YEA Lesson Library
A Father’s Faith
About This Lesson
Using the story of Jesus healing Jairus’ daughter, this lesson teaches the student to have faith in God and to ask when he needs God’s help.
Scriptures
Matthew 9:18-26
Mark 5:22-43
Mark 5:36
Luke 8:41-56
Romans 4:20-21
Romans 5:1-2
Romans 10:6-10
I Corinthians 15:54-56
2 Corinthians 4:13-15
2 Timothy 1:12-13
Hebrews 2:14-15
Words to Know
MIRACLE - a wonderful thing only God can do
The Lesson
It was the first day of school. The halls were crowded with parents and students. Everyone was looking for his classroom. Parents held the hands of kindergarten children. Older kids talked to friends and last year’s teachers. It was very noisy. Kids pushed and shoved.
It was like that when Jesus walked through Capernaum. The people heard that Jesus was in town. They pushed and shoved, just like in school. Everyone wanted to get close to Jesus. They wanted to see Him and hear Him teach. Jairus lived in Capernaum with his wife and daughter. His daughter had been sick for a long time. There were no hospitals as we have today. The doctor did all he could do. But the little girl didn’t get any better. Her parents worried as she got worse and worse.
Jairus heard that Jesus was in town. Jesus had made blind men see and crippled men walk. Could Jesus make Jairus’ daughter well? “Yes, I must believe,” thought Jairus. He had no other choice. He hurried to join the crowd in the street and pushed his way through the people. He could see Jesus. He wanted to speak to Him. Jesus just had to come and see his daughter.
Finally he got to where Jesus was. The man bowed to the ground. “Master, my daughter is very sick,” he said. “I believe she is dying. Please come and make her well again.”
Jesus saw Jairus was worried. He knew the man loved his daughter. Jesus said, “I will come.” But it was hard to get to Jairus’ house. Everyone wanted to talk to Jesus. They had questions for Him. Some wanted Him to heal them. Some just wanted to be near Jesus. What would it be like to be so close to Jesus?
Jesus stopped to heal a very sick woman. Then a servant said that it was too late for Jesus to come. Jairus’ daughter was already dead. Poor Jairus! Jesus said, “Don’t be afraid, only believe.” He told Jairus that his daughter would be okay.
Many people were at Jairus’ house. They were all crying because the little girl was dead. But Jesus said, “She is not dead—she is just sleeping.” He sent everyone away except her parents. Jesus went to the little girl’s bed. He told her to get up. How could she get up if she was dead? She started moving. She sat up in bed. Jesus said, “Bring her something to eat.”
Everyone was very happy. Jairus believed in Jesus and trusted His power. Now his little girl was alive again. It was a miracle! News like this spreads fast. Soon everyone knew that Jesus had healed the little girl.
Have you ever been afraid or worried? Jesus wants to help you during those times. He says He will never leave you. He says that He is stronger than our enemies. Jesus is ready to help you if you will just ask Him.
Student Prayer
Dear Father, Thank you for loving me and helping me when I am in trouble. Help me to believe your Word and trust in you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Daily Devotions
Sunday - Romans 4:20-21
Monday - Romans 5:1-2
Tuesday - Romans 10:6-10
Wednesday - 2 Corinthians 4:13-15
Thursday - Hebrews 2:14-15
Friday - I Corinthians 15:54-56
Saturday - 2 Timothy 1:12-13
Objectives
At the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
1. Identify Capernaum as a busy city by the Sea of Galilee.
2. Understand why Jairus was so upset.
3. Explain why Jairus wanted to get to Jesus.
4. State what Jesus said when the servant told Jairus that his daughter was dead.
5. Know that Jesus wants us to believe and trust in Him.
Topics & Themes
Capernaum
Faith (Belief)
Fear
God’s Love
God’s Protection
Jairus
Jesus, His Miracles
Healing
Prayer
Resurrection
Preparation
Primaries are eager learners, and the right kinds of questions can stimulate their discovery skills. Bring a map of the Holy Land to class large enough for the children to read.
This is the last lesson in this book. The extra memory assignment for this book was John 14:1-6. Some of the older children may have learned all six verses, and the younger children the first three verses. Award each a small gift for their diligent work and for loving Jesus enough to learn these verses.
How to Teach This Lesson
Using your map, ask one of the older children to point to the Sea of Galilee. Then ask another child to find the city of Capernaum. Explain that it is on the northwestern shore of the Sea. Since the city was located on the Sea of Galilee, ask: What do you think the people of Capernaum did for a living? (Many of the men were fishermen.) Do you remember what some of Jesus’ disciples were doing when He called them to follow Him? (Some were fishing.) Explain that Jesus and the disciples spent much time in and around Capernaum and were well-known in the city.
Personal application is the key to bringing home abstract concepts. The right sequence of questions will lead children to their own discovery of the truth. Ask: Why do you think there were so many people gathered around Jesus? Did they just love Jesus because of what He could do for them?
