Jesus Rides a Donkey

Jesus Rides a Donkey
(picture lds.org)

As Jesus and the disciples approached Jerusalem, they came to the town of Bethphage on the Mount of Olives. Jesus sent two of them on ahead. “Go into the village over there,” he said. “As soon as you enter it, you will see a donkey tied there, with its colt beside it. Untie them and bring them to me.  If anyone asks what you are doing, just say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will immediately let you take them.”

This took place to fulfill the prophecy that said,

 “Tell the people of Jerusalem,
    ‘Look, your King is coming to you.
He is humble, riding on a donkey—
    riding on a donkey’s colt.’”

The two disciples did as Jesus commanded. They brought the donkey and the colt to him and threw their garments over the colt, and he sat on it.

 Most of the crowd spread their garments on the road ahead of him, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.  Jesus was in the center of the procession, and the people all around him were shouting,

“Praise God for the Son of David!
    Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
    Praise God in highest heaven!”

 The entire city of Jerusalem was in an uproar as he entered. “Who is this?” they asked.

And the crowds replied, “It’s Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”

( Bible Version NLT )

Jesus walks on water....

Swimming lessons
picture wogglegoggle.com

Do you like to swim and play in water? Maybe you have taken some swimming lessons. Do you think that your swimming instructor could walk on top of the water? No? Today I want to tell you a story about Jesus and how he walked on water. We need to always remember that water is fun but it can also be dangerous and we have to always be very careful while swimming or playing in water. So let's begin our Bible story.

Jesus walks on water
picture from purechristians.org

Jesus had just finished giving food to more than 5000 people, and now as Jesus was telling the people they could go to their own homes , he also wanted the disciples to go across the lake to a town called Bethsaida. Jesus said good bye to everyone and then he went up into the hills because he wanted to spend time alone with God in prayer. As the night came, the disciples were on the lake rowing the boat. A storm came there that night and it became very hard to row the boat because the wind was very strong and the waves were crashing into the side of the boat. About 3 o'clock in the night Jesus came walking toward the boat. Jesus was walking on the water!! The disciples saw Jesus but they did not know it was Jesus. They were afraid because they thought it was a ghost and they cried out in terror. The disciples were very scared.
Then Jesus spoke to them, he told them to not be afraid. Jesus said "Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid".  Then Peter said "Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water."
Then Jesus said "Come!"  So Peter climbed out of the boat and began to walk toward Jesus on the water. But then Peter looked at the waves and saw how strong the wind was blowing, he became afraid and then he started to sink! He cried out to Jesus! "Save me, Lord!" Right away Jesus reached out his hand and caught him and Jesus said to Peter "Of you of little faith, why did you doubt?" Immediately the they got into the boat and the wind became calm. Then all the disciples in the boat worshiped Jesus and said "Truly You are the Son of God.”

Jesus rescues Peter
picture from just4kidsmagazine.com

Discussion 
In our story today we see Jesus do a wonderful miracle. It was a miracle to walk on the water! We also learn that Jesus is always ready to help us. Just like Jesus heard Peter call out for help, Jesus hears us when we call out to him for help. Jesus reached out his hand and caught Peter and so also Jesus is reaching out his hand to us. Jesus is strong and he is dependable and real.  We can always go to Jesus with all our problems - big problems and little problems. Jesus is always there for us. Reach out to Jesus today!

picture from ministryoffruitfulfellowship

A Poor Woman Gives Two Coins

The poor widow gives two coins
(thewidow'smite.net)

One day Jesus and his disciples were in the temple. Jesus sat down near the collection box. He watched as the people gave money to the temple. He saw that many rich people were putting very much money into the collection box. Then Jesus noticed a widow coming. To be a widow means that the lady's husband had died and so she was very much alone. This widow was very poor. Jesus saw that she put two small coins into the collection box. When he saw this, Jesus called his disciples and said to them "Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury;  for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood."

What Jesus was saying is that in God's eyes this poor widow had given more than any of the other rich people who had donated many coins. The other rich people gave money that they did not really need for daily living, that is they gave some of their extra money.  But this poor widow gave all her money. She didn't have any extra money. She gave the money that she needed to buy food and other things that are needed for daily living. In God's eyes, this poor widow gave more than all the other people. 

For discussion:
Jesus sees what is in our hearts. He sees all our feelings and thoughts. He sees and knows everything that we think, feel, say or do, and He loves us. Jesus wants us to have love and compassion in our hearts. He wants that we do things for Him because of our love for Him and because of our love for other people. We are not looking for other people's approval or trying to be popular. We just want to live for Jesus because we love Him.

Jesus makes food for more than 5000 hungry people....

Imagine that you are playing outside, maybe you and your sister or brother or friend have been outside a very long time. Maybe you have been riding your bike or playing in the park. Suddenly you notice how hungry you are. What do you think you would like to eat? Well today I want to tell you a Bible story about some very hungry people, actually there were more than 5000 very hungry people. So let's begin, okay? 

