Leader Guide

Teaching

Jesus has power and authority over all things. Let’s take a look at some signposts from the Prophet Isaiah in the Old Testament that point to Jesus and the miracles He performed.

1. Hand Mat #1 to a child to unroll and read aloud: Jesus forgives and heals us. See Isaiah 53:5.

Our first signpost points to how Jesus heals us physically and spiritually. Read Isaiah 53:5:

But He was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. We deserved the death penalty for our sins—but Jesus took that punishment for us even though He had never sinned—not even once! He endured unbelievable suffering on the cross so we could be forgiven for our sins and healed of our diseases.

Read Psalm 103:3:

He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases.

ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION FOR GRADES 4–6:

In our video, we saw how Jesus healed the man’s spiritual needs first by forgiving his sins. The religious leaders were upset because they understood that only God can forgive sins. So, when Jesus said the man’s sins were forgiven, they knew He was claiming to have God’s power—and this made them very angry! Jesus calmly asked them which was more difficult to do, heal the man’s body or forgive his sins. He then healed the man who had been paralyzed! Jesus has total power over all sickness and sin!

2. Hand Mat #2 to a child to unroll and read aloud: Jesus sets captives free. See Isaiah 61:1.

Jesus is more powerful than Satan and anything that can hold people down—including every kind of sin, and our own fears. Jesus doesn’t want anything to hold us back from freely loving Him, worshiping Him, and serving Him! When Jesus began His ministry, He quoted from Isaiah. Read Isaiah 61:1:

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon Me, for the Lord has anointed Me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent Me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed.

Jesus will set us free from whatever holds us captive; all we need to do is ask Him and have faith in His Word!

ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION FOR GRADES 4–6:

Isaiah wrote these prophecies more than 700 years before Jesus was born. No ordinary human could do these miracles—only the Son of God! Jesus’ miracles revealed the love and power of God the Father to His people here on Earth.

3. Hand Mat #3 to a child to unroll and read aloud: Jesus opens blind eyes. See Isaiah 35:5–6.

This signpost points to how Jesus heals people. Read Isaiah 35:5-6a:

And when He comes, He will open the eyes of the blind and unplug the ears of the deaf. The lame will leap like a deer, and those who cannot speak will sing for joy!

Now, as I read it again, let’s count all the things Jesus will heal! He will open the eyes of the blind — 1, and unplug the ears of the deaf — 2. The lame will leap like a deer 3, and those who cannot speak will sing for joy - 4! Briefly discuss each one to make sure children understand the meaning. Are these the only things Jesus will heal? No—Jesus can heal anything!

ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION FOR GRADES 4-6:

Read John 9:1-3, 6-7

As Jesus was walking along, He saw a man who had been blind from birth. “Rabbi,” His disciples asked Him, “why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents’ sins?” “It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins,” Jesus answered. “This happened so the power of God could be seen in him.” Then He spit on the ground, made mud with the saliva, and spread the mud over the blind man’s eyes. He told him, “Go wash yourself in the pool of Siloam” (Siloam means “sent”). So the man went and washed and came back seeing!

Jesus was fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy when He healed this man, who was born blind. The disciples asked if his blindness was a result of sin, but Jesus said no—this was part of God’s plan to bring glory to Him.

Read Mark 7:32-35:

A deaf man with a speech impediment was brought to Him, and the people begged Jesus to lay His hands on the man to heal Him. Jesus led him away from the crowd so they could be alone. He put His fingers into the man’s ears. Then, spitting on His own fingers, He touched the man’s tongue. Looking up to heaven, He sighed and said, … “Be opened!” Instantly the man could hear perfectly, and his tongue was freed so he could speak plainly!

This is another amazing miracle that Jesus did. When people are born deaf, it is very hard for them to learn how to speak plainly because they can’t hear what words sound like. But here the man was healed instantly, so he could both hear and speak clearly! This was two miracles in one!

4. Hand Mat #4 to a child to unroll and read aloud: Jesus raises the dead. See Isaiah 26:19.

This signpost points to Jesus’ power to raise the dead. Read Isaiah 26:19:

But those who die in the Lord will live; their bodies will rise again! Those who sleep in the earth will rise up and sing for joy! For your life-giving light will fall like dew on your people in the place of the dead!

Jesus fulfilled this prophecy when He raised a man named Lazarus, a girl named Tabitha, and a widow’s son from the dead. Plus, God raised Jesus from the dead after He died on the cross!

ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION FOR GRADES 4-6:

The Bible tells what happened when Jesus visited Lazarus’ tomb. Read John 11:39-44:

“Roll the stone aside,” Jesus told them. But Martha, the dead man’s sister, protested, “Lord, he has been dead for four days. The smell will be terrible.” Jesus responded, “Didn’t I tell you that you would see God’s glory if you believe?” So they rolled the stone aside. Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, thank You for hearing Me. You always hear Me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe You sent Me.” Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth. Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him go!”

When Jesus’ friend Lazarus died, Jesus wept. He understands our sadness when someone we love dies. But Jesus is more powerful than anything, even death! He prayed to God, called to Lazarus, then His friend who had been dead four days came out of the grave, alive again!

CONCLUSION FOR ALL AGES:

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever! He was a healer in Bible times, He heals now, and He will continue to heal people until He comes back again.

Discipleship Challenge/Practical Application

It’s time to review our Superbook challenge! Hand out the Gizmo Hand Bookmark patterns to children who missed previous lessons. Tell them to take the pattern home, follow the instructions to make the bookmark, and place it in their Bibles. They should look up the scripture on it, read it, and pray for friends or loved ones who need to be healed or to know Jesus. Has anyone already done this challenge? Did you pray for someone who needs to come to Jesus for salvation or healing, and what happened?