Season 2: Only the Messiah Could...
Episode 11: “Jesus Could Heal a Man Born Blind”
Today’s Bible Bite: John 9:1-38

Video Story:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4qZ2KSbdxI (Saddleback Kids)

“Ever since the world began, no one has been able to open the eyes of someone born blind. If this man [Jesus] were not from God, he couldn’t have done it” (John 9:32-33).

One day as Jesus was walking with the disciples, they came across a man who had been born blind. The disciples thought he was born this way as a punishment–God must have punished him or his parents for some wrong act. Jesus corrected their thinking and said that the man’s blindness was not because God was punishing anyone, but because God wanted to demonstrate His great power through him!

Jesus then made some mud and put it on the man’s eyes. He told him to go wash in the pool of Siloam, which he did and amazingly he could now see. This got everyone talking. They had known this man for years as the blind beggar, but here he was able to see! What happened? The man told them Jesus had healed him, but because many of the religious teachers didn’t like Jesus, they refused to believe him. But the man knew who Jesus was–He was the Messiah!

Think about it...

• Sometimes people think that bad stuff only happens because God is punishing someone. Why did Jesus say this man was born blind?
• Jesus made mud and put it on the man’s eyes then told him to go wash. Why didn’t Jesus stick around?
• The people took the man to the religious leaders. Who did the man think Jesus was?
• After the man was kicked out by the religious leaders, Jesus found him. What did the man do when Jesus introduced himself?

Prayer: Thank you, God, that you gave this man his eyesight. Thank you that he had the courage to stand up for Jesus, even before he knew who he was. Help me to be ready to stand up for you, too, and be quick to thank you when you help me.

Season 2: Only the Messiah Could...
Episode 9: “Jesus Could Feed a Crowd”
Today’s Bible Bite: Mark 6:32-44

Video Story:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6rj9cAJrWE (Saddleback Kids)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fGjybUn5bE (Crossroads Kids’ Club)

“They all ate as much as they wanted” (Mark 6:42).

As word spread about Jesus, He got more and more popular and it became harder and harder for He and His disciples to find time for themselves...even to eat! So, one day they left the crowd and sailed to the other side of the lake, but there was a crowd waiting for Him there too! Jesus felt sorry for them, so instead of getting upset, He spent the day teaching them and healing the sick. Towards the end of the day, however, the disciples began encouraging Jesus to send the crowds home to get something to eat. Jesus told Philip, ‘You give them something,’ which of course the disciples thought was crazy!

But Jesus had a plan. A young boy gave Jesus his lunch; He thanked God for the food, had everyone sit down and then they started to pass it out. The boy’s lunch only had five pieces of bread and two small fish in it. The crowd was huge–5,000 men plus their families–so, you might think that wouldn’t be nearly enough. But you’d be wrong! They kept handing out the food and it never ran out. People ate as much as they wanted and there were even leftovers–twelve baskets full!

Think about it...

• Jesus and the disciples had been looking to find some quiet time. Do you ever need a break from people?
• The crowds kept coming, but Jesus didn’t get mad at them. How did Jesus feel? What did He do?
• The disciples wanted Jesus to send the people away; it was getting late. What would you have wanted Jesus to do?
• A small boy shared his lunch. Chances are other people had food too, but didn’t want to share it. What would have happened if no one had been willing to share?
• Jesus made so much food that there were twelve baskets leftover. What would you have done with all that leftover food?

Prayer: Thank you, God, for caring for the people. You taught them, healed them and fed them. Thank you that you can still take care of us. Help me to remember to be like the little boy–willing to share what I have too–so that I can be a part of helping others.

Season 2: Only the Messiah Could...
Episode 8: “Jesus Could Heal by Passing By”
Today’s Bible Bite: Mark 5:21-34

Video Story:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XS7noEiD7NI

“He said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering’” (Mark 5:34).

One day, Jesus was asked to go and help a very sick girl and He agreed. Lots of people followed along because they wanted to see what Jesus would do. There was a woman in the crowd who had been sick for a very long time–12 years! She had gone to many doctors, but she had only gotten worse, not better. She believed if she could just touch Jesus’ clothes she would get better.

