Session 3 FOR THE LEADER Kind Jesus These two stories carry with them a common theme Jesus has power over sickness. The two miracles Mark recorded here help us see Jesus power. Jesus miracles affected two females, one likely an outcast because of her ritual uncleanness, and the other a child. Both would have been considered not worthy of Jesus attention, but Jesus showed He had come to help everyone, not just a select group. Isn t that wonderful? Jairus is identified as a synagogue leader. This designation likely meant he was the one responsible for conducting the worship service and preaching. Jesus dealings with other religious leaders were strikingly different from His interaction with Jairus. Jairus believed that Jesus could heal his daughter who was dying. Jesus followed Jairus toward his home. At this point Mark inserts another story of miraculous healing. Some scholars question if these stories happened concurrently or if Mark may have woven them together since the stories are so similar and share the same important goal of demonstrating who Jesus is. A woman had suffered bleeding that could not be stopped by anyone, including the many doctors she had seen and to whom she had given all her money. As Jesus passed by, the woman believed just touching a part of Jesus garment would heal her. When she did touch the garment, she was healed. Immediately Jesus knew something had happened and He praised the woman for her faith. Returning to His previous mission, Jesus was met by others from Jairus house who pronounced that Jairus daughter had died. The other men encouraged Jairus to leave Jesus alone so Jesus could go about other business He might have. Jesus ignored their statement and told Jairus that he needed only to believe. When Jesus arrived at Jairus house, He took the child by the hand and restored her to life and health. Both miracles Jesus performed help us know that Jesus is all-powerful. He rules over sickness. 22 Explore the Bible: Preschool Leader Guide
OVERVIEW SESSION FOCUS TEXT TRUTH Jesus healed sick people. BIBLE STORY Mark 5:36 CHRIST IN CONTEXT The Book of Mark emphasizes the miraculous deeds of Jesus, the perfect Son of God. BIBLE SKILLS Remember and retell a familiar Bible story and Bible fact. Open Bible to a Bible marker. ARRIVAL ACTIVITIES (5 MINUTES) As preschoolers arrive, offer choices of self-guided activities that set the stage for Bible explorations. EXPLORE THE BIBLE TEXT CONNECTION Jesus is all-powerful. The stories of Jesus healing a woman and a girl show that Jesus has power over sickness. Even in the face of death, Jesus can heal. Jairus was a synagogue leader. He was likely responsible for preaching and teaching and administering the daily work of the church. Jairus believed that Jesus could heal his daughter. The woman on the road where Jesus walked also believed that Jesus could heal her. The woman s story is different in that she was convinced that Jesus power was so great she only needed to touch a part of His clothing. Her faith was rewarded and she was healed. Pretend to take photos of friends. Tools: Bible, toy camera or nonworking smart phone Transfer cotton balls between bowls. Tools: Bible, several large nonbreakable bowls, cotton balls, plastic tongs Work greeting card puzzles. Tools: Bible, 3 or 4 colorful get-well cards cut in half Sin brings brokenness and imperfection. God uses imperfect people to advance His plans. Genesis 29 tells of Jacob, who previously had tricked his father, and now was tricked by his uncle, Laban. Despite Laban s treatment of him, Jacob remained faithful to God and thankful for God s promise. After everyone has had an opportunity to do one or more arrival activities, direct preschoolers to Exploration Stations. (See next page.) FAMILY AT HOME Print this week s devotional page (Enhanced CD) to give to families. Session 3: Kind Jesus 23
BIBLE STORY TEXT TRUTH Jesus healed sick people. Mark 5:36 A WOMAN AND GIRL GET WELL Jesus rode in a boat across the lake. When Jesus got to the other side of the lake, many people gathered around Him. Jairus was a church leader in the town. He ran to Jesus and said, Jesus, Jesus. My little girl is very, very sick. Please come to my house and make her well. LEADER TIP! Make eye contact with the children as you tell the Bible story in your own words. Jesus began walking to Jairus house. A crowd of people followed Jesus. They wanted to see what Jesus would do. A sick woman was in the crowd. She had been sick a long time and nothing had helped. She knew Jesus healed sick people. The woman walked near Jesus and touched His robe. She said, If I can just touch Jesus robe, I will be well. And that is what happened. Jesus felt the woman touch Him, and He told the woman, You are well because you believed I could heal you. Just then people from Jairus house ran up to Jesus. It s too late! Jairus daughter died. The Teacher (Jesus) doesn t need to go to Jairus house. But Jesus said, Don t be afraid. Believe. Jesus walked on to Jairus house with three of His disciples. Jesus went inside the house to the little girl s room. Jesus held the girl s hand and spoke to her. Little girl, get up. Immediately the girl got up and began to walk. Jesus had made her well! LEADER TIP You choose! Are your preschoolers ready to learn memory verses? Decide which wording of the Bible verse you want to use with your group. From the Bible text: Jesus said, Don t be afraid. Only believe. Mark 5:36 Paraphrase: Jesus said, Don t be afraid. Only believe. Mark 5:36 24 Explore the Bible: Preschool Leader Guide
