Friends Brought a Friend to Jesus
Mark 2:1-12
Our story comes from the Bible. It is in the part, or book, of the Bible called Mark.
The Bible tells us about a man who couldn't walk or run. All the man could do was lie on a mat. The man did have four good friends.
The four good friends helped the man get food to eat. They spent time with him so he wasn't lonely. But they couldn't help him walk.
One day, the four friends heard that Jesus was in Capernaum ("kuh-PURR-ne-um"). That was the name of the town where they lived. They knew that Jesus could help their friend walk. The four friends put the man on his mat. They carried the man to the house where Jesus was staying.
They were surprised when they got to the house. So many people had come to listen to Jesus! There were too many people to fit in the house. Some people were even standing outside and look in the windows!
The four friends looked at each other. How could Jesus help their friend if they couldn't get inside to see Him?
Then they had an idea. Carefully the four friends carried the man up the outside stairs to the flat roof of the house. They made a hole in the roof.
The friends slowly lowered the mat through the hole in the roof so their friend could see Jesus.
Jesus looked up at the four friends through the hole. He knew they believed He could help their friend.
Jesus talked to the man on the mat. "Get up. Pick up your mat and walk home."
Right away the man got up and picked up his mat. He could walk! The amazed crowd watched the man walk away. They praised God.
The man thanked his four friends for bringing him to Jesus. The four friends helped the man learn about Jesus. Friends help us learn about Jesus, too.
Bible Paraphrase: A friend loves at all times. (A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity. – Proverbs 17:17 NIV)
Text Truth: Friends help use learn about Jesus.
Teachers and other leaders in your church play an important a role in the life of the child. Your child considers them friends. They are friends that teach your child about Jesus.
Just as God honored the work of the four friends and their determination to get their friend to Jesus, He will honor the work of determined teachers and leaders who work with your child and help them to learn about Jesus.
Pray that your child will be amazed at the love and work of Jesus when the teachers and leaders in your church help them learn about Him.
As part of the bed-time routine, read a short Bible story, talk about it briefly, and pray with your child.
On a piece of construction paper, trace your child's hands, with fingers spread out. Make each finger look like a friend who teaches you about Jesus. Laminate the construction paper to make a placemat.
Sing this song to the tune of "The Farmer in the Dell" about friends that tell you about. Jesus. Sing the last verse with your child's name instead of the name of a friend who tells you about Jesus. Who can he help learn about Jesus?
Have your child pretend to carry a doll to see Jesus, just as the four men carried their friend to Jesus. Explain that even though we can't see Him, Jesus is always with us. Then take your child by the hand and say, "Let's find a book (picture, puzzle) that will help us learn about Jesus." Let your child know how much you enjoy teaching her things you know about your best friend, Jesus.
Together thank God for those friends that help you and your child learn about Jesus.
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The illustrations are the copyright of Sweet Publishing and licensed by FreeBibleimages for free download under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Share-alike 3.0 unported license. www.freebibleimages.org
Our story comes from the Bible. It is in the part, or book, of the Bible called Mark.
The Bible tells us about a man who couldn't walk or run. All the man could do was lie on a mat. The man did have four good friends.
The four good friends helped the man get food to eat. They spent time with him so he wasn't lonely. But they couldn't help him walk.
One day, the four friends heard that Jesus was in Capernaum ("kuh-PURR-ne-um"). That was the name of the town where they lived. They knew that Jesus could help their friend walk. The four friends put the man on his mat. They carried the man to the house where Jesus was staying.
They were surprised when they got to the house. So many people had come to listen to Jesus! There were too many people to fit in the house. Some people were even standing outside and look in the windows!
The four friends looked at each other. How could Jesus help their friend if they couldn't get inside to see Him?
Then they had an idea. Carefully the four friends carried the man up the outside stairs to the flat roof of the house. They made a hole in the roof.
The friends slowly lowered the mat through the hole in the roof so their friend could see Jesus.
Jesus looked up at the four friends through the hole. He knew they believed He could help their friend.
Jesus talked to the man on the mat. "Get up. Pick up your mat and walk home."
Right away the man got up and picked up his mat. He could walk! The amazed crowd watched the man walk away. They praised God.
The man thanked his four friends for bringing him to Jesus. The four friends helped the man learn about Jesus. Friends help us learn about Jesus, too.
Bible Paraphrase: A friend loves at all times. (A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity. – Proverbs 17:17 NIV)
Text Truth: Friends help use learn about Jesus.
Family Devotional
Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” — Mark 2:3-5
Just as God honored the work of the four friends and their determination to get their friend to Jesus, He will honor the work of determined teachers and leaders who work with your child and help them to learn about Jesus.
When the man was healed "this amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, 'We have never seen anything like this!'" — Mark 2:12
Activities You Can Do at Home
Bible Rhyme
The Bible paraphrase is in the third line of the rhyme. Teach the words and actions a line at a time. Have your child repeat each line back to you.
One friend and one friend,
(Hold up one finger on each hand.)
Together they know
(Hold fingers together.)
A friend loves at all times,
(Hug yourself.)
For God made them so.
(Reach arms up.)
Bible and Prayer at Bedtime
Friends on Fingers
Let's Tell All Our Friends
Sing this song to the tune of "The Farmer in the Dell" about friends that tell you about. Jesus. Sing the last verse with your child's name instead of the name of a friend who tells you about Jesus. Who can he help learn about Jesus?
Let's tell all our friends.
Let’s tell all our friends.
Tell them Jesus loves them so.
Let's tell all our friends.
(Name of friend who helps you learn about Jesus) tells a friend.
(Name of friend who helps you learn about Jesus) tells a friend.
(Name of friend) tells of Jesus' love.
(Name of friend) tells a friend.
Act Out the Bible Story
Have your child pretend to carry a doll to see Jesus, just as the four men carried their friend to Jesus. Explain that even though we can't see Him, Jesus is always with us. Then take your child by the hand and say, "Let's find a book (picture, puzzle) that will help us learn about Jesus." Let your child know how much you enjoy teaching her things you know about your best friend, Jesus.
Thank God for Friends
Together thank God for those friends that help you and your child learn about Jesus.
The illustrations are the copyright of Sweet Publishing and licensed by FreeBibleimages for free download under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Share-alike 3.0 unported license. www.freebibleimages.org
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Amazing presentation... Like watching a film!
ReplyDeleteEven children who cannot read will easily understan!
Thank you and God Bless abundantly!