A29. Jesus Heals The Pool at Bethesda John 5:1-15

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Lawrence Burns
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1 Page1 A29. Jesus Heals The Pool at Bethesda John 5:1-15 Learning Objectives 1. The children will explore the story of the pool at Bethesda and what happened there. 2. The children will recognize that believing in Jesus and obeying His commandments brings healing and hope to our lives. Memory Verse: Rise, take up your bed and walk. --John 5:8 Getting Started Choose One Activity All Ages We Can Obey Jesus Activity See: Grade School Lessons Scroll down to New Testament and look for Discovering Jesus Series (Lesson 3) ~ We Can Obey Jesus As Kids Arrive activity Before class, you will need to print enough copies of the Island coloring sheet for each child. You will also need the following colored crayons or markers on the table before the children arrive: Yellow, Dark Blue, Light Blue, Brown, Green and White. Please see the above website for detailed instructions. The children will need to follow the directions on the sheet. When they are finished, their pictures will look wrong. Explain that sometimes it is easy to obey, especially when it is something you want to do in the first place. But at other times, obeying may not make sense, like going to bed when you're not tired or coloring a silly picture. Today we will learn about what happened to a sick man when he decided to obey Jesus. Rise, Take Up Your Bed and Walk See: New Testament Lesson #228 Teacher Guide Page 2 You will need rope or twine for this activity, and a volunteer. Please see the above website for detailed instructions. Use this demonstration to explain to the class that just like the man we will learn about today, we are completely unable to help ourselves or save ourselves from our condition. Only Jesus can help us. Jesus brings healing and hope to our lives, and we need a relationship with Him. Continue with the lesson. Bible Lesson with Discussion Questions Message: Jesus brings healing and hope to our lives. Sometime later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for a Jewish feast. 2 In Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate is a pool. In the Aramaic language it is called Bethesda. It is surrounded by five rows of columns with a roof over them. 3/4 Here a great number of disabled people used to lie down. Among them were those who were blind, those who could not walk, and those who could hardly move. 5 One person who was there had been disabled for 38 years. 6 Jesus saw him lying there. He knew that the man had been in that condition for a long time. So he asked him, Do you want to get well?

2 Page2 Bible Lesson with Discussion Questions Continued 7 Sir, the disabled man replied, I have no one to help me into the pool when an angel stirs the water up. I try to get in, but someone else always goes down ahead of me. 8 Then Jesus said to him, Get up! Pick up your mat and walk. 9 At once the man was healed. He picked up his mat and walked. The day this happened was a Sabbath. 10 So the Jews said to the man who had been healed, It is the Sabbath. The law does not allow you to carry your mat. 11 But he replied, The one who made me well said to me, Pick up your mat and walk. 12 They asked him, Who is this fellow? Who told you to pick it up and walk? 13 The one who was healed had no idea who it was. Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there. 14 Later Jesus found him at the temple. Jesus said to him, See, you are well again. Stop sinning, or something worse may happen to you. 15 The man went away. He told the Jews it was Jesus who had made him well. Role Play/Skit Option The Miracle at the Pool This is a fun lesson to have the children role play and experience the story in a more concrete way. Please see the script attached at the end of this lesson. You will need to print enough copies of the script for each character. Discussion Questions: 1. What was the name of the pool in today s story? (Bethesda.) 2. What major city in Israel was this pool closest to? (Jerusalem.) 3. What kinds of people came to this pool? (Those who were disabled blind, unable to walk, etc.) 4. Why do you think they all came to this pool in particular? (Discuss, answers will vary.) 5. What words did Jesus say to the man? (Get up! Pick up your mat and walk!) 6. Why was the man not supposed to carry his mat on the Sabbath Day? (According to Jewish custom, the Sabbath day was a holy day of rest in which NO work should be done, not even carrying a mat.) 7. According to Jesus, what was causing the man to be sick? (See Verse 14 his sin.) 8. If we believe in Jesus, does that mean we should obey Him and His commandments? (Yes Discuss.) 9. Does obeying Jesus and following Him help us to also have hope in our lives? Why or why not? (Discuss.) Review Questions Activity - Optional There is a fun activity page that would also allow for the children to review the events of the Bible story. If you choose to do this activity, please print enough copies of the activity page before class. Please see Page 8 of this lesson. Application to Real Life Hope in a Box See: Grade School Object Talks Hope in a Box You will need a box, wrapping paper, candy, small bells and other assorted noise makers for this activity. You will need to fill the box with candy, paper, bells and assorted noise makers before class and wrap the box in brightly colored paper. Please see the above website for detailed instructions. Include the children in looking up Bible verses and reading them together. After opening the box, review the memory verse and message statement as you enjoy the treats together.

