a story that can change your in an Easy-to-Read style with

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life

™

FULL-COLOR illustrations

E A S Y-T O -R E A D V E R S I O N

the life of jesus for children

The Life of Jesus for Children is based on

the four books about Jesus found in the New Testament of the Bible.

We want everyone to read or hear this Good News, the

story of Jesus, God’s Chosen King. It is the greatest story ever told. Our hope is that the children who receive this book will love and follow Jesus.

The Life of Jesus for Children BY BIBLE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL

© 2015 Bible League International The Life of Jesus for Children All rights reserved. Except as stated below, no part of

this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—

electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording or any

other—without prior written permission of Bible League

International.

Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible: Easy-to-

Read Version, Anglicised (ERV) © 2013, 2015 Bible League

International.

Bible League International

1 Bible League Plaza Crete, IL 60417, USA

Phone: 866–825–4636

Email: [email protected] Web: www.bibleleague.org

P-ENG-63138: ISBN: 978–1–62826–313–8

P-ENG-63145-POD: ISBN: 978–1–62826–314–5 Bible League International serves the under-resourced Church with

Bibles and training to transform lives worldwide through God’s Word.

2019-03 2  ◀ Copyright

Contents A Message to Parents and Teachers ������������������������������������������������������� 4 A Long Time Ago . . . �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 6 Chapter 1: Jesus Is Born ����������������������������������������������������������������������������� 9 Chapter 2: Wise Men Give Jesus Gifts ������������������������������������������������ 13 Chapter 3: Jesus Goes to the Temple as a Young Boy ������������������ 17 Chapter 4: Jesus Is Baptized by John �������������������������������������������������� 21 Chapter 5: Jesus Chooses His Twelve Apostles ������������������������������ 25 Chapter 6: Jesus Welcomes Children ������������������������������������������������� 29 Chapter 7: Jesus Heals a Paralysed Man ������������������������������������������� 33 Chapter 8: Jesus Heals a Blind Man ���������������������������������������������������� 37 Chapter 9: Jesus Calms a Storm ����������������������������������������������������������� 41 Chapter 10: Jesus Feeds More Than 5000 People ������������������������� 45 Chapter 11: Jesus Walks on Water ����������������������������������������������������� 49 Chapter 12: Jesus’ Friends Catch Many Fish ������������������������������������ 53 Chapter 13: Jesus Gives Life to a Dead Girl �������������������������������������� 57 Chapter 14: Jesus Tells a Story About a Good Samaritan ����������� 61 Chapter 15: Jesus Tells a Story About a Lost Sheep ���������������������� 65 Chapter 16: Jesus Tells a Story About Two Sons ���������������������������� 69 Chapter 17: Jesus Tells a Story About a Farmer Sowing Seed ��� 75 Chapter 18: Jesus Enters Jerusalem Like a King ����������������������������� 79 Chapter 19: Jesus Goes to the Temple ����������������������������������������������� 83 Chapter 20: Jesus Eats a Passover Meal with His Friends ���������� 87 Chapter 21: Jesus Is Killed ���������������������������������������������������������������������� 93 Chapter 22: Jesus Rises From Death �������������������������������������������������� 99 Chapter 23: The Risen Jesus Talks to Some of His Friends ������ 103 Chapter 24: Jesus and Peter ���������������������������������������������������������������� 107 Chapter 25: Jesus Is Carried Up Into Heaven �������������������������������� 111 Chapter 26: The Holy Spirit Comes to Jesus’ Followers ������������ 115 A Final Word ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 118 Answer Key ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 119

Contents ▶ 3

A Message to Parents and Teachers This book is based on the story of Jesus as found in the

New Testament of the Bible. Four of the New Testament’s books are called “Gospels”: Matthew, Mark, Luke and

John. These writings tell about the life and teachings

of Jesus. They are called “Gospels”, which is from an old

English word meaning “Good News”. At the time they

were written, people used the term “Good News” to tell

others about great things that a king did for people in his

kingdom. And, as we will see a little later, Jesus was also a king. The Gospels tell us the story about the great things

Jesus did on earth to bring God’s kingdom with all its

blessings to the world. We hope everyone can read or hear

this Good News, the story about Jesus, God’s Chosen King.

It is the greatest story ever told.

The story told in the Gospels is true. The events

described really happened. The Talk About It questions

at the end of each section will help children remember the story so that they can apply the teachings to their lives. Responses to these questions are in the answer

key at the end of the book. Some questions ask for the reader’s opinion. In these cases, there is no right or

wrong answer. We note these questions in the answer key with the term “Reader response”. We also include

a suggested prayer in the Pray About It section with 4  ◀ A Message to Parents and Teachers

each story. We recommend helping children with these

prayers.

Our hope is that the children who receive this book will

love and follow Jesus.

A Message to Parents and Teachers ▶ 5

A Long Time Ago . . . Long before Jesus was born, God chose a man named

Abraham. God wanted to use him for a special purpose.

God spoke to Abraham and made him a promise neither of

them would ever forget. God promised to give Abraham a good land where his descendants would live. He also said

he would use Abraham to bless all the people on earth.

Abraham had a son named Isaac. Then Isaac had a son

named Jacob. God repeated this promise to each of them.

Later, God changed Jacob’s name to Israel. Israel also

became the name of the people who are descendants of

Jacob, Isaac and Abraham. They are called Israelites.

Israel (Jacob) had twelve sons. His sons had many

more children. Finally, after many years, Abraham’s

descendants received a very good land. God continued

renewing the same promise to them that he had first

made to Abraham: they would receive a good land and

bless all the people on earth. Now this is where the story becomes very sad. Instead of blessing all the people

on earth, the nation of Israel forgot about God and his

purposes for them.

God never forgot his promise to Abraham. But because

the people of Israel did not obey God, he let other nations capture them. These other nations took the Israelites

away from the very good land God had given them. These other nations made slaves of the Israelites, who then

had to live in many different places. After several years, some of the Israelites were allowed to return to their

6  ◀ A Long Time Ago . . .

land. But many of the people could not make the journey.

The people who could not go home became known as

“Jews”. They were called this name because many of them were originally from an area of Israel called Judah. Later, everyone who was from the nation of Israel became

known as a “Jew”. Still, God never forgot his promise to

bless Abraham. God always wanted to do something very

good for ALL the people on earth. Finally, it was time for

God to keep his promise. And God kept that promise by sending a Jewish baby to the world—Jesus.

A Long Time Ago . . . ▶ 7

Chapter 1 — Luke 1:26–38 and 2:1–7

Jesus Is Born 66 Read About It The story about Jesus begins with his birth as the most

important child who has ever lived in the world. Did you know these things about Jesus?

▪▪ He was born about 2000 years ago.

▪▪ His parents were Mary and Joseph.

▪▪ His father was a builder or a carpenter. Mary and Joseph were Jews who both obeyed God. One

day God sent an angel to them. The angel told them they

would have a very special son. The angel said they should name him Jesus.

Do you know why God chose that name for him?

Because the name Jesus means “God saves”. And Jesus was

the way God planned to save people from punishment for the bad things they had done. This child would grow up

and make a way for God to forgive people for not living the

way he had told them to live.

The angel also told Jesus’ parents that he would be a

king. Another name used to describe Jesus is Christ. Do you know what the word Christ means?

It means a special king chosen by God to save all people.