CIRCLE TIME CIRCLE TIME (10-15 MINUTES, DEPENDING ON YOUR AGE GROUP) GATHER Play the Enhanced CD to signal Circle Time. As children complete activities, ask each preschooler to take one item to Circle Time. Give each child opportunity to tell what he did with the item today. Comment that materials and resources in your classroom can help you learn about Jesus and things He did. OPTIONS 1. Arrival Activities 2. Circle Time 3. Exploration Stations OR 1. Arrival Activities 2. Exploration Stations 3. Circle Time HEAR THE BIBLE STORY Open the Bible to. Say: I have an interesting story to tell you today. Listen to hear about some wonderful things that Jesus did. Hold the Story Picture: A Woman and Girl Get Well (Pack) or put it on the floor where all can see it. Tell the Bible story in your own words. Go around the circle and ask children to tell something they like or remember from the story. Use the Story Picture to prompt responses. Then comment: Everything we read in the Bible, every story we hear, is true. The Bible helps us learn about Jesus. TOOLS Bible Enhanced CD PACK ITEMS 3 Story Picture: A Woman and Girl Get Well 15 December Bible Markers PRACTICE BIBLE SKILLS Open the Bible to Mark 5:36 and read the Bible verse to the children. Show children the words on the December Bible Marker (Pack) for today. Divide the children and teachers into two groups. Lead the groups to take turns saying part of the verse. One group can say the first part of Jesus statement, and the other group can say the remaining part. Lead by saying: Jesus said... Point to the first group, and then the second, giving them an opportunity to say the Bible verse. Repeat several times so children can learn the verse. Remind children this verse is from the Book of Mark in the New Testament. PRAY Pray, thanking God for the Bible and the people who wrote about things Jesus did. Thank God for helping us know more about Jesus. Session 3: Kind Jesus 25
EXPLORATION STATIONS TEXT TRUTH Jesus healed sick people. BIBLE STORY A Woman and Girl Get Well EXPLORATION STATIONS (45-60 MINUTES) Set up at least three stations to provide choices of multisensory activities and movement for busy preschoolers. Mark 5:36 DRAW WITH CRAYONS PACK ITEMS 3 Story Picture: A Woman and Girl Get Well 15 December Bible Markers 24 Book: Places Jesus Went 35 Movement Cube Tools: Bible, crayons, drawing paper, Book: Places Jesus Went (Pack), Enhanced CD Write today s Bible verse on each child s paper before he begins to draw. Play the Enhanced CD. Turn to Mark 5 and put the Bible near the art supplies. While a child draws, picture-read the book. Comment that people followed Jesus to hear Him teach and receive His help. Tell the preschooler to listen for songs about Jesus. Say: I love Jesus. I know He loves me and helps me. Read the words on the child s paper. Remark: These words are in the Bible in the Book of Mark. Mark believed all the things Jesus did. PLAY A BIBLE QUESTION GAME Tools: several Bibles, beanbag Distribute Bibles to a few children and direct them to hold the Bibles. Toss the beanbag to a child. Tell him to open his Bible to any page. Ask: Who does the Bible tell us about? Lead the child to respond Jesus and God. Toss the beanbag to another child and repeat the question. Continue until all the children have a turn. Say: God gave us the Bible so we can know about Him and His Son, Jesus. The Bible tells us that Jesus healed sick people. 26 Explore the Bible: Preschool Leader Guide
EXPLORATION STATIONS CREATE A PEOPLE COLLAGE MOVE AND DO Tools: Bible, people picture cutouts, long piece of paper, glue sticks, Activity Page Print the word Jesus in the center of the paper. Invite one or two children to glue pictures on the paper. While the children are busy, say: Jesus loved people and wanted to help them. Jesus told the people to not be afraid, but to believe Him. Open the Bible to Mark 5:36 and point to the words. Say: The words Jesus said to the people are written in the Bible. When we read the Bible, we learn about the things Jesus said and did. Show the picture on the Activity Page as you tell the children the Bible story. PLAY WITH A MEDICAL KIT Tools: Bible, toy medical kit, 2 baby dolls, Story Picture: A Woman and Girl Get Well (Pack) Encourage children