3 Page3 Memory Work Fun 5 minutes 1. Recite the memory verse. 2. Practice finding the memory verse and/or Bible text in their Bible! 3. Play a game to review a commandment pass/toss a bean bag or stuffed animal whoever gets it says the next word. 4. What fruit of the spirit is mentioned in today s memory verse? Explain it in your own words. 5. Review the third commandment. Activity Ideas Choose One All Ages Ridiculous Rules See: New Testament Lesson #228 Teacher Guide Page 9-10 You will need an easel or white board for this activity. Begin by writing on the board a sensible rule. For example, "Do not run in the classroom." You will then have the class help you come up with some ridiculous rules relating to the sensible rule like, "Tie your shoe laces together on Thursday," etc. Please see the above website for detailed instructions. When you are finished with the list, explain to the class how the Pharisees added extra and even silly rules to God's law and then expected other to follow them. The Jewish people were naturally interested in the name of the man who told the cripple to violate their rules, but the Pharisees were more concerned with their rules than with people. Interestingly, this man didn't know who Jesus was. Jesus chose to heal the crippled man as an act of pure grace, to display the glory of God in him. Jesus came to die on a cross to save us from eternal punishment in hell, by His grace. Jesus wants everyone to believe in Him, because He offers salvation to all. Remind the children that Jesus brings healing and hope to our lives. Grades K-2 Memory Verse Puzzle Please see the activity sheet on Page 11 at the end of this lesson. You will need to print and cut out one puzzle template for each child. Place each puzzle into an individual bag or envelope. Give each child a puzzle and have them put it together to discover the memory verse. After each child has put the puzzle together, ask them to describe what happened when Jesus said this to the man. Review the memory verse and message statement.

4 Page4 Activity Ideas - Continued Choose One Grades 3-5 Bible Time Use your Bibles to look up John 14:15-21; and read the passage together. Then answer the following questions. 1. If we love Jesus, what will we do? (Obey His commands) 2. Jesus refers to the Holy Spirit a special way. What name does He give the Holy Spirit? (Counselor.) 3. In verse 21, How does Jesus show Himself to us when we obey His commands? (He shows Himself not by sight, but by the life He lives in us through the Holy Spirit) 4. What will the Holy Spirit do in our lives? (Teach us all things and remind us of everything Jesus said.) 5. Is the peace that Jesus leaves with us different from what the world gives? (Yes) How so? (Discuss together.) Stack the O s Bible Verse Review Game See: Login to the Resource Room at the top of the page, click on Younger Children Scroll down to O and look for obey click on Obey your parents in the Lord Scroll down to find the activity Stack the O s. You will need foam tube pool toys, skinny masking tape, a serrated knife, a ruler, a permanent marker and scissors for this activity. Please see the above website for detailed instructions. Use any (or all) of the following Bible verses on obedience for this activity: Luke 11:28 He replied, Instead, blessed are those who hear God s word and obey it. John 8:31 Jesus spoke to the Jews who had believed him. If you obey my teaching, he said, you are really my disciples. John 14:23 Jesus replied, Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. John 12:47 I don t judge a person who hears my words but does not obey them. I didn t come to judge the world. I came to save it. 2 Corinthians 7:15 His love for you is even greater when he remembers that you all obeyed his teaching. Ephesians 6:1 Children, obey your parents as believers in the Lord. Obey them because it s the right thing to do. Journal Optional Grades K-2 Draw a picture of the sick man from today s Bible Story before he was healed. If I had been sick in bed for a very, very long time and then, suddenly, you were well, what would you do? Write or draw about it. Grades 3-5 What do you think Jesus meant when he told the man to stop sinning or he would become even sicker? Write about it.

