In John 5:1-18, Jesus visits the pool of Bethesda, where many people with disabilities gathered in hopes of being healed when an angel stirred the waters. Jesus sees a man who has been an invalid for 38 years and asks him if he wants to be healed. The man tells Jesus that he has no one to help him into the pool when the water is stirred.
Jesus then tells the man to get up, pick up his mat, and walk. The man is instantly healed and begins to walk. This miraculous healing happens on the Sabbath, which angers the Jewish leaders who accuse Jesus of breaking the Sabbath law. Jesus defends himself by explaining that he is doing the work of his Father, who is always at work.
This passage highlights Jesus' power to heal and his authority to do so, even on the Sabbath. It also illustrates the religious conflict between Jesus and the Jewish leaders who opposed him.
We have compiled a range of creative ideas and activities below that relate to this Bible story. These resources are designed to help you share this important message in an engaging and interactive way, whether you are a children's ministry leader, a Sunday school teacher, or a religious educator in a Christian primary school.
Our activities below are suitable for use in various settings such as church children's programs, children's ministry, catechism classes, children's services, Bible clubs, vacation Bible school, and Sunday school, and will help students understand the relevance of the Bible to their lives, and the importance of applying its teachings in practical ways.