It sounds crazy, but that’s exactly what happened. The instant she touched Jesus, she could feel that she was healed....and Jesus felt it too! He turned around to the crowd and asked who had touched Him. Jesus’ disciples thought this was a really strange question to ask; Jesus was surrounded by a large crowd and many people had! But Jesus knew that only one person had touched Him and had the faith that it would heal her. When the woman admitted it was her, Jesus assured her that God had healed her because of her faith and because He loved her.
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Think about it...

• This lady had been sick for a long time, but still hoped she could get better. Have you ever been sick like that?
• She heard that Jesus was nearby and believed that He could heal her. Is there something you need Jesus’ help with?
• Jesus wanted to know who had touched Him. Why do you think He insisted on her coming forward?
• She had faith that just by touching Jesus she would be made well. What did Jesus tell her had made her well?

​Prayer: Thank you, God, that you promise to help us. Our faith in you is very important to you. Please help us to trust you and believe in your ability to do so, just like this woman did.

Season 2: Only the Messiah Could...
Episode 6: “Jesus Could Free People from Demons”
Today’s Bible Bite: Mark 5:1-20

Video Story:
Note to Parents: Please view stories first to see which is the most appropriate for your family.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFebxlsO9Sk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8U6HGVlJGU

“Go home to your family, and tell them everything the Lord has done for you and how merciful he has been” (Mark 5:19).

One day, Jesus met a man who was in terrible trouble. This man was controlled by demons and they made him behave very badly. Demons are evil spirits who hate God and people. The man could not get rid of the demons–he needed God to help him. When Jesus saw him, He knew immediately what had to be done. He told the demons to go away! And they had to; they had no choice because Jesus is stronger than any evil spirits.
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But they still wanted to cause trouble and asked Jesus to send them into a herd of pigs. We don’t know why Jesus gave them permission, but He did, and the demons made the herd of pigs stampede off a cliff and drown in the sea. The people of the town were scared of Jesus. He had rescued the man, but all their pigs (about 2,000) had drowned. The people asked Jesus to leave. The man who was now free of the demons wanted to go with Jesus, but He told him to stay and tell others about how God had helped him. He did just that, telling everyone in the surrounding towns and villages.

Think about it...

• Demons hate God and people. How did evil spirits cause this man to behave?
• God is more powerful than demons. What happened when Jesus told the demons to leave?
• Jesus gave them permission to go into a herd of pigs. What happened?
• The people of the town were scared of Jesus. Why?
• The man was so thankful that he wanted to go with Jesus. But what did Jesus tell him to do?

Prayer: Thank you, God, that we don’t need to be scared of demons. They have to obey you because you are stronger than evil spirits. When we choose to follow you, you protect us. Thank you for this story of how Jesus freed the man from demons; we know that you are able to keep us safe too!

Season 2: Only the Messiah Could...
Episode 6: “Jesus Could Calm a Storm”
Today’s Bible Bite: Matthew 8:23-27

Video Story:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYLHqdSO9OY (Saddleback Kids)

“The disciples were amazed. ‘Who is this man?’ they asked. ‘Even the winds and waves obey him’” (Matthew 8:27)!

After a very busy day of teaching people and healing the sick, Jesus was tired and needed some time to rest. He told the disciples to take their boat to the other side of the lake; once they were on the water, Jesus fell asleep. And He would have continued to sleep except that the disciples woke Him up. They were in a panic! A storm had begun and was threatening to sink the boat...how could Jesus sleep at a time like this?

Jesus saw how scared they were. Why hadn’t they woken Him up in the first place to help them instead of trying to get through the storm on their own? Why were they so scared when He was there to help them? He got up, told the storm to settle down and everything turned instantly calm. The disciples were astounded...Jesus could not only heal people, He could make the weather obey Him too!

Think about it...

• Jesus was very tired and needed rest, but that doesn’t explain how He could sleep through a terrible storm. Why do you think Jesus could sleep at a time like this?
• Sometimes we have ‘storms’ that scare us. What ‘storms’ have you experienced?
• The disciples tried to get to the other side without Jesus’ help, but couldn’t. Why was Jesus disappointed with them?
• When we ask God to help us with a problem, we have confidence that God will help us. What ‘storms’ would you like Jesus to help you with?

Prayer: Thank you, God, that You are bigger than any storms. Thank you that You are always ready and willing to help us. You don’t always take the storm away, but we can have confidence that You will help us. We don’t have to be scared!