5 Page5 Homework Ideas - Read at home with a grownup the story about the Jesus Heals Lazarus (John 11:1-44). - Learn the memory verse: Father, I thank you for hearing me. --John 11:41 - Work on memorizing commandment #. - Color the Jesus Heals Lazarus coloring sheet as your parents read you the Sunday School Lesson. Return your coloring page for a sticker. - What is a mummy exactly? Try to look it up and be ready to share in class next week. Other Resources New Testament Lesson 228 support curriculum

6 Page6 Coloring Page Name: Jesus Heals - Lazarus Father, I thank you for hearing me. --John 11:41

7 Page7 Take Home Page: A29. Jesus Heals The Pool at Bethesda Today I learned Today your child learned that Jesus brings healing and hope to our lives. Children explored the story of the pool of Bethesda and what happened there. They talked about how believing in and following Jesus and His commandments can bring healing and hope to our lives too. Help me learn my memory verse Rise, take up your bed and walk. --John 5:8 Ask me 1. What happened at the pool of Bethesda? 2. How would you have felt if you were sick and Jesus healed you? Would you tell others about Jesus? 3. Do you think we should follow Jesus and obey His commandments? Why or why not? Live Your Faith Who in your circle of friends or family is sick? What could you do together as a family for them? How can you share the love and hope of Jesus? Plan together and do something kind for that person this week. Let them know that you are praying for them.

8 Review Questions Activity (alternative to the Discussion Questions) Page8

9 Page9 Role Play Miracle at the Pool Narrator: Sarah: Sarah: Sarah: Sarah: Sarah: Old Man: Narrator: Jesus: Old Man: In Jerusalem, there were many people who wandered around the pool of Bethesda. They had heard stories about its healing powers, but many did not know whether they were true or not. (Sarah and Robert enter the scene, talking to each other.) Sarah, have you ever heard about this place called the pool of Bethesda? No, I have not. What is it? A big swimming pool or something? It is a place where people who are sick go to get better. It is said that each year at the same time, an angel comes down to stir the water. The first one to enter the rippling water is cured of their sickness. So, you mean when I have a cold I should go to this pool and I will be healed? No, no. It is for people who have a sickness that cannot be cured. Have you ever seen this place? No, I have not. I just heard about it. It is not far from our home. Do you want to come with me and see if these stories I have heard are true? Yes, definitely! (Sarah and Robert walk around, searching for the pool of Bethesda.) There it is! (Pointing to the pool of Bethesda sign.) We better be quiet. I do not want anyone to see us here. (Sarah and Robert walk towards the pool of Bethesda. As they get closer, they notice an old man sitting near the entrance.) I am going to talk to that old man. Are you coming? Robert, I do not think that it is a good idea (Robert walks over to the old man. Sarah follows shortly after.) Excuse me. I have heard a lot about this place. How long have you been at the pool of Bethesda? I have been waiting at this pool to be cured of my illness for thirty eight years. Just as Robert and Sarah turned to leave, they saw a man approaching them. He walked right past them and towards the old man. Robert and Sarah crouched down and decided to watch to see what this man wanted. (Jesus approaches the old man.) How long have you been at this pool? Thirty eight years, Sir. Jesus: Do you want to be healed?

10 Page10 Role Play Miracle at the Pool continued Old Man: Jesus: Sarah: Narrator: Jesus: Narrator: Sir, I do. But I do not have anyone who can help me into the water when it is all stirred up. By the time I get there, someone steps into the pool before me. Stand up, pick up your bed and walk. (The old man stands up, picks up his sheet, and exits. Then Jesus exits.) Wow! Did you see what just happened? Yes! That man just healed the old man from his sickness! Sarah and Robert were so excited that they rushed home to tell their parents what they had just experienced. (Sarah and Robert exit.) As for the old man, he left the pool of Bethesda. When the people in the town asked the old man who had healed him from his illness, he realized he could not answer their question. He did not know who Jesus was. (The old man re enters the scene, kneeling in the temple. Jesus approaches the old man in the temple.) You are well now, my friend. Go and sin no more. At that moment, the old man realized it was Jesus who had healed him. From then on, he told everyone what he had experienced.

11 Memory Verse Puzzle Activity Page11

12 Music Option Page12

B4. Fishers of Men Luke 5:1-11; 6:12-16

Page1 B4. Fishers of Men Luke 5:1-11; 6:12-16 Learning Objectives 1. The children will explore the story of how Jesus chose His disciples. 2. The children will recognize that we can also become fishers