The Gospel Project Unit 21:1 Jesus’ Early Miracles
Today’s Bible Lesson is from Mark 1.
People came to Jesus, and He healed them. I want to make sure you noticed two things: first, Jesus consistently had compassion on people who were sick; second, Jesus specifically said that the reason He came was to preach.
Jesus saw the pain and suffering of the people around Him, and He worked to help them. He did not just say, “Oh, that’s sad. I’m sorry you are sick.” He actually met their physical needs by healing them. Jesus is compassionate and kind. He cares about people and wants to help us.
Even though Jesus’ miraculous healings and command over evil spirits were incredible, He wanted His teaching to be the focus of His work. When Jesus wanted to move on, He specifically said that He came to preach. His message of repenting of sin, loving God, and loving people was more important than His power to heal.
It is easy for us to focus only on what God can do for us. We don’t always do a good job remembering what God has commanded us to do. Jesus loves us, and He is able to heal and restore, but He also wants us to love and obey God. The most important healing is not physical, but spiritual. Jesus heals us from the damage caused by sin.
All of us are born as sinners. The Bible says we are dead in sin. We cannot save ourselves. Thankfully, God’s perfect plan was to send His Son, Jesus, to die for our sin and give new life to everyone who believes in Jesus.
Jesus’ miracles proved that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God. They strengthened people’s faith and met their needs. Through Jesus, God did what is impossible for us to do on our own. He provided forgiveness, salvation, and eternal life.
Big Picture Question: What makes people special?
People are special because we are made in God’s image, as male and female, to know Him.
Key Passage: John 3:16- “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only son, that whoever believes in him, will not perish but have eternal life.”
Worship ideas that connect with today’s lesson:
Questions to discuss with your kids after watching the lesson:
Where was the synagogue in which Jesus taught? (Capernaum, Mark 1:21)
Why did Jesus say He came? (to teach, Mark 1:38)
Why did Jesus heal the man with leprosy? (Jesus had compassion on him, Mark 1:41)
What do these miracles show about Jesus? Guide kids to discuss Jesus’ power as God’s Son. Jesus had authority over evil spirits and over the sickness people faced. We also see Jesus’ love and kindness toward people. Jesus meets physical needs and spiritual needs.
Why was Jesus’ preaching more important than His miracles? Help kids understand that Jesus’ miracles helped to show His power and authority, but the purpose was to support the truth of His teaching. A person healed of a sickness might later become sick again and is still spiritually dead in sin. A person who understands Jesus’ teaching and has faith in His death and resurrection is forgiven and gains eternal life.
How can we be like Jesus? Discuss Jesus’ compassion, kindness, and preaching. Help kids see that we can show God’s love in the way we treat others. Explain that our love and kindness will help support the message of truth when we share the gospel. Actions may “speak louder” than words, but words are still essential for explaining the gospel.
Take-away • People came to Jesus, and He healed them. Jesus loves people. His greatest miracle happened when Jesus died and rose again to destroy sin’s power. Everyone who trusts in Jesus is saved from sin and can be healed of the damage sin causes.