condition was serious.

• What did the disciples do? They immediately told Jesus about her.
• What did Jesus do? He healed her, just by taking her hand.

  When Jesus took her hand and raised her up, Peter’s mother-in-law was healed! She began to serve Jesus and the disciples. That evening, Jesus healed many others as people from the whole city brought the sick and demon-possessed to him. Pass out the Class Notes. You may choose to write the answers on the board for students to copy or use the slides.

• Slide #10

  Slide #11
  Let’s answer some questions on the Class Notes. Who will read #1 and tell us what was wrong with Peter’s mother-in-law? Choose a reader. She was ill with a fever. Have students complete #1.
• Who will read #2? Choose a reader. The disciples. Complete #2.
• And #3, how did Jesus help her? Choose a reader. Her fever left her. Complete #3.

• Let’s see another miracle of healing. Who will read Mark 1:40–45? Choose readers.
• Who came to Jesus for healing? A leper.

  A leper was someone who had the disease of leprosy. Leprosy in the Old Testament is often used to describe a variety of skin diseases. The most serious of these leprous conditions is called Hansen’s disease today, and it is likely what this leper had. The symptoms of leprosy (Hansen’s disease) appear on the skin, but it is actually a disease that attacks the nervous system. Nerves are what enable us to feel pain, so people with leprosy get injuries because their God-given pain sensors no longer work. For example, lepers could stick a hand in boiling water and not flinch because they don’t feel the extreme temperature of the water. But, they’d still get the injury of a burned hand.

• What do you do when you touch something hot? Allow answers. You pull away as fast as possible!

  Because lepers cannot feel pain, they can injure themselves in daily activities. In Jesus’ day, they understood that leprosy was spread by human contact, so lepers were forced to live in isolated places outside towns and away from friends and family. Leprosy had no cure, and it was a disease that slowly led to death.

• How did the leper in our account come to Jesus? He came humbly, kneeling before Jesus. He implored (begged) Jesus for healing.

  The leper was desperate for healing. His appeal to Jesus was full of emotion. Mark said that he implored Jesus, and Luke wrote that he begged. His faith is obvious—he knew Jesus could heal him. And yet, he didn’t assume Jesus would heal him because he said, “If you will.”

• How did Jesus feel toward the leper in verse 41? He was moved with pity.

  Pity is another word for compassion. Jesus felt sympathy and wanted to help the suffering.

• So what did Jesus do? He touched the leper and said he was willing to heal him. He said, “Be clean.”
• What happened when Jesus said, “Be clean”? Immediately, the leprosy left the man. He was healed.
• Based on what we learned about leprosy, what was surprising about Jesus touching the leper? People were afraid to touch lepers or even be around them for fear of getting the disease.

  Jews who followed the law of Moses avoided coming into contact with lepers because it made them unclean. Many people hated lepers and felt that their disease was a sign they had sinned and were being judged by God. Jesus could have healed him without touching him, such as the way he healed the sick son of the official in a different town last lesson. But Jesus reached out and touched the leper to show love and compassion. This was probably the first human contact this man had felt since he got leprosy.

• What instructions did Jesus give the leper? He told him to say nothing about what happened, but to present himself to the priest according to the law of Moses (Leviticus 14).
• But the man couldn’t help but share what Jesus had done for him. What happened as the news spread? So many people were coming to see Jesus that he could no longer go into towns but had to stay in desolate places outside the towns.

  In both of these miracles, Jesus demonstrated his power and authority over disease. He touched Simon’s mother-in-law, and her fever left. He touched the leprous man, and he became clean.

• Refer to the Attributes of God poster. Let’s take some time to consider all the attributes of God Jesus showed in these miracles. Which ones can you name? Omnipotence and sovereignty in supernaturally healing the fever and leprosy; gracious in healing those who did nothing to deserve healing; loving in giving good gifts; merciful in showing kindness to those in misery.

  As Jesus traveled throughout the region of Galilee, we aren’t told much about his teaching. We know that his message was one of repentance and the gospel. But most of what is recorded about this first year of ministry shows an excited crowd following a miracle worker. Jesus established his authority in the temple and synagogues, and now we know he established his power over disease.

• Slide #15

  Slide #16
  Let’s go back to the Class Notes. Who will read #4 about the incurable disease? Choose a reader. Leprosy. Have students complete #4.
• How did Jesus feel toward the leper for #5? Choose a reader. Pity; compassion. Complete #5.
• And #6, what did Jesus do for the leper? Choose a reader. He was healed. Complete #6.

Jesus Forgives Sin

Although Jesus clearly performed many miracles of healing, the healing was only a sign that he was sent from God with power—not his main purpose. In this next account, Jesus healed a man but also revealed his deeper purpose.

Let’s read Mark 2:1–12. Choose readers, or you read the passage and have students follow along.