​Season 2: Only the Messiah Could...
Episode 5: “Jesus Could Raise the Dead”
Today’s Bible Bite: Luke 7:11-17

Video Story:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHZ3dirlHdo (Quiz Worx)
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“When the Lord saw her, his heart overflowed with compassion. ‘Don’t cry!’ he said” (Luke 7:13).

Jesus traveled to many towns and villages. One day, when He arrived at Nain, He noticed a large crowd of mourners coming out of the town. A boy had died and his mother and the mourners were going to the place where his body would be buried. Jesus knew that this was the only son of this widow, who had already lost her husband, and He felt sorry for her.

He told the boy to live again...and he did! Jesus then gave the boy back to his astonished mother. All the people who witnessed this miracle were amazed. Many recognized that Jesus was someone special and gave thanks to God for what He had done for this woman and her son.

Think about it...

• This story is about how Jesus cared for this woman. How does Jesus feel when He sees her?
• She had already lost her husband and now her son had died. How did Jesus show her that He cared for her?
• Jesus told the boy to live again...and he did! Have you ever seen God do a miracle?
• The people recognized that it was God that had performed the miracle. Can God still do miracles today?

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Prayer: Thank you, God, for helping this lady and for making her son live again. Thank you that you can help us too, even when things seem impossible. Please help me to always trust that you care for me.

Video Story:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cmppSIQUX4 (Saddleback Kids)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VL8DThllZAY (The Chosen)

“When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven. Pick up you mat and go home’” (Mark 2:5,11).

Word was spreading quickly that Jesus was healing people, so much so that it was hard for Jesus to get any quiet time–the crowds just kept coming! One day, He was teaching the people from a house, but it got crowded really fast. Some men had heard that Jesus was there, so they brought their friend who couldn’t walk to the house; when they arrived there were too many people to get to Jesus. But that didn’t stop them. They climbed up onto the roof, made a hole and lowered their friend down on ropes right in front of Jesus.

Jesus saw that they believed He could heal their friend, but He also saw that he needed one more thing...to be forgiven! So Jesus both forgave the man and healed his body too–He made the man well both physically and spiritually. The man did as Jesus told him–he picked up the mat his friends had carried him on, walked out through the crowd and headed for home. Everyone was amazed and thanked God for this wonderful miracle.

Think about it...

• This story is about a paralyzed man; that means he couldn’t walk. What did his friends do for him?
• Do you know someone who can’t walk or do other things. What can you do for them to help?
• The friends believed Jesus could heal the man. Why did Jesus first forgive his sins?
• The religious people thought Jesus was committing a crime against God by telling the man his sins were forgiven. What did Jesus do to prove He was allowed to forgive people’s sins?

Prayer: Thank you, God, for healing the man who couldn’t walk...you made his body healthy and his spirit too. When I need help, please remind me to ask you. Thank you for my friends and family, and the ways that they take care of me.

Season 2: Only the Messiah Could...
Episode 3: “Jesus Could Heal Leprosy”
Today’s Bible Bite: Luke 5:12-16; 17:11-19

Video Story:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzZUDRrKgI8 (Saddleback Kids - Luke 17:11-19)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VL8DThllZAY (The Chosen - Luke5:12-16)

“Lord, if you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean” (Luke 5:12b).

In Jesus’ day, leprosy was a scary disease to have and it had no cure. Because it was contagious, people who got sick with leprosy were not permitted to live in towns or in homes with their families. In fact, they weren’t allowed to even walk near other people and had to shout, “unclean” to warn others to stay away. People were scared of others who were sick with leprosy because they saw how horrible it was and didn’t want to get sick too. Jesus, however, wasn’t scared.
There are stories in the Bible of Jesus healing people who were sick with leprosy. Sometimes He would touch them in order to heal them, sometimes He just talked to them. No matter how He did it, they all got better! No doctor could do that. This was another proof that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God!

Think about it...

• Leprosy was a scary disease with no cure in Jesus’ day. No one likes to get sick. What scary illnesses can people get sick with today?
• Lepers were not allowed to live with their healthy families. How would you feel if your family couldn’t spend time together?
• When sick people heard that Jesus was nearby they would go to Him. Why?
• Imagine you lived back in Jesus’ day and were sick. Would you want to see Jesus?

Prayer: Thank you, God, for healing lepers of their terrible sickness. Thank you that you showed that we don’t have to be scared of people, but should help take care of them.