Christ came to guide our lives on earth. He promised to show us how to be part of God’s new creation. God will

change the world. One day, it will be a place of peace and Chapter 1: Jesus Is Born ▶ 9

love—a place where people always do what is right. All

these things will happen because of what Jesus has done

for us.

Jesus was not only God’s Chosen King. He was God

himself in a human body. Can you imagine that?

Jesus was God!

That is why Jesus is the most important child the world

has ever known.

Now, think about Mary and Joseph.

Can you imagine how happy they were to hear from

the angel about this new baby?

Their first son would be the special king God sent to

earth. Jesus came to rescue us from all the sad things

that happen in this world and to prepare us for God’s new

world.

Do you know where Jesus was born?

Most babies in that time were born at home. But about

the time Jesus was to be born, Mary and Joseph had to leave their home in Nazareth. The king had ordered

everyone to go to the town where they were from to have

their names written down by the officials. This was to make sure everyone was paying taxes.

So Mary and Joseph had to travel to the little town

of Bethlehem, Joseph’s hometown. They were probably

staying with relatives there. And it seems that the room

where guests usually slept was full. So Jesus’ parents were

sleeping in the part of the house where animals were kept

at night. In those days, people brought the few animals

they had inside at night to keep them warm and to protect them.

10  ◀ Chapter 1: Jesus Is Born

And can you guess what happened next?

That night, Jesus was born!

That same night, some shepherds were in a field

outside of town. An angel came to them and told them

about the new king born in Bethlehem. The angel said

they could find the new king wrapped in pieces of cloth

and lying in a feed box where animals eat. And so the

shepherds found the baby Jesus exactly where the angel

told them he would be. They told Mary and Joseph the things the angel had said. His mother Mary would remember these things the rest of her life.

`` Talk About It 1. Who is Jesus?

2. Why did Jesus come to earth?

3. Do you believe Jesus is the king God sent to save us? 4. Do you want Jesus to be the king of your life? If so,

here’s a prayer you can say.

‡‡ Pray About It Lord Jesus, I thank you that you came to save us from

all the bad things in this world. I want you to be the king of my life. Please accept me as one of your people and

show me how you want me to live. Help me to always love

and obey you. Amen.

Chapter 1: Jesus Is Born ▶ 11

Chapter 2 — Matthew 2:1–12

Wise Men Give Jesus Gifts 66 Read About It Do you like to receive gifts?

We all do!

People in some parts of the world have the tradition

of giving gifts to babies when they are born. Jesus also

received gifts. While his parents were still in Bethlehem, some important men, called “wise men”, came from a

faraway place to see and honour the young child Jesus. Do you know why they were called wise men?

Because they studied the stars and planets and were

respected for their knowledge. Many people trusted them

to tell what would happen in the future.

These men came to where Jesus was born because they

had seen an unusual star. They understood that this star

announced the birth of a Jewish king. So they set out for

Jerusalem, where they expected to find this new king.

These men travelled many weeks. When they arrived

in Jerusalem, they asked people where they could find the

new king who had been born. No one knew, but they were sent to the town where the Scriptures said the promised

king was supposed to be born. That’s when they again saw

the star they had seen in their home country. And the star showed them the place where the child was. Do you remember the name of the town?

Yes, Bethlehem. It was a very long and tiring trip, but

the wise men finally arrived. They came to the house

Chapter 2: Wise Men Give Jesus Gifts ▶ 13

where Mary and Joseph were living with Jesus. They had come to worship and give gifts to the new Jewish king.

Jesus was a young child, but he received gifts fit for a

king!

What do we mean when we say Jesus is king?

Actually, Jesus never lived in a palace. He was not

wealthy like any other king. He was not interested in

being a king in that way. Jesus really wants to be the king

of your life! He wants to live in your heart, not in a palace.

He wants to help you live in a way that pleases God. That’s the best gift we can give him as the king of our lives.

Do you know what will happen if we love and obey

Jesus?

He will give us true happiness as we follow him.

`` Talk About It 1. Why did the wise men go visit Jesus?

2. Is Jesus the king of your life?

3. How can people know that Jesus is your king?

‡‡ Pray About It Jesus, I thank you for being the king of my life. Help me

in everything I do. I want to be happy. And I want you to be happy with the things I do. Thank you that I can live

with you forever in a new place that you promised to your followers. Amen.

14  ◀ Chapter 2: Wise Men Give Jesus Gifts

▶ 15

Chapter 3 — Luke 2:41–52

Jesus Goes to the Temple as a Young Boy 66 Read About It Do you remember from the last story where Jesus was

born?

Very good! In Bethlehem.

When Jesus was born, the Jewish people already had

a king named Herod. He was not a good king. When the

wise men told him another king had been born, Herod

said he wanted to honour this new king. But Herod really

wanted to kill him.

Do you know why?

King Herod was afraid. He did not want Jesus to grow

up and take away his kingdom.

So, an angel came to warn Jesus’ parents that he was in

danger. The angel told them to go and live in the country of Egypt until it was safe for them to return home. After several years, the angel came again and told Mary and

Joseph that King Herod was dead. Jesus was no longer in danger. Now they could go home.

Mary and Joseph packed their belongings and returned

home. But they did not go back to Bethlehem. Instead,

they moved to the town of Nazareth, where Mary and

Joseph lived before Jesus was born. Joseph worked in

Nazareth as a builder, using either stone or wood. Jesus probably helped Joseph and learned to do many things.

Jesus was later called “the son of a carpenter”.

Chapter 3: Jesus Goes to the Temple as a Young Boy ▶ 17

Every year many people would go to the great Temple

in the city of Jerusalem. Jesus’ parents also went every

year. They went there to worship God. When Jesus was 12

years old, his parents took him to Jerusalem. When it was time to return home, Jesus’ parents left Jerusalem with

the group that had come from Nazareth. They travelled

a whole day before they realized Jesus was not with

them. They thought he was with other family members or friends. But Jesus had stayed in Jerusalem. Mary and

Joseph went back to Jerusalem to find him. Where do you think they found him? Playing with a friend or a cousin?

No.

Lost in the streets, not knowing where to go?

No.

Do you know where he was? Still in the Temple area!

Jesus had been there the whole time talking with

teachers who knew the Word of God. These men taught in the Temple area. Jesus was very happy talking about the

Word of God. But the teachers were surprised. They had

never seen anyone that young who was so interested in God’s Word and who understood it so well.

Although Jesus was God, as a human he had to take

time to read, study and memorize God’s Word. Jesus had

a special understanding, but he still had to spend time learning God’s Word just as we do.

If we follow Jesus, we should want to hear, study and

memorize God’s Word.

18  ◀ Chapter 3: Jesus Goes to the Temple as a Young Boy

`` Talk About It 1. How often do you spend time with other followers

of Jesus?

2. When teachers talk to you about the Bible, do you

listen and ask questions?

3. How many Bible verses have you memorized?

4. Would you like to memorize a verse today? If so, you

can memorize Psalm 119:105:

“Your word is like a lamp that guides my steps, a

light that shows the path I should take.”

‡‡ Pray About It Lord, help me to study the Bible with other people who

follow you. Help me to understand and memorize many

verses. I want to be able to help my friends. I ask this in

Jesus’ name. Amen.