This miracle is also recorded in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke.

• In verse 1, where was Jesus? He was in a home in the city of Capernaum.

  This may have been Peter’s house, which Jesus used as a home base in Galilee.

• What happened when the people heard Jesus was in the house? They filled the house to the door.

  Jesus was preaching the word to the people who gathered in the house. There were so many people that the house was packed to the doors!

• Who was brought to Jesus for healing? A paralytic man.
• What is a paralytic? Why did he have to be carried on a bed by four men? Paralytic means he was unable to walk; he was paralyzed.

  People who are severely injured on their spine can lose the ability to move their legs, their arms, or sometimes anything below their neck. This man’s paralysis was severe if he needed four men to help him get anywhere.

• How did the men get their friend to Jesus inside the crowded house? They opened a hole in the roof and lowered their friend to where Jesus was.
  Slide #23
  Houses in Jesus’ day often had a flat roof used like a patio. The men went up to the roof, removed a section of the roof to create an opening, and lowered the paralytic on his bed into the room below, where Jesus was teaching. This would have caused quite a stir in the house! Show the Lesson Theme Poster.

• What did Jesus notice about the four men who went to such extreme measures to get their friend to him? Jesus acknowledged their faith. They were trusting Jesus could heal him.
• What did Jesus do at first rather than healing the man of his paralysis? He said his sins were forgiven.
• Some scribes, or teachers of the law, were there. How did they respond when Jesus forgave the man’s sins? They were thinking to themselves that Jesus was speaking blasphemies because only God could forgive sins.
• Did they say anything out loud? They were not speaking out loud but questioning in their hearts.

  They believed this was the sin of blasphemy because a man was claiming to be God. Because only God can forgive sins and Jesus forgave the man’s sins, the scribes realized that Jesus was claiming to be God. Jesus is omniscient, all-knowing, so he knew what they were thinking about him. He asked them which was easier, to heal or to forgive sins, because both are things only God can do.

• Then according to verse 10, why did Jesus heal the paralytic? He did it so that all might know he had the authority to forgive sins.
• Jesus told the paralytic to rise, pick up his bed, and go home. What happened next? The man rose immediately and picked up his bed. He was healed.
• How did the crowd respond? They were amazed and glorified God.
• What two things did Jesus do for the paralytic man? He healed him spiritually through the forgiveness of his sins and physically by the removal of his paralysis.

  Jesus knew the faith in this man who was paralyzed. He was merciful toward this sinner and offered him forgiveness for the sins he had committed against a holy God. But he didn’t stop there. Jesus also healed him of his paralysis. We don’t know how long he had been stuck on his bed, but can you imagine the freedom this man felt?! He had been healed of his brokenness—both spiritually and physically. He responded by glorifying God. Refer to the Lesson Theme Poster.

  In these acts of spiritual and physical compassion, Jesus was revealing himself as the Messiah. Jesus showed his power to forgive sins and heal an incurable condition. There can be no doubt that Jesus is God.

• Slide #24

  Slide #25
  Who will read question #7 on the Class Notes? Choose a reader. He couldn’t walk. Complete #7.
• And #8, who will read about the four friends? Choose a reader. Faith. Complete #8.
• How did Jesus upset the scribes for #9? Choose a reader. “Your sins are forgiven.” Complete #9.
• Who will read #10 about Jesus’ purpose in healing the paralytic? Choose a reader. He is God. Complete #10.

Application

As both God and man, Jesus had the authority on the earth to forgive sins. When he healed the paralytic, a physical healing, he showed his authority to forgive his sins, a spiritual healing.

• Which of the Seven C’s of History explains why we have death and suffering and diseases in the world? Corruption.

  The original creation of God was very good. The sin of Adam and Eve corrupted it, and now we live in a world with disorder and disease. If we’re physically healthy, we may think we’re normal and OK. But every person has the disease of sin because of the corruption that Adam brought to the world. We are all in need of spiritual healing. This is the miracle of forgiveness that Jesus offered the paralytic and to each of us.

• If we turn from our sins and trust in Jesus for eternal life, does that mean we’ll never have physical sicknesses and diseases here on earth? Allow discussion.

  While our physical healing may not come on this earth, those who are children of God can know that when Jesus brings about the consummation of all things, we will be restored to the original perfection without disease or disorder of any kind. Sin will never corrupt us again.

• As we think about the two types of healing we saw in our lesson today, which is more important: physical healing or spiritual healing? While we often want the immediate relief of the physical healing we know God can offer, spiritual healing through the forgiveness of sins is more important because it determines where we spend eternity.

Lesson Review

We encourage you to play a lesson review game.

Group Prayer

Be sure to pray with your students and take requests if time allows.

• Thank Jesus for his compassion for our physical and spiritual needs.
• Ask God for faith to trust him for forgiveness and healing.