Children's Readings:  Mark 5:21-24, 35b-43

Getting Sick, Getting Healed

Opening Question:  When was the last time you were really sick? How many days did you lie in bed? Did you see the doctor? What happened?

Reader 1:

After Jesus sailed again to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered around him by the shore. Jairus, one of the synagogue leaders, came into the crowd, saw Jesus, and fell at the Lord's feet. "My little daughter is dying. Come and put your hands on her. Then she will live!" Jairus urged Jesus. So, Jesus went with the synagogue leader. Suddenly, a messenger came from the leader's house. "Your daughter died." he told Jairus. "Why do you bother the teacher?"

Reader 2

Ignoring the message, Jesus interrupted. "Don't be afraid," Jesus said to Jairus. "Trust me." Jesus didn't allow anyone to follow him, except Peter, James, and his brother John. When they arrived at the leader's house, Jesus saw an uproar. People were crying out loud. Jesus entered the house and asked, "Why are all of you making such a huge scene? The girl isn't dead, just asleep." The people burst out loud laughing at him. So, Jesus threw them out of the house. Then he took the father and mother along with his three followers and entered the room where the little girl was laid out. Taking her hand, Jesus said, "Little girl, get up." Immediately, the twelve year old girl stood up and walked around the room. Everyone was in shock! "Don't tell anyone what just happened!" Jesus sternly commanded them. "But, give her something to eat," he continued.

People get sick, especially children. In the time of Jesus almost half the children did not live to see their twelveth birthday. Today we have medicines and vaccines, doctors, nurses and loving parents to keep us alive and well. Today, not too many American children die from disease. But that does not stop children from getting sick.

Imagine for a moment you got sick enough to be in the hospital. You have a high fever. You feel weak and sleepy all the time. What would the doctors and nurses to for you? Besides the medicines, would they try to keep you warm and comfortable? Would they keep you well fed? Would they allow you to get some rest? Jairus and his family tried to help their little girl in these ways, but it didn't work. She died.

How did Jesus make a difference? He gave her his power and healed her. He wants to do the same with us. When we are sick or feel tired and alone, Jesus wants to touch us, heal us, and give us back to others. All we have to do is ask. All we have to do is pray.

Summer Ideas

Share stories of hospital visits. Who was in the hospital? Who visited someone in the hospital? How did the doctors and nurses take care of the patients? Were you glad to be home or to have the sick person home from the hospital?

Ask: How we can help others heal?

Bring in items from past hospital visits to illustrate stories.