Ask: When someone in your family is sick, what usually happens? (They may give such answers as: call a minister to pray for them, call the doctor, give them medicine, take their temperature, put them to bed, take them to the hospital, etc.) Explain that Jairus did some of these same things for his daughter. But, when they failed to help her, he did the most important thing—he talked to Jesus. Help children understand that Jesus wants us to talk to Him when we are worried or afraid. Ask: What does the memory verse say we are to do when we are worried or afraid? (“Be not afraid, only believe.”) What do you think Jesus wants us to believe about Him? (That He loves us. That He cares about us when we are afraid or sick. That He can take care of us and heal us. That He answers our prayers.)
On his way to Jairus’ house, Jesus stopped to heal a very sick woman. It was then that the servant told Jairus that his daughter was dead. Ask: How do you think Jairus must have felt? What did Jesus tell him?
We serve a Savior who is able to do all things. He was there when everything was created. He knew that He had the power to bring the girl back to life. Jesus was not worried, and He didn’t want Jairus to worry either. Ask: When we know Jesus is with us, is there any reason for us to be afraid?
Review Questions
1. Why do you think Jairus wanted to see Jesus?
2. When the servant told Jairus that his daughter was dead, what did Jesus say?
3. Why was Jesus able to make the girl well?
4. What does Jesus want us to believe about Him?
Teacher-Directed Activity
Stronger Than Anything Game
This game will reinforce the memory verse and emphasize God’s power. Ask: What are some things that are scary for you? What do you do when you’re scared? The teacher begins the game by being “it” and the children are to keep away from her. If she tags a child, he/ she must “freeze” like a statue until another person tags them and says, “Be not afraid, only believe.” Then the child may continue to play.
Play the game for a few minutes, then choose one of the children to be “it.” Remember to say, “Be not afraid, only believe,” to unfreeze someone.
At the end of the game, remind children that God is more powerful than anything. There is no need for them to be frozen with fear!
REACH Activity
Special Materials:
empty two-liter soda bottle, acrylic paint, sharp kitchen shears, fishing line, hole punch, permanent marker
1. Jairus was an important man in Capernaum. What kind of job did he have? Use a Bible dictionary or encyclopedia to find out. Write the information in your Bible notebook.
2. Jairus had heard that Jesus healed the blind and the lame. Use your Bible and concordance to find two Scriptures that tell of when Jesus performed these miracles. Tell the stories to someone else.
3. Why did Jairus call Jesus “Master”? Talk it over with your family. Use your Bible and concordance to find more information. Write the information you and your family find in your Bible notebook.
4. Many people wanted to talk to Jesus. Some needed healing, and some just wanted to be near Him. If you were close enough to Jesus to touch Him what would you do or say? Write your answer in your Bible notebook. Remember, some day you will be with Him!
5. How do you think the servant felt when he told Jairus his daughter had died? How do you think he felt when he heard Jesus tell Jairus that she was not dead? Write your answer in your Bible notebook.
6. Find Mark 5:24-34. Read about the woman Jesus healed on his way to Jairus’ house. Draw a picture of the woman following Jesus through the crowd. Share the picture and the story with someone else.
7. Read Psalm 56:3 to your family. Together find at least two Scriptures about trusting Jesus. Talk about what they mean and how to trust Jesus even more.
8. Who wrote “Trust and Obey” on page 193 of the CEM Hymnal? Find out more information about this song and write it in your Bible notebook. Learn the song and teach it to someone else.
9. Practice your verse by sharing it at dinner each night until the whole family has it memorized. Take turns around the table and let everyone share why they believe in Jesus and why they will not be afraid.
10. Sing: “Isn’t He Wonderful?” on page 42 of Kids Classics Collection.
11. With acrylic paints, decorate an empty two-liter soda bottle. When the paint is dry, cut the top and bottom off, using sharp kitchen shears. With a hole punch, punch two holes opposite each other in the top of the bottle. Thread fishing line through the holes and tie. Cut two inch strips at an angle, from bottom to within two inches of the top. With a permanent marker, write the memory verse on the strips. Hang the completed wind decoration outside on the porch where the wind can catch it and make it twirl.
12. Sing: “Whisper a Prayer” on page 57 of Kids Classics Collection.
13. Role play this week’s YEA lesson. Be sure to read Mark 5:21-43 first.
14. Divide a paper into four parts. In the first part, draw a picture of Jairus coming to Jesus to ask Him to heal his daughter. In part two, draw the woman touching Jesus’ cloak. In the third part, draw the crowd outside Jairus’ house, wailing because his daughter had died. In the fourth part, draw Jesus telling Jairus’ daughter to get up.
15. Pretend you are Jairus. What would you write in your journal first thing in the morning, knowing that your daughter is dying and you need to ask the Master to heal her? How would you be feeling? Write another journal entry for that evening once Jesus has healed your daughter. How do you feel now?
16. Pretend you are Jairus’ daughter at 50 years old and you have grandchildren all around you. Retell the story of what Jesus did for you when you were 12 years old.
17. Write an acrostic poem retelling the story, using A F-A-T-H-E-R-S F-A-I-T-H.
18. Do a sword drill with this week’s Daily Devotionals. As you read the Scriptures, what do they make you think about in this week’s lesson?
Song
“Standin’ In The Need Of Prayer” is on page 53 of the Kids Classics Collection.
Closing Prayer
Ask one of the children to lead in prayer, thanking God for His love and help when we are in trouble.
Printable Pages