Chapter 3: Jesus Goes to the Temple as a Young Boy ▶ 19

Chapter 4 — Matthew 3:13–17

Jesus Is Baptized by John 66 Read About It Do you know what baptism is?

In the New Testament, people were baptized by letting

someone put them under the water for a very brief

moment. Then they were lifted out of the water. This

simple ceremony is a symbol of God washing away our sins. People are baptized to show they are sorry for the

bad things they have done. And it tells everyone that the baptized person wants to turn away from sin and follow

God.

Before Jesus began his work, God sent a man named

John to get the Jewish people ready for Jesus to come. John had been living out in the wilderness near the Jordan

River. He began to tell the people in that area to change

their hearts and lives and to be baptized. The news spread

about what John was doing. A crowd of people from

Jerusalem and other places in Judea went out to where

John was preaching and baptizing people. He also told the people that God had sent a new king to save them. That

king was coming soon. That was the reason they needed

to change—to be ready to meet this new king.

Then one day, Jesus came and asked John to baptize

him too. John was very surprised. He said,

“Why do you come to me to be baptized? I should be

baptized by you.”

Chapter 4: Jesus Is Baptized by John ▶ 21

John was right. He knew Jesus already loved and obeyed

God. He knew Jesus did not need to be baptized because he had done nothing wrong.

But Jesus insisted. He told John,

“This is how it should be for now. It’s only right that we

should do all that God wants.”

So John agreed to baptize him.

Then the people saw God do a great miracle. God did

it so that everyone there would know Jesus was the true Son of God. When John baptized Jesus, suddenly the sky

opened. Then the Spirit of God came down on Jesus like a

dove. At the same moment, a voice from heaven said,

“This is my Son, and I love him. I am very pleased with

him.”

Do you know who spoke these words?

Yes! It was God himself.

God was telling people that Jesus was his Son. God

wanted them to know that he had sent Jesus to help them turn to God. God is our F ­ ather, and he wants to forgive

everyone. When we decide to love and follow Jesus, God

will forgive us.

What do you think the people did when they heard the

voice?

The Bible does not say what the people thought.

When they heard the voice, some of them were probably frightened. Others may have been surprised. Still others believed that Jesus was really God.

This is how God showed the world who Jesus was and

what Jesus had come to do.

22  ◀ Chapter 4: Jesus Is Baptized by John

After that, many people began to follow Jesus. Some

people stayed with him all the time. They wanted to listen

to him and be with him every day.

Imagine what it was like to walk with Jesus and listen

to him!

`` Talk About It 1. Can we listen to Jesus today? How?

2. How did God show that Jesus was God’s Son who

came to save them?

3. What would you have done if you had been there

and heard the voice from heaven?

‡‡ Pray About It Lord, I want to tell all my friends that I’m your child.

Help me every day to read your Word and hear the things

you want me to hear. I want everyone to know that Jesus

is your Son and that we should listen to him. I ask this in the name of Jesus, the one who saves me. Amen.

Chapter 4: Jesus Is Baptized by John ▶ 23

Chapter 5 — Luke 6:12–16

Jesus Chooses His Twelve Apostles 66 Read About It Jesus loved to tell people the Good News about God’s

kingdom, that is, about God’s plan for changing the

world. And he wanted this Good News to be shared with everyone. But he knew he would soon be leaving the

world.

So how would he make sure everyone heard this Good

News?

Jesus chose twelve men from among his friends to

learn this Good News about God’s coming kingdom. These

twelve men travelled with him everywhere. They wanted

to be with Jesus all the time. Jesus chose these followers to

hear his words, obey them and teach them to others. Then

these friends would continue to tell others about him

after he went back to heaven.

Do you know the names of these twelve close friends of

Jesus?

They were:

1. Simon (later renamed Peter by Jesus)

2. Andrew (brother of Peter) 3. James (brother of John) 4. John (brother of James) 5. Philip

6. Bartholomew

7. Matthew

Chapter 5: Jesus Chooses His Twelve Apostles ▶ 25

8. Thomas

9. James (son of Alphaeus)

10. Simon (called the Zealot) 11. Judas (son of James)

12. Judas Iscariot (the one who turned against Jesus)

Sometimes these twelve followers of Jesus are called

“apostles”. This word means they were “sent out” to teach others about Jesus. Jesus sent his apostles to tell the

Good News about the coming of God’s kingdom to people

throughout the world. Many people do not understand

that God loves everyone. So because of the apostles’ work, many people have become followers of Jesus and have

made him king of their lives. By letting Jesus rule their lives, they have become part of God’s kingdom.

Today, we cannot hear Jesus speak out loud like the

twelve apostles did. But we can know the things Jesus taught them. Some of his followers wrote down his teachings in a very important book.

Do you know the name of this book?

Yes, the Bible!

More than anything, Jesus wanted everyone to know

his ­Father. He is still telling us about his ­Father through

the Word of God in the Bible. The Bible tells us the things

Jesus wants us to know and share with other people.

Four very important books in the Bible that contain

the teachings of Jesus are called Gospels. So now, when

we want to listen to the teachings of Jesus, we read the Gospels. By reading these books, we can “hear” Jesus.

Through the Bible, God made it easy for all followers of Jesus to remember the important things he taught.

26  ◀ Chapter 5: Jesus Chooses His Twelve Apostles

`` Talk About It 1. Why did Jesus choose friends to follow him?

2. Would you like to be a friend of Jesus and follow

him?

3. What do you have to do to be a friend and follower

of Jesus?

‡‡ Pray About It Lord Jesus, I want to be your friend. I want to follow

you and be part of God’s kingdom. I want to “hear” what you taught as I read the Bible. I feel close to you when I

can read the words you taught your friends and the things

they wrote about you. Help me to understand and follow

your teaching. Amen.

Chapter 5: Jesus Chooses His Twelve Apostles ▶ 27

Chapter 6 — Mark 10:13–16

Jesus Welcomes Children 66 Read About It Imagine what it was like to be a child during the time

Jesus was on earth:

“Daddy, why do you and Mommy like to listen to Jesus?” “Because he tells us about the love of God.”

“Daddy, I want to know about God too! Can you take me

with you to see Jesus?”

“Of course, I can! Early tomorrow morning we will go to

hear him.”

“Thank you, Daddy!”

That night you are hardly able to sleep because of your

excitement. You have heard many things about Jesus, but

this will be your first time to see him.

You know that children are sometimes not allowed

at meetings for adults. But this time, your father has promised to take you to see and hear Jesus.

You get up early and get dressed. Your mother packs

food because you will not return until evening.

On the way, your mother might tell you that Jesus is

the Saviour and King that God promised to send. She says

your people have been waiting for hundreds of years for

this Saviour King to come. Your father tells you that God

wants you to be part of his kingdom. And he says that God sent Jesus to make that possible. He says Jesus can forgive

all the bad things you have ever done. This might make

you think about those things—things like telling lies,

Chapter 6: Jesus Welcomes Children ▶ 29

disobeying your parents, or fighting with your brothers or sisters. Even though you might wonder if Jesus can

really make all those bad things right, you are still excited because you are really going to see Jesus!

You did not expect to see so many people! Even before

you reach the village, you see hundreds of people. Some are standing, while others have found places to sit.

Children are everywhere, some playing and some stopping

to listen. Your parents take you by the hand and bring

you close to the man who is talking. Your father whispers,

“This is Jesus.”

