Jesus Heals a Centurion Servant - The Miracles of Jesus Series (Toddler/PreK)
This week in Calvary Kids, we learned Jesus has a heart for everyone. The centurion understood Jesus' authority, and Jesus was amazed at the man's great faith! Also, Jesus heals from far away, just like when we pray (Matthew 8:13).
Read Matthew 8:5-13
The Bible tells us: Jesus came to the town of Capernaum and a Roman soldier came to Jesus. He was a centurion who was in charge of 100 soldiers! He came BEGGING for help and this was really important to him! This was surprising! Romans were NOT friends with Jewish people. Romans were in charge and most Jewish people didn't like them, but this soldier was different because he loved God's people and even helped build their church building! Sometimes we don't want to ask for help because we try to act strong, but EVERYONE needs help sometimes. It takes courage to ask.
The soldier said: "Lord, my servant is very sick and hurting!" His servant was paralyzed and in terrible pain. The soldier cared about his servant SO much! Even though he was a powerful soldier, he knew he couldn't fix this. He needed Jesus' help! In those days, many people didn't care about servants, but this soldier DID! He had a good heart. He cared about people no matter who they were.
Jesus said: "I will come and heal him!" Jesus was ready to help right away. Jesus didn't care that this was a Roman soldier because Jesus loves ALL people - from every country Jesus has a heart for EVERYONE! Jesus doesn't care if someone looks different, talks different, or is from a different place. Jesus loves EVERYONE and wants to help everyone! But then the soldier said something AMAZING: "Lord, I'm not worthy for You to come to my house!" "Just SPEAK the word and my servant will be healed" "I understand authority - when I tell soldiers 'Go!' they go!" "When I say 'Come!' they come!" "When YOU speak, Jesus, everything must obey" The soldier understood something special: Jesus' WORDS have power! Just like his soldiers obey his commands, EVERYTHING obeys Jesus' commands. He didn't need to SEE Jesus heal his servant, He just needed Jesus to SPEAK.
This is so important for us to understand: When we PRAY, we're talking to Jesus from far away. Jesus isn't standing right next to us (even though His Spirit IS with us!) When we pray and ask for help, we're showing FAITH. We trust Jesus can help us even from a distance! Jesus was AMAZED! Jesus said "WOW! I haven't seen faith this great anywhere in Israel!" This Roman soldier believed MORE than God's own people! Jesus was SO happy about this man's faith! What made Jesus so happy? The soldier believed Jesus' WORD alone was enough! He didn't need to see it. He just TRUSTED! Jesus said to the soldier: "Go home! Because you believed, it will happen!" Right at that moment, the servant was healed! Jesus wasn't even at the house! Jesus just SPOKE the word from far away. The servant was completely better! When the soldier got home, his servant was all healed! Jesus' word was powerful enough to heal from miles and miles away! Remember: When YOU pray, Jesus hears you even though He's in heaven! You don't have to see Jesus for Him to help you. Just believe His word is powerful!
Christ Connection:
1. What it reveals about Jesus:
1. Jesus' word has power over everything When Jesus speaks, things HAPPEN! The soldier understood this. Jesus' word is SO powerful He didn't even need to be there - He just spoke and the servant was healed! Prayer works the same way!
2. Jesus loves ALL people Jesus helped a Roman soldier even though Jews and Romans were enemies. Jesus loves people from EVERY country, EVERY family, EVERY skin color! Jesus came to save the whole world!
2. How it connects to our hearts:
1. Faith means trusting Jesus' word even when we can't see Him The soldier didn't need to SEE the healing. He just believed Jesus' WORD! When we pray, we can't see Jesus, but we trust His word is powerful and true!
2. It's okay to ask for help, that takes courage. The soldier was brave enough to ask Jesus for help. We should be brave too and ask Jesus (and others) for help when we need it!
3. How it connects to the Gospel:
1. We're saved by believing Jesus, not by being good enough The soldier wasn't saved because he was good or Jewish (he wasn't!). He was blessed because he BELIEVED Jesus! We're saved by trusting in Jesus, not by being perfect!
Application:
1. Remember Jesus Loves Everyone: Jesus helped the Roman soldier. Jesus loves ALL people, including you!
2. Be Brave and Ask for Help: When you need help, be brave like the soldier and ask! Ask Jesus in prayer, ask your parents, ask your teachers!
3. Trust Jesus' Word: When the Bible says something, BELIEVE it! Jesus words are powerful and true!
4. Pray with Faith: When you pray, remember Jesus hears you even from far away! Trust that Jesus can help even though you can't see Him!
5. Have a Heart for Everyone: The soldier cared about his servant. Care about ALL people, not just people who are like you!
Small Group Questions:
1. Why was it surprising that a Roman soldier came to Jesus?
2. What did the soldier believe about Jesus' words?
3. How is this like prayer?
4. What did Jesus say about the soldier's faith?
5. Can Jesus hear YOUR prayers even though He's in heaven?
Memory Verse:
Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes." Mark 9:23
Read Matthew 8:5-13
The Bible tells us: Jesus came to the town of Capernaum and a Roman soldier came to Jesus. He was a centurion who was in charge of 100 soldiers! He came BEGGING for help and this was really important to him! This was surprising! Romans were NOT friends with Jewish people. Romans were in charge and most Jewish people didn't like them, but this soldier was different because he loved God's people and even helped build their church building! Sometimes we don't want to ask for help because we try to act strong, but EVERYONE needs help sometimes. It takes courage to ask.
The soldier said: "Lord, my servant is very sick and hurting!" His servant was paralyzed and in terrible pain. The soldier cared about his servant SO much! Even though he was a powerful soldier, he knew he couldn't fix this. He needed Jesus' help! In those days, many people didn't care about servants, but this soldier DID! He had a good heart. He cared about people no matter who they were.
Jesus said: "I will come and heal him!" Jesus was ready to help right away. Jesus didn't care that this was a Roman soldier because Jesus loves ALL people - from every country Jesus has a heart for EVERYONE! Jesus doesn't care if someone looks different, talks different, or is from a different place. Jesus loves EVERYONE and wants to help everyone! But then the soldier said something AMAZING: "Lord, I'm not worthy for You to come to my house!" "Just SPEAK the word and my servant will be healed" "I understand authority - when I tell soldiers 'Go!' they go!" "When I say 'Come!' they come!" "When YOU speak, Jesus, everything must obey" The soldier understood something special: Jesus' WORDS have power! Just like his soldiers obey his commands, EVERYTHING obeys Jesus' commands. He didn't need to SEE Jesus heal his servant, He just needed Jesus to SPEAK.
This is so important for us to understand: When we PRAY, we're talking to Jesus from far away. Jesus isn't standing right next to us (even though His Spirit IS with us!) When we pray and ask for help, we're showing FAITH. We trust Jesus can help us even from a distance! Jesus was AMAZED! Jesus said "WOW! I haven't seen faith this great anywhere in Israel!" This Roman soldier believed MORE than God's own people! Jesus was SO happy about this man's faith! What made Jesus so happy? The soldier believed Jesus' WORD alone was enough! He didn't need to see it. He just TRUSTED! Jesus said to the soldier: "Go home! Because you believed, it will happen!" Right at that moment, the servant was healed! Jesus wasn't even at the house! Jesus just SPOKE the word from far away. The servant was completely better! When the soldier got home, his servant was all healed! Jesus' word was powerful enough to heal from miles and miles away! Remember: When YOU pray, Jesus hears you even though He's in heaven! You don't have to see Jesus for Him to help you. Just believe His word is powerful!
Christ Connection:
1. What it reveals about Jesus:
1. Jesus' word has power over everything When Jesus speaks, things HAPPEN! The soldier understood this. Jesus' word is SO powerful He didn't even need to be there - He just spoke and the servant was healed! Prayer works the same way!
2. Jesus loves ALL people Jesus helped a Roman soldier even though Jews and Romans were enemies. Jesus loves people from EVERY country, EVERY family, EVERY skin color! Jesus came to save the whole world!
2. How it connects to our hearts:
1. Faith means trusting Jesus' word even when we can't see Him The soldier didn't need to SEE the healing. He just believed Jesus' WORD! When we pray, we can't see Jesus, but we trust His word is powerful and true!
2. It's okay to ask for help, that takes courage. The soldier was brave enough to ask Jesus for help. We should be brave too and ask Jesus (and others) for help when we need it!
3. How it connects to the Gospel:
1. We're saved by believing Jesus, not by being good enough The soldier wasn't saved because he was good or Jewish (he wasn't!). He was blessed because he BELIEVED Jesus! We're saved by trusting in Jesus, not by being perfect!
Application:
1. Remember Jesus Loves Everyone: Jesus helped the Roman soldier. Jesus loves ALL people, including you!
2. Be Brave and Ask for Help: When you need help, be brave like the soldier and ask! Ask Jesus in prayer, ask your parents, ask your teachers!
3. Trust Jesus' Word: When the Bible says something, BELIEVE it! Jesus words are powerful and true!
4. Pray with Faith: When you pray, remember Jesus hears you even from far away! Trust that Jesus can help even though you can't see Him!
5. Have a Heart for Everyone: The soldier cared about his servant. Care about ALL people, not just people who are like you!
Small Group Questions:
1. Why was it surprising that a Roman soldier came to Jesus?
2. What did the soldier believe about Jesus' words?
3. How is this like prayer?
4. What did Jesus say about the soldier's faith?
5. Can Jesus hear YOUR prayers even though He's in heaven?
Memory Verse:
Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes." Mark 9:23
Posted in Pre-K Calvary Kids