Wednesday, January 15, 2014

A Hole in the Roof

Luke 5:17-26

One day Jesus was teaching the people. The Pharisees and teachers of the law were there, too. They had come from every town in Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem. The Lord was giving Jesus the power to heal people. There was a man who was paralyzed. Some men were carrying him on a mat. They tried to bring him in and put him down before Jesus. But because there were so many people there, they could not find a way to Jesus. So the men went up on the roof and made a hole in the ceiling. They lowered the man so that the paralyzed man was lying right before Jesus. Jesus saw that these men believed. So he said to the sick man, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”

The Jewish teachers of the law and the Pharisees thought to themselves, “Who is this man? He is saying things that are against God! Only God can forgive sins.”

But Jesus knew what they were thinking. He said, ‘Why do you have thoughts like that in your hearts? Which is easier: to tell this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,” or to tell him, ‘Stand up and walk’? But I will prove to you that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “I tell you, stand up! Take your mat and go home.”

Then the man stood up before the people there. He picked up his mat and went home, praising God. All the people were fully amazed and began to praise God. They were filled with much respect and said, “Today we have seen amazing things!”

Discussion Questions

  • What did God give Jesus the power to do?   Heal people & forgive sins.
  • Who brought the paralyzed man to see Jesus? His friends.
  • How did they get the man to Jesus? They made a hole in the roof and lowered him down.
  • What did Jesus say to the paralyzed man? “Friend, your sins are forgiven.  I tell you, stand up! Take your mat and go home!” 


Prayer

Dear God,Thank you for the story of Jesus healing the paralyzed man.  Thank you for reminding us that you do amazing things.Amen.



Bible Verse for January

“A friend loves at all times.”   Proverbs 17:17

Activity: Friendly Elevator

Materials:
  • 1 big box
  • Pillow
  • 2 pieces of rope or yarn
  • Baby doll


Guide Your Child To:
  • Lay out the two pieces of rope on the floor so they are parallel to each other
  • Put the pillow on top so it is on top of both pieces of rope
  • Lay the doll on top of the pillow
  • Hold one piece of the rope while you hold the other piece (this would really work well if there are 4 friends or family members who can help with this; then each person will hold one end of the rope, just like in the story)
  • Pick the “man on the mat” up and then lower him into the box, just like the friends in the story lower him through the roof in front of Jesus.


Talk About:
  • Why did the friends lower the man on a mat?
  • How would you feel if you were one of the people who saw this miracle take place?
  • If you were crippled like this man and Jesus healed you so you could walk again, what would you do?