to use the medical instruments to care for the dolls. Talk with children about their experiences visiting the doctor s office or being sick at home. Turn to Mark 5 and say: The Bible tells about a time when a man asked Jesus to make his sick daughter well. Jesus helped the girl. And He did that without having to use any medical tools. People were amazed at the things Jesus did. This made them believe He could help them. Show children the picture and point to Jairus and the woman touching Jesus robe. Tell the Bible story. Tools: Bible, Movement Cube (Pack), December Bible Verse Markers (Pack) Select a child to open the Bible to Mark 5:36. Mark the page with today s Bible Marker. Invite the child to toss the cube. Say: Move your body like the picture shows. Keep moving. Then be still when you hear me say, Help! I can t move! Ask other children to move as well and freeze in place when you speak. Remark: The man in today s Bible story hurried to see Jesus. He believed Jesus could help his daughter get well. The sick woman believed, too. People knew Jesus could help them. Turn to the Bible page marked for today s verse. Lead preschoolers to say the Bible verse and reference. Session 3: Kind Jesus 27
NEXT HOUR NEXT HOUR (MORE EXPLORATIONS FOR PRESCHOOLERS) OPTIONS 1. Continue activities from the first hour. (Kids learn through repetition.) 2. Try something different. Choose two or three new activities. TEXT TRUTH Jesus healed sick people. BIBLE STORY A Woman and Girl Get Well The Bible story is printed on the back of the Story Picture. Mark 5:36 PLAY WITH TOY EMERGENCY VEHICLES Tools: Bible, several toy emergency vehicles, Traffic Signs (Pack Item 30), masking tape, Activity Page Make several roads on the floor, using the masking tape. Position the traffic signs along the roads. Observe preschoolers as they drive the toy vehicles on the roads. Remark that when people are sick or hurt, they often ride in similar vehicles to the hospital or doctor s office. Show the picture on the Activity Page and recall the Bible story. Say: People hurried to Jesus because they believed He could make them well. And Jesus did! He cared about the people and helped them. STAMP LETTERS Tools: Bible; inkpad and letter stamps (M, A, R, K); paper; Bible Name Cards (Pack Item 21) Lay the Mark Bible Name Card on a table with the letter stamps. Guide a child to match the letters to those printed on the Name Card. Say: That word is Mark. Mark wrote about things Jesus did. Mark wrote that Jesus healed sick people. Direct a child to use the stamps to spell the word Mark. Then help her find the Book of Mark in the Bible. Locate Mark 5:36 and read the Bible verse. Encourage the preschooler to say the Bible verse with you. MAKE A JESUS BOOK Tools: Bible, construction paper, lightweight paper, stapler, markers and crayons Fold a sheet of construction paper in half. Fold two sheets of lightweight paper in half. Nest the paper into the construction paper cover and staple all to form a book. Invite a child to write a book and decorate the pages. The child may enjoy drawing pictures of things Jesus did as He helped people. Write the words of the child s story as he dictates story words or phrases. 28 Explore the Bible: Preschool Leader Guide
NEXT HOUR TOSS AND TELL Tools: Bible, beanbag, Story Picture: A Woman and Girl Get Well (Pack Item 3), Jesus-related puzzle, Book: Places Jesus Went (Pack Item 24), children s worship music CD or Enhanced CD Spread the items on the floor. LEADER TIP! Form groups of two or three preschoolers and a teacher. Look at the Activity Page, review the Bible story, and say the Bible verse. Give a child the beanbag to toss on an item. Ask the preschooler to tell how this item can help him or someone else learn about Jesus and things Jesus did. Give help as needed to connect the items to learning about Jesus and why God sent Him. Turn to Mark 5 in the Bible and point to verse 36. Remark: Jesus told the people to believe that He came to help them. Summarize the Bible story and show the Story Picture. CIRCLE TIME GATHER Hide several Bibles in the room. Invite children to join the circle. REVIEW THE BIBLE STORY Place the Story Picture (Pack Item 3) on the floor so everyone can easily see it. Ask questions about the Bible story to help children remember the story. For example, ask: Who hurried to talk to Jesus? Who touched Jesus robe? What did Jesus tell the people? PRACTICE BIBLE SKILLS Remark: That story is in the Bible. Let s find some Bibles in our room. Direct children to locate the hidden Bibles. Then suggest preschoolers arrange the Bibles by size, smallest to largest. Comment that all the Bibles have the same stories about Jesus. PRAY Thank God for sending Jesus to help people. DON T FORGET! Give every child this week s Activity Page and Preschool Family Card. Look for printable Next Hour helps on the Preschool Enhanced CD. Session 3: Kind Jesus 29