Five loaves and two fish 
( picture eurasiablogIcm.org)

Many people followed Jesus wherever he went. Some people came because they needed to be healed of some sickness and others came because they wanted to see Jesus do miracles. And others came because Jesus always taught the people and he showed them how to love and help people. One day the people again had been with Jesus and his disciples all day. Now it was evening time and the people needed to go back to their homes. So the disciples came to Jesus and suggested that he should send the people away. They said "This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away so they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves." But Jesus said "They need not go away;you give them something to eat." Then the disciples said to Jesus “We have only five loaves here and two fish.” Then Jesus said “Bring them here to me.” 

Jesus looks up to heaven as he blesses the food.
(picture lds.org)

Jesus told the crowds to sit down on the grass. Then Jesus took the five loaves of bread and the two fish, he looked up toward heaven and blessed the food. Then Jesus broke the bread and fish in pieces. The disciples handed it out to the hungry people who were sitting on the grass. Everyone was served and was given bread and fish to eat! It was a miracle! All the people had plenty to eat and still there was more food. The disciples gathered up all the leftovers into large baskets. There were 12 baskets full of leftovers!
There were so many people! The Bible says that there were 5000 men and also many women and children. When everyone had finished eating, Jesus let the people go back to their homes.

12 baskets of leftovers
(picture youtube)

For Discussion:
Let's imagine being there in this story. Can you picture yourself with your family? There you are sitting on the grass, there are so very many people. You are watching Jesus now as he looks up to heaven to bless the food. Then he begins to break it in pieces. You see the disciples begin handing it out. Do you think you would wonder if there would be enough food for your family? And can you imagine how delicious the bread and fish would taste. I think Jesus would make the best bread ever, don't you? From this story we can learn that Jesus cares about all that we need every day. He cares that we have food to eat and clothes to wear. He cares that we can sleep at night and that we are safe. The Bible says that God is watching over us, that He loves us and that He will never ever stop loving us. Jesus is our very best friend ever! Thank You Jesus!

Jesus heals a man who has leprosy.

Today I would like to tell you a story about Jesus, a story where Jesus heals a very sick man. We need to always remember that all the stories in the Bible are true stories. Jesus really did do this wonderful miracle and the man really did get healed.

One day when Jesus was in the village, a man came to him. The Bible does not tell us the man's name but it says that he had a very bad sickness called leprosy. Leprosy caused the man to be very sick with very bad sores on his body.  Everyone was afraid of a person with leprosy because it spread very easily and quickly to other people, and there was no medicine that could cure it.

The man with leprosy begs Jesus to heal him.
(picture - rythmontherock.com )

This man with leprosy came to Jesus and he bowed his face down right to the ground before Jesus. He begged Jesus to make him well. The man said "Lord, if you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean."

Then Jesus did an amazing thing. He reached out his hand and touched the man with leprosy. You need to remember that leprosy was very contagious and it spread to other people very easily, but Jesus was not afraid at all.  When Jesus touched the man, he showed that he is Lord over all sicknesses and diseases. Then Jesus said "I am willing, be healed." The leprosy instantly left the man and he was completely healed, all his sores were gone. The man was completely healthy again! He must have been so very very happy. Now he could go back home to his family again. Now he people would not be afraid of him anymore.

Jesus told the man that he should not tell anyone about this, except that he should go to the priest to be checked. It was the job of the priest to see people who were healed. Everyone could see the great miracle that Jesus had done.

Jesus Changes Water into Wine

Today I want to tell you a very interesting story about Jesus. Jesus did a big miracle in this story. Have you ever been to a wedding? A wedding is a celebration where a man and a woman become married and become husband and wife. It is a very happy day, Well one day Jesus and his mother and his disciples were invited to a wedding. I think it would have been a very happy day. The wedding was in a place called Cana.  

Jesus turns water into wine
(photo -pixshark.com)

As the wedding celebration was in progress, they ran out of wine. There was not any left for the guests any more. When Jesus's mother found out about this problem, she came to Jesus and told him about it. She knew Jesus would know what to do. Then Jesus's mother told the servants at the wedding to do whatever Jesus would tell them to do. 
Now there was still plenty of water available at the wedding feast. Then Jesus instructed the servants to take six water pots and fill each of them full of water. Each water pot could hold approximately twenty to thirty gallons of water. So the servants filled the water pots with the water - a very large amount of water. They filled each jar right up to the brim. 
Then Jesus said to the servants that now they should dip some of it out of the water pot and take it to the governor of the wedding feast. 

Jesus had changed the water into wine
( photo swordofthespirit.net )

The governor was the taste tester. He had to make sure everything tasted just right for the wedding. So the servants obey Jesus and dipped some out of the water pots. To their surprise the water had been changed! Jesus had changed the water into wine! It was a miracle! The servants took the water that was changed to wine to the governor for a taste test. They did not tell the governor what Jesus had done. When the governor tasted the water that was changed to wine, he began to wonder why they had saved the best wine for the last. Most people would serve the best first, but here the best was saved till the last! We know why this wine was the best  - it was because Jesus  made it. Jesus is perfect in all that he does!
When the disciples saw the miracle that Jesus had done, they believed in him. They believed that Jesus is the Son of God and He is our Savior!


For Discussion:

In our story today Jesus helped people. There was a problem that needed fixing. It is right that we always ask Jesus for help with our problems. He knows exactly what we need and He knows the best way to fix our problems.

Some people cannot understand why Jesus would change water into wine. The Bible says it is a sin to become drunk and it even says in 1 Corinthians 6:10 that drunk people cannot be in heaven. "Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God"  So we are certain that Jesus would not make wine that would make people drunk. The most likely is that this wine was special and sweet and not harmful to anyone. 

Jesus heals a blind man....

Jesus and his disciples were in Jericho. When they left the town, many people followed Jesus. There by the side of the road was a blind man. His name was Bartimaeus. He was sitting there because he was begging for things from the people that passed by. Because he was blind, he would not have been able to work so that is why he needed to beg. 

Bartimaeus heard that Jesus was coming along the road and he began to shout to Jesus. This is what Bartimaeus said "Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me!" He was crying out to Jesus for help! The people around him told Bartimeaus to be quiet and to hold his peace. But Bartimaeus did not want to miss his chance to be healed so he called out even louder. Bartimaeus shouted again "Thou son of David, have mercy on me!"

Then Jesus heard Bartimaeus calling and Jesus stopped. Jesus told the people "Tell him to come here." So the people told  Bartimaeus Jesus was calling him to come. Bartimaeus was so happy! He threw down his coat and came to Jesus. Then Jesus asked him "What do you want me to do for you?" And Bartimaeus said "Rabboni, that I may receive my sight." 

Jesus heals blind Bartimaeus
( picture kidsclub4jesus.com) 

What do you think happened next?

The Bible says that Jesus healed Bartimaeus. Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your faith has made you well." Bartimaeus could see again! Can you imagine how happy he was? Now he would not ever need to sit and beg for food again! Jesus had made him to see again and he was not blind anymore!

The Bible says that Bartimaeus followed Jesus. I think that Jesus was very pleased to have Bartimaeus come along with him, don't you?

Discussion:

Pray
(pixshark.com)

There is a good lesson for us in this story. Just like Jesus heard Bartimaeus calling for him, Jesus hears us when we call out to him today. There was so much noise all around and people were trying to make Bartimaeus be quiet, but Jesus still heard him call and Jesus wanted to help him. In the very same way, Jesus hears you and me when we call to him and he wants to help us too. So let's remember to never let anyone or anything ever stop us from calling out to Jesus. Let's keep praying to Jesus and trusting him to help us. Jesus loves us and he is always there for us!

Jesus hears when children pray to Him.
(pinterest.com)

Zacchaeus Climbs a Tree

One day Jesus went to the town of Jericho. Many people were excited to see Jesus and they crowded around him.  A man named Zacchaeus was excited too and he wanted to see Jesus too. Many people did not like Zacchaeus very much because his job was to collect tax money, and he cheated people out of their money when he collected the taxes. Zacchaeus was a very rich man but he was also a very short man. He was not tall at all. As the crowd of people made their way out to see Jesus, Zacchaeus also went to see Jesus. But because he was so short, he could not see Jesus over the crowds. Then Zacchaeus had an idea. He ran ahead of the crowd and climbed up a tree. It was a sycamore tree and Zacchaeus knew Jesus would pass by that way very soon. He was sure he would be able to get a glimpse of Jesus from up in the tree! But would Jesus notice him?

  Zacchaeus in the tree
(picture - chanthinenmy.org )

Can you imagine this? There is Zacchaeus sitting in the tree and waiting for Jesus to pass by. As he watched, Jesus came! Then a very unexpected thing happened. Jesus stopped right by the tree. Jesus looked up right at Zacchaeus. Then Jesus said "Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today."( ESV ) This made Zacchaeus very very happy and he hurried down from the tree. And Jesus went with Zacchaeus to his home to spend time with him.

The people that saw and heard this began to grumble and they said “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner."( ESV )The people said this because they knew that Zacchaeus cheated them when he collected their tax money. But Jesus loves every one and He wants to save all of us, no matter what bad things we have done, He still loves us. Jesus came to save all of us!

After Jesus had stayed with Zacchaeus, Zacchaeus was a changed man. Now he wanted to do what is right. He did not want to live the life of a cheater any more. Then Zacchaeus said "I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!”( NLT )  Then Jesus said "Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham.  For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost." (ESV) Jesus was very happy because Zacchaeus believed in Him. Zacchaeus was saved that very day! Jesus came to help and to save all of us. He looks for us and finds us, just like He found Zacchaeus up in the tree. He came to save you and me, it does not matter if we are short or tall, younger or older, everyone is special to Jesus!