You see some other children trying to get near Jesus.

Like you, they are happy to hear Jesus explain how God loves them and wants them to live with him forever.

Suddenly, some big men appear. They are strong and

grab your arm. They look angry. They want you to move

away from Jesus. They don’t want you to get in the way of the adults who are there to see Jesus. What do you think Jesus will do?

Jesus loves children. He sees what is happening and

tells the men to stop.

Something exactly like this happened when Jesus was

teaching. This is what Jesus said:

“Let the little children come to me. Don’t stop them,

because they are just the kind of people who are part of

God’s kingdom.”

Would that make you happy?

It made those children happy too. They ran to Jesus.

He hugged some of them, while other children sat down

beside him. He laid his hands on them and blessed them.

30  ◀ Chapter 6: Jesus Welcomes Children

Jesus is happy to be with children, because he loves

them very much.

`` Talk About It 1. What do you think it was like to know Jesus when

he was on earth?

2. Who did Jesus say God’s kingdom belongs to? 3. Do you want to be a part of God’s kingdom?

‡‡ Pray About It Lord Jesus, you are the king that God sent to this world.

Thank you for welcoming me into God’s kingdom and

never telling me to go away. Help me bring others to you

too. I believe you love people of all ages. Thank you for

your love. Amen.

Chapter 6: Jesus Welcomes Children ▶ 31

Chapter 7 — Luke 5:17–26

Jesus Heals a Paralysed Man 66 Read About It One day, many people came to see Jesus. Some Jewish

leaders were also there with the people. These leaders

wanted to hear Jesus and ask him questions. Many people

gathered in a house with Jesus. The house was so crowded

that no one else could come inside. There were some men outside the house with a friend who was paralysed. Do you know what it means to be paralysed?

Paralysed people cannot walk because they cannot

move their legs. Sometimes they are also unable to move

their arms.

This paralysed man had probably heard about Jesus.

Maybe he believed that Jesus could heal him. But he could not get to Jesus by himself. His friends were glad to help

him because they wanted him to be able to walk. So they

put him on a special mat and carried him to where Jesus

was teaching.

But when they reached the house, they could not get

inside. There was not even a little space to get through

the crowd. So they began to think about how to get their

friend inside to Jesus.

What would you have done?

How would you get your friend to Jesus?

Do you know what his friends did?

Remember, they couldn’t go through the door because

it was too crowded.

Chapter 7: Jesus Heals a Paralysed Man ▶ 33

Did they go through a window?

No. They went through the roof! Can you believe it?

The houses in that time had stairs outside that went

up to a flat roof. So these men took their friend to the

roof, made a hole in it and lowered their friend on the mat down to Jesus.

Think how hard these men worked to help their friend!

They were happy to do it because they loved him.

Can you imagine the surprise of everyone in the house?

Jesus was so happy when he saw how much faith the

men had. He said to the paralysed man, “Young man, your sins are forgiven.”

The Jewish leaders began to think to themselves:

“Who is this man who dares to say such things? What

an insult to God! Only God can forgive sins!”

Jesus knew what the Jewish leaders were thinking, so

he asked:

“Why do you have these questions in your minds?

Maybe you are thinking it was easy for me to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ because no one can see whether it

happened or not. But what if I say to him, ‘Stand up and

walk’? Then, if it happens, you will know that I, as the Son of Man, have power on earth to forgive sins.”

So how did Jesus show he had the power to forgive

people’s sins?

He healed the man! He told him to stand up and carry

his mat home.

We can’t forgive sins, and we can’t heal a paralysed

person. But Jesus did both of these things many times. He

alone had the authority to forgive sins and heal people. 34  ◀ Chapter 7: Jesus Heals a Paralysed Man

So then what happened to the paralysed man?

He immediately stood up in front of everyone. He

picked up his mat and walked home, praising God all the

way. Everyone was amazed and began to praise God. They said,

“Today we saw amazing things!” What would you have said?

`` Talk About It 1. What did the men do to help their paralysed friend?

2. Why do you think they wanted to help him?

3. What kinds of things do you do to help a friend

who has a need or a problem?

4. Why were the Jewish leaders surprised when Jesus

told the paralysed man that his sins were forgiven?

5. Can Jesus forgive sins? Why?

6. Can Jesus heal diseases? Why?

‡‡ Pray About It Lord Jesus, I praise you because of your power to forgive

all the wrong things I have done. I don’t always do what makes you happy, so I ask you to forgive me. Thank you.

I also ask you to heal __________ [think of someone you know who is sick]. Thank you for hearing my prayer.

Amen.

Chapter 7: Jesus Heals a Paralysed Man ▶ 35

Chapter 8 — Luke 18:35–43

Jesus Heals a Blind Man 66 Read About It Did you know that when Jesus travelled he usually had

to walk?

When Jesus lived, about 2000 years ago, there were no

cars, buses, trains or aeroplanes. People had to travel by

walking or by riding animals, like donkeys or camels. It could take many days to go from one city to another. If

they had to cross a river or a sea, they had to use small boats or ships.

One day, Jesus was travelling to the city of Jericho. A

blind man sat by the roadside begging all the travellers

for money. When Jesus came near the city, the crowd was

making a lot of noise. The blind man heard the crowd and

asked what was happening. People told him that Jesus

was coming and many people were coming with him.

The blind man had been told about Jesus’ teachings

and miracles. He believed that Jesus was the king, the

one God had promised to send as Saviour of the world. So

when he heard that Jesus was nearby, he got excited and began to shout:

“Jesus, Son of David, please help me!”

Do you know why the blind man called Jesus “Son of

David”?

One of Jesus’ human ancestors was a very important

king named David. David was blessed by God and ruled

Chapter 8: Jesus Heals a Blind Man ▶ 37

over the earthly kingdom of Israel. God had promised one

day to send another king, a descendant of David, to rule

God’s spiritual kingdom and save God’s people.

The blind man knew about this promise of God. That is

why he used “Son of David” as a special name for Jesus.

Do you know some of the other names the Bible uses

for Jesus?

▪▪ Christ

▪▪ Son of Man ▪▪ Son of God ▪▪ Saviour

▪▪ Messiah ▪▪ Lord

So what happened to the blind man beside the road?

He kept calling out to Jesus. Some people told the blind

man to be quiet, but he only shouted louder. Then Jesus stopped and told the people to bring the man to him.

When the man came close, Jesus said,

“What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man said,

“Lord, I want to see again.” Jesus said,

“You can see now. You are healed because you believed.” And the man was able to see!

Jesus is glad when we show our faith in him by asking

him to help us. He wants us to trust him to keep his

promises and believe that he has the power to do what we

ask. When we have this kind of faith in Jesus and do what he says, all things are possible.

38  ◀ Chapter 8: Jesus Heals a Blind Man

Do you know why?

Because nothing is impossible for God!

`` Talk About It 1. What city was Jesus travelling to in this story?

2. Who did he meet on the way there?

3. What did the blind man say to Jesus? 4. What did Jesus say to the blind man?

5. What does Jesus want to know when we ask for

help?

6. Do you believe what Jesus says is true?

‡‡ Pray About It Lord God, thank you for sending Jesus to earth to show

us your power and your love. I believe he is the king you sent to lead your people back to you. Help me to believe

and obey what you say in your Word, the Bible. Help me to tell my friends about what you did for all of us by sending

Jesus. I ask this through Jesus. Amen.

Chapter 8: Jesus Heals a Blind Man ▶ 39

Chapter 9 — Mark 4:35–41

Jesus Calms a Storm 66 Read About It One day, Jesus taught a big crowd of people. These

people came from many places to hear him. When night

came, Jesus asked his friends to get into a boat with him.

He wanted them to go across Lake Galilee. When they all

got in the boat, Jesus lay down and went to sleep with his

head on a pillow.

When they were in the middle of the lake, a bad storm

came up, and the wind blew very hard.

Have you ever been in a terrible storm?

Where were you when the storm came? Were you

scared?

Jesus’ friends were also scared. The waves were so big

they were splashing into the boat, and it was almost full of water.

Do you know what happens when a boat gets full of

water?

That’s right! It will sink.

What do you think Jesus was doing during this time?

He was sleeping! Even a big storm did not wake him up.

Then one of his friends woke him. His friends were

very afraid. They said,

“Teacher, don’t you care about us? We are going to

drown!”

Jesus stood up and gave a command to the wind and

the water. He said,

Chapter 9: Jesus Calms a Storm ▶ 41

“Quiet! Be still!”

And what do you think happened next?

The wind stopped and the lake became calm! Can you imagine that?

The water and the wind obeyed Jesus! Do you know why?

Because Jesus is God himself! God can do anything he

wants to do. He created all things, including the wind and the water. Everything God created must obey him. Jesus scolded his followers.

“Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” These men had forgotten something.

What do you think they forgot?

They forgot Jesus was with them. We need to

remember Jesus is with us. He cares about us, so we

should not be afraid. Jesus is very powerful because he is

God. So if Jesus is with us, we have nothing to fear.

`` Talk About It 1. What happened when Jesus and his friends were in

a boat on the lake?

2. What was Jesus doing?

3. If you had been in the boat, what would you have

done?

4. How did Jesus make the storm stop?

5. Why do you think Jesus calmed the storm?

6. When you are afraid, what do you do?

42  ◀ Chapter 9: Jesus Calms a Storm

‡‡ Pray About It Lord Jesus, I believe you are very powerful. I believe

you can even stop a storm. Help me to not be afraid when trouble comes. Help me remember you are always with me to help me. Amen.

Chapter 9: Jesus Calms a Storm ▶ 43

Chapter 10 — John 6:1–15

Jesus Feeds More Than 5000 People 66 Read About It People wanted to see Jesus perform miracles. And

they wanted to hear his teaching. People came from long distances to be with Jesus.

One day, thousands of people were listening to Jesus.

The Bible says there were 5000 men. But no number is given for the women and children. Maybe more than

10,000 people listened to Jesus that day!

Imagine 10,000 people sitting in a field listening to

Jesus. The people would have to be still and quiet so that

everyone could hear his teaching. And Jesus would have to speak in a strong voice.

The people were so excited to see Jesus that they left

their homes without taking along enough food to eat.

When it was late in the day, Jesus’ friends told him to send everyone away so they could buy food. But Jesus told them

to give food to the crowd. His friends were very surprised.

They told Jesus it would cost too much money to buy food for everyone.

Think for a moment: How much money do you think

it would cost to feed 10,000 people even one small piece of bread? Is that a lot of money? Do you have that much

money?

Do you understand why Jesus’ friends were so worried

when he told them to give food to the crowd?

Chapter 10: Jesus Feeds More Than 5000 People ▶ 45

But Jesus was going to show his followers again that

he had the power of God, who can do anything. So, Jesus

asked his friends how much food they had with them.

They went throughout the crowd asking who had food.

All they could find was a boy with five loaves of bread and two little fish. Quickly, they took the food to Jesus.

How would he feed everyone with such a small amount

of food?

It seems impossible, but not for Jesus. Jesus told his

followers to make everyone sit on the ground. When they

were all seated, he took the five loaves and two fish. Then

he thanked God for the food. After Jesus prayed, he passed

the food out to his friends to give to the people. There was plenty of food for everyone to eat. When they had eaten,

Jesus told his followers to gather up all the food that was left over.

Do you think anything was left?

Yes! There was food left over!

The Bible says there were still twelve large baskets of

food left.

Isn’t that amazing?

`` Talk About It 1. How many people were listening to Jesus?

2. Why were they hungry?

3. What food did Jesus give to the crowd? 4. How did he feed them?

5. Would you have missed a meal to hear Jesus?

46  ◀ Chapter 10: Jesus Feeds More Than 5000 People

‡‡ Pray About It Lord Jesus, I know you hear my prayers when I ask for

the things I need. I believe you can do anything. Thank

you for loving me so much. Thank you for giving me the things I need every day. Amen.

Chapter 10: Jesus Feeds More Than 5000 People ▶ 47

Chapter 11 — Mark 6:45–52

Jesus Walks on Water 66 Read About It Remember the day Jesus fed over 5000 men and many

other people?

At the end of that day, Jesus told his followers to get

into a boat and go to the other side of Lake Galilee. He told them he would come later. Then Jesus told the people in the crowd to go home.

What did Jesus do after everyone left? He was probably very tired.

Remember how he spent most of the day teaching

people about the Good News? And how he fed all the people with bread and fish?

Now it was getting dark.

What would you do after a hard day of work? Would you lie down? Sleep?

Do you know what Jesus did?

At the end of the day, Jesus wanted to talk to God, so he

went up into the hills to pray.

Jesus often wanted to spend time alone with his ­Father.

God always gave him strength to continue his work. Jesus

knew God would give him the words to say and the power

to do miracles. He often stopped to pray before he did

anything else.

Jesus prayed for several hours. When he finished, it

was very late. He went down to the lake and could see his friends struggling to row their boat because it was very

Chapter 11: Jesus Walks on Water ▶ 49

windy. Then Jesus went out to the boat, walking on the water.

Can you walk on water?

Have you ever seen anyone walk on water?

Why do you think Jesus could walk on water?

Very good! Jesus could walk on water because he is God. But do you remember that Jesus also had been praying

to his ­Father for help?

Before we do anything, it is very important to pray and

ask God to help us.

Just like you, the friends of Jesus had never seen anyone

walk on water. So when they saw him coming, they

thought he was a ghost. They were scared and started screaming.

Immediately, Jesus spoke to them. He said who he was

and told them not to be afraid. Then he got into the boat.

As soon as he stepped in, the wind stopped.

His friends were completely amazed at what they saw.

But things like this happened every day with Jesus! They saw Jesus do so many wonderful things. These miracles

helped them to believe that Jesus is really God and that

they should put their trust in him.

`` Talk About It 1. What did Jesus do before he walked on the water?

2. Why do you think Jesus walked on the water to the

boat?

3. Why were Jesus’ friends scared?

4. Before you do anything new or important, what

should you do first? Why?

50  ◀ Chapter 11: Jesus Walks on Water

‡‡ Pray About It Lord Jesus, every time I start to do something, help me

remember to pray first. I need you to help me and guide

me. And I want everyone I help to know that you are the one who is helping me. I want them to know you too.

Amen.

Chapter 11: Jesus Walks on Water ▶ 51

Chapter 12 — Luke 5:1–11

Jesus’ Friends Catch Many Fish 66 Read About It Jesus continued telling people everywhere about the

Good News. He told them how to trust and obey God.

His teaching was so new and exciting that many people wanted to hear it. One day, Jesus was teaching on the

shore of Lake Galilee. So many people pushed against him

that Jesus got into a boat. He told his close friend Simon

(Peter) to push the boat off a little from the shore so that he could continue teaching.

When Jesus finished teaching, he had Simon row his

boat out into deeper water. He told him they would catch some fish farther out on the lake.

Simon did not want to do what Jesus said. He and his

friends had already spent all night trying to catch fish. But Simon had already seen Jesus perform miracles, so he said, “Master, we worked hard all night trying to catch fish

and caught nothing. But you say I should put the nets into the water, so I will.”

So the fishermen put their nets into the water.

And what do you think happened?

It seemed like all the fish in the lake came and jumped

into their nets! The nets were so full that they began

to break! They weighed so much that the boat started sinking!

How do you explain that? Chapter 12: Jesus’ Friends Catch Many Fish ▶ 53

Remember that Jesus is God. And only God could make

all the fish in a lake obey him.

What do you think Simon did then?

He was so amazed that he bowed down before Jesus!

This was a lesson to help Simon remember how

important it is to obey Jesus. If Simon had not obeyed

Jesus, he and his friends would not have caught anything.

But because they obeyed, they had more fish than they could count. Even the fish seemed to obey Jesus!

And this is also a lesson for us. The most important

thing we can do is to obey Jesus. And when we obey, he gives us everything we need for our lives.

Jesus wants to give us many things. He wants us to

have the joy that comes from obeying him in everything

we do.

`` Talk About It 1. After Jesus finished teaching the people, what did

he tell Simon to do?

2. Why didn’t Simon want to put his nets into the

water again?

3. What did Simon do when he caught so many fish?

‡‡ Pray About It Lord Jesus, I love you very much. And I always want to

obey you. Help me to do anything you ask me to do. Thank

you for providing the things I need in my life. Amen.

54  ◀ Chapter 12: Jesus’ Friends Catch Many Fish

▶ 55

Chapter 13 — Luke 8:40–56

Jesus Gives Life to a Dead Girl 66 Read About It One day, a little girl became very sick. She was the

daughter of an important man named Jairus. He was a

leader of the Jewish community or “synagogue” in the

town where they lived. A synagogue was a building where

Jewish people gathered to pray, study God’s Word and have other public meetings.

The little girl was so sick that she was dying.

Can you imagine how the little girl’s father felt?

He was very sad because he had lost hope that his

daughter would live.

How old was this little girl?

She was twelve years old! She was also her parents’ only

child!

Jairus was desperate for someone to help his daughter,

so he went to find Jesus.

When he found Jesus, do you know what Jairus did?

He knelt down before Jesus and begged him to come

and heal his daughter.

Jairus had probably heard about or seen some of the

miracles Jesus had done. He hoped Jesus would also heal his daughter.

Jesus always wants to help people with their problems.

So Jesus began to walk to Jairus’ home to see the child.

But they could not walk fast because of all the people

Chapter 13: Jesus Gives Life to a Dead Girl ▶ 57

crowding around. And some of these people also needed

Jesus’ help.

Can you imagine how desperate Jairus must have felt

when the people were slowing Jesus down?

And just then, a man came running up to Jairus and

said,

“Your daughter has died! There is no need to bother the

Teacher any more.”

Can you imagine how Jairus felt then?

His eyes probably filled with tears. His only daughter

was dead!

But immediately Jesus said to Jairus,

“Don’t be afraid. Just believe and your daughter will be

well.”

They kept walking towards Jairus’ house. When

they got there, everyone was crying. The people did not believe anything could be done for the girl because she

was already dead. They laughed when Jesus said she was only sleeping. But Jesus showed again that he is able

to do things that are impossible for other people to do.

Immediately, he went to where the child was, took her by her hand, and said,

“Stand up, my child!”

And can you guess what happened next?

The girl opened her eyes and stood up! Isn’t that

amazing?

Did you know that even people who are dead must obey

Jesus?

How do you think the girl’s parents felt?

They were very surprised. But they were also very

happy!

58  ◀ Chapter 13: Jesus Gives Life to a Dead Girl

Jesus showed that he alone can give life to people who

are dead.

Do you know why?

Because Jesus is God himself, the Creator of life!

`` Talk About It 1. How old was the girl who died?

2. What kind of work did her father do? 3. What did Jesus say to the little girl?

4. Why can Jesus give life to people who are dead? 5. Who is the only one who can give us life?

‡‡ Pray About It Lord Jesus, I thank you and praise you because you are

God—a God who is able to give us life again one day, even

when we die. Help me to not fear dying, because I know

you will give me life again one day. And help me believe that you will take me to live with you forever. Amen.

Chapter 13: Jesus Gives Life to a Dead Girl ▶ 59

Chapter 14 — Luke 10:25–37

Jesus Tells a Story About a Good Samaritan 66 Read About It A man once asked Jesus what must be done to get

eternal life. The man was an expert in the laws of the

Jewish people, so Jesus asked him what the law said about it. The man answered:

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your

soul, all your strength and all your mind. Also, love your

neighbour the same as you love yourself.”

Jesus told him he was right and that was what he

needed to do. The man wanted to show that he was

already doing the things he thought he should to get eternal life, so he said to Jesus,

“But who is my neighbour?”

Do you know what a neighbour is?

Then Jesus told a story to show what it means to be a

neighbour.

Jesus said that one day a Jewish man was travelling

on a road from one town to another. Suddenly, robbers

attacked him. They beat him up and took away everything he had. They left him hurt and almost dead on the road.

Before long, a priest walked by the man. Priests were leaders in the Jewish Temple.

What do you think the priest did when he saw the

wounded man?

Chapter 14: Jesus Tells a Story About a Good Samaritan ▶ 61

He only looked at him and kept walking! He did not

even stop to ask how he could help.

Then another man came down the road. He was a

Levite. Levites were men who helped the priests in the

Jewish Temple.

Do you think he helped the hurt man?

No! He did the same thing as the priest. He only stared

at the man and kept going.

Later, another man came by. He was a Samaritan.

Do you know who the Samaritans were?

The Samaritans were enemies of the Jewish people

for many years. The Jews hated them so much that they

would not even speak to them. Most Jews would not stay

in or even pass through cities where the Samaritans lived.

They did not want to step on the same ground where the Samaritans walked.

What do you think the Samaritan did when he saw the

Jewish man lying there hurt?

He felt sorry for him. So he stopped to help him.

He walked over to the man, cleaned his wounds and

bandaged them. Then he put the man on his donkey. He

took the man to an inn and took care of him. He stayed

with the man all night. The next day, the Samaritan had

to leave, but he gave the innkeeper some money and said, “Take care of this hurt man. If you spend more money

on him, I will pay it back to you when I come again.”

The Samaritan not only took care of an injured Jewish

man, but he even took the man to a safe place and paid for his stay. Even more, the Samaritan paid someone else to continue taking care of the man.

62  ◀ Chapter 14: Jesus Tells a Story About a Good Samaritan

Then Jesus asked the man:

“Which one of these three men do you think was really

a neighbour to the man who was hurt by the robbers?” The man said it was the Samaritan. Then Jesus replied to the man:

“Then you go and do the same.”

This story Jesus told made it clear that it is more

important to act like a neighbour than to ask who my

neighbour is. The Samaritan did not think about whether or not the hurt man was his enemy. He only saw that the

man needed help, so he treated him like a neighbour.

`` Talk About It 1. Who is your neighbour?

2. What does the Word of God say about how we

should treat our neighbour?

3. Who was the man who helped the injured Jewish

man?

4. Who were the Samaritans?

5. How can you show your love for your neighbour?

‡‡ Pray About It Lord Jesus, help me to always remember that every

person can be my neighbour. Teach me how to help other people with their needs. I want to be a good neighbour.

Please help me. Amen.

Chapter 14: Jesus Tells a Story About a Good Samaritan ▶ 63

Chapter 15 — Luke 15:1–7

Jesus Tells a Story About a Lost Sheep 66 Read About It Jewish leaders often complained about Jesus. This time

they wanted to know why he spent so much time with

bad people. They wondered why he ate with people who

did bad things. Jesus answered them by telling a story. He said,

“Suppose one of you has 100 sheep, but one of them gets

lost. What will you do? You will leave the other 99 sheep

there in the field and go out and look for the lost sheep.

You will continue to search for it until you find it. And

when you find it, you will be very happy. You will carry it

home, go to your friends and neighbours and say to them,

‘Be happy with me because I found my lost sheep!’ ”

Everyone who heard the story understood what Jesus

was saying. Many people owned sheep where Jesus lived. So they knew how it felt to lose one.

Did you know that sheep are animals that can’t find

water by themselves?

It is easy for sheep to get lost and not know how to find

their way back home. When they are left alone, they begin

to cry. Shepherds know that if a sheep is lost it will die if it is not found.

So, during the time Jesus lived on earth, shepherds

would count all their sheep at the end of each day. They

wanted to make sure none of them were missing. If one

was missing, a shepherd would go and look for it until he Chapter 15: Jesus Tells a Story About a Lost Sheep ▶ 65

found it. He would carry it back home like a baby. He was so happy to have his lost sheep back safely.

it:

After Jesus finished the story, he explained why he told

“In the same way, I tell you, heaven is a happy place

when one sinner decides to change. There is more joy for

that one sinner than for 99 good people who don’t need to change.”

Jesus said people who do wrong things are like sheep

who are lost. That is why God sent his Son—to find and rescue lost people.

Why do people wander away from God and get lost?

Some people lose their way because they don’t know

God’s way. Other people may know God’s way but fail to

follow it. They get involved in other things and forget how important it is to do what God tells us. We need to know

what God’s Word says. We will be happy only if we follow him.

`` Talk About It 1. Why did Jesus tell this story about a lost sheep?

2. What did Jesus say makes heaven happy? 3. Why did Jesus come to earth?

‡‡ Pray About It Lord Jesus, thank you for being my Shepherd and

taking care of me. Help me to stay close to you, talk to

you and read your Word every day. I want to learn how to follow you. Please help me. Amen.

66  ◀ Chapter 15: Jesus Tells a Story About a Lost Sheep

▶ 67

Chapter 16 — Luke 15:11–32

Jesus Tells a Story About Two Sons 66 Read About It Jesus once told a story to help people understand God’s

great love for them. Jesus wants every person to know God

as a loving F ­ ather.

The story Jesus told was about a man who had two sons.

The oldest son always obeyed his father. But the younger son was tired of doing everything his father told him to

do. He wanted to leave home, so he asked his father to

give him all the money he would get when his father died.

He wanted to travel to faraway places and do whatever he wanted.

What do you think the father did?

The father was very sad, but he gave his son the money.

He loved his son. But he knew one way for his child to

understand his love was to give him what he asked for.

When children grow up, their parents let them learn many things for themselves.

So the son took the money, gathered all his things and

left home. Once he was away, he started spending the

money on whatever he wanted. As the days went by, he

kept spending more and more until he had nothing left. What do you think the son did when he ran out of

money?

Did he go back home to his father?

No! He knew he had acted very badly. Maybe he was

afraid his father would be angry and not welcome him

Chapter 16: Jesus Tells a Story About Two Sons ▶ 69

back. Maybe he was also too proud to admit he had been

wrong to do what he did. He decided to look for a job. But it was a very difficult time to find work. Finally, he found

a job.

But do you know what kind of job he found?

He got a job caring for pigs! This was the worst job a

Jew could imagine because for them pigs were “unclean”.

This meant he should not even touch them! Besides this, the work paid the young man so little that he could not buy enough food. Sometimes he was so hungry that he

wanted to eat the food he was feeding the pigs!

Finally, he realized how foolish he had been. He

thought:

“All my father’s hired workers have plenty of food. But

here I am, almost dead because I have nothing to eat. I will

leave and go to my father. This is what I will say to him:

‘­Father, I have sinned against God and have done wrong to you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. But let me be like one of your hired workers.’ ”

He immediately decided to go home to his father.

Before he got very close to home, his father saw him coming from a long way off.

What do you think his father did? Did he scold his son? No.

Did he send his son away again? No.

The father ran to meet his son! He loved his son very

much. He threw his arms around him. The father told his hired workers to plan for a very big party. He saw that his son’s heart had changed, so the father forgave him.

70  ◀ Chapter 16: Jesus Tells a Story About Two Sons

Jesus told this story to let people know about God, his

­Father in heaven. God loves people so much that he wants them to do what he says because it is for their good. But if they don’t obey, he still loves them and will wait patiently

for them to change their hearts. When they return to him, he will forgive them and welcome them home, like the

father in the story did with his son.

But what happened to the other son, the older one? Remember, he always obeyed his father. When the

younger brother came home, the older son was working in the field. When he stopped working for the day and came home, he heard the music from the party. He asked a boy outside the house what was going on. The boy told him

his brother had come home and how happy his father was. Do you think the older brother was happy too?

No. He became very angry. He would not go inside to

the party. His father heard he was outside and went to talk to him. The son said to his father:

“Look, for all these years I have worked like a slave

for you. I have always done what you told me to do, and

you never gave me even a young goat for a party with

my friends. But then this son of yours comes home after

wasting your money on prostitutes, and you kill the best calf for him!”

His father said to him:

“Oh, my son, you are always with me, and everything I

have is yours. But this was a day to be happy and celebrate.

Your brother was dead, but now he is alive. He was lost, but now he is found.”

Jesus added this last part of the story for some of the

Jewish religious leaders to hear. They were like the older Chapter 16: Jesus Tells a Story About Two Sons ▶ 71

son who did not want to forgive his brother. They were

careful to obey God’s law, but they did not understand

God’s love for lost people. They criticized Jesus for

spending time with “sinners” because they did not share

God’s willingness to forgive people who have done wrong.

They thought of themselves as the only people God should love.

`` Talk About It 1. What did the younger son ask his father to give

him?

2. What happened to the younger son when he was

away from his father?

3. What did the younger son plan to say to his father

when he got home?

4. What did the father say when his son came home? 5. Who is like the father in this story?

6. Why was the older son angry?

‡‡ Pray About It Lord Jesus, please help me to always be near you. I

want to obey you. Forgive the wrong things I have done

and help me to not do them again. I never want to leave

you. And help me to be happy for anyone who wants to

change and come back to you. Thank you for your love and

willingness to forgive me. Amen.

72  ◀ Chapter 16: Jesus Tells a Story About Two Sons

▶ 73

Chapter 17 — Matthew 13:1–23

Jesus Tells a Story About a Farmer Sowing Seed 66 Read About It Jesus told another story to his friends. He explained the

different ways people receive the Word of God when they

hear it.

Jesus said a farmer went out to plant seed, but when he

threw the seed, it fell in different places. Some of it fell by the road. Birds came and ate all that seed.

Other seed fell among the rocks. There was not enough

dirt for the seed to grow deep roots. The seed grew very

fast, but when the sun got hot, all the plants died.

Still other seed fell among thorny weeds. The weeds

slowed the growth of the good plants.

But finally, some seed fell on good ground and started

to grow. Those plants were able to grow and make good grain.

Do you understand what Jesus meant by telling this

story?

When Jesus first told this story, the people who were

listening did not understand very well. Jesus told his

friends:

“God has allowed you to know the secret truths about

God’s kingdom. Those other people cannot know these secret truths.”

Then Jesus explained the meaning of the story to his

followers.

Chapter 17: Jesus Tells a Story About a Farmer Sowing Seed ▶ 75

The seed is like God’s Word.

The seed that fell by the road is like people who hear

the teaching about God’s kingdom, but do not understand.

The devil takes away the teaching God has planted in their hearts.

The seed that fell on the rocky ground is like people

who are happy at first to hear the Word of God. But they do not let it put roots deep into their hearts. When bad

times come, they soon forget about what they have heard.

The seed that fell on the ground with the thorny weeds

is like people who, after hearing God’s Word, let other

things draw their attention away. They let things like the

worries of life and the love of money keep the Word from producing the good results God wants in their lives.

Finally, seed that fell on the good ground is like people

who hear and understand God’s Word. Even though they might have done bad things, they begin immediately to obey God. Their hearts and lives are changed. And they

want to tell everyone about God’s Word.

`` Talk About It 1. What are the seeds like?

2. What is the ground by the road like? 3. What is the rocky ground like?

4. What is the ground with the thorny weeds like? 5. What is the good ground like?

6. What kind of ground do you want to be?

76  ◀ Chapter 17: Jesus Tells a Story About a Farmer Sowing Seed

‡‡ Pray About It Lord Jesus, thank you for your Word. I am happy that

you want it to be planted in the hearts of all people. Help me to be like the good ground. And help me plant your

Word by sharing it with everyone I can. I always want to hear and obey you. Please help me. Amen.

Chapter 17: Jesus Tells a Story About a Farmer Sowing Seed ▶ 77

Chapter 18 — Matthew 21:1–11 and Luke 19:28–38

Jesus Enters Jerusalem Like a King 66 Read About It Many times, Jesus told his followers he must go to

Jerusalem to face the difficult things God sent him to do. He knew that in Jerusalem the Jewish religious leaders would try to stop him from teaching the people. They

would say bad things about him. In the end, they would have him killed. His followers did not like to hear Jesus

talk about these things.

But Jesus explained to his followers that he would have

to suffer. The religious and political leaders would reject him. Finally, he would have to die. But he told them he

would rise from death in three days.

Why did Jesus tell them these things?

Because Jesus knew that if he died, his death would

free people from their sins. That way people could be close to God. Jesus told them that he had not come for people to serve him. He came to serve others by setting them free.

Did you know that when we sin, we become servants of

sin?

We become trapped by the bad things we do. Once

we start doing these bad things, it is like we cannot

stop doing them. Once we become trapped, we feel very

ashamed. We know it makes God very sad. But do you know what God is like?

God is holy. He is not like us. He never sins or does bad

things. There is no one else like God. God is always good,

Chapter 18: Jesus Enters Jerusalem Like a King ▶ 79

and he always does good things. God shows us his love through Jesus.

What does God do when we trust Jesus?

When we put our trust in Jesus, God takes away our

guilt and erases our sin. When God forgives our sin, he

also takes us out of the trap of sin. He gives us the power

to begin wanting to do good things instead of bad things. What happens inside us when we trust Jesus?

As we keep trusting in Jesus, he helps us to stay away

from doing bad things. So we no longer feel ashamed.

We can come near to God without fear. This changes

everything. We can pray to God and know he hears us. We

know he will do what is best for us. We also look forward

to living with God forever. This is why Jesus was willing to die. He wanted to bring us close to God.

Do you know what Jesus did just before he died?

When the time came for Jesus to die, he went with his

followers to a small town outside Jerusalem. He sent them to get a donkey that he said was waiting for them. No one had ever ridden this special donkey before. Jesus would be

the first person to ride it. He chose this donkey to carry him into Jerusalem.

Why do you think Jesus chose a donkey instead of a

horse?

Matthew tells us that Jesus is following a prophecy

from the Old Testament:

“Now your king is coming to you. He is humble and

riding on a donkey.”

So the donkey may show that Jesus was God’s king

coming to free his people. And it may also be a symbol of 80  ◀ Chapter 18: Jesus Enters Jerusalem Like a King

his humility as a man. It is a surprising picture: “God on a donkey!”

When the people saw him coming, they began to shout:

“Welcome! God bless the king who comes in the name of

the Lord. Peace begins in heaven, and glory belongs to God!” Many of these people believed that Jesus was the king

that God had promised to send to save them. But the

Jewish religious leaders were angry.

Do you know why they were angry?

These leaders did not believe Jesus was the king that

God had promised. They did not think he looked or acted

like the king they were expecting. They wanted a military leader who would defeat their enemies. But God would soon show everyone how wrong these leaders were.

`` Talk About It 1. Why did Jesus have to die?

2. How is it possible for us to come near to God?

3. Why did Jesus choose a donkey instead of a horse? 4. What did the people shout when Jesus entered

Jerusalem? Why?

5. Do you believe Jesus is the king God sent to save

you? If so, here’s a prayer you can say.

‡‡ Pray About It Lord Jesus, I want you to be the king of my life. Please

show me how to always obey you. Thank you for dying

for me to get rid of my sin. Thank you for giving me the power to do good things. I love you. Amen.

Chapter 18: Jesus Enters Jerusalem Like a King ▶ 81

Chapter 19 — Matthew 21:12–17

Jesus Goes to the Temple 66 Read About It The Temple in Jerusalem was where the Jewish people

came to worship and offer sacrifices to God. Jesus’ parents

took him to the Temple when he was a baby. They once took Jesus to the Temple when he was 12 years old. The

Bible also says Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem every year for a festival called Passover.

The Temple was very important to the Jewish people.

Even small children were taught that it was the place

where God heard the prayers of the people. All Jews would know these words from Scripture:

“My Temple will be called a house of prayer for all

nations.”

After Jesus rode the donkey into the city of Jerusalem,

he went to the Temple. The things he saw there made

him sad and angry. The Temple yard looked like a market

where people buy and sell things. There were people

selling animals for others to buy. The people gave these

animals to the priests to sacrifice in the Temple. There

were other people exchanging different kinds of money

in a way that was not fair. The sellers were charging more than they should and were cheating people. This made it

harder for people, especially the poor, to do the things the

Scriptures said they should do to worship God.

Chapter 19: Jesus Goes to the Temple ▶ 83

When Jesus saw that the Temple area was being used

in this way, he became angry. He began to turn over the tables and benches of the sellers. He said,

“My Temple will be called a house of prayer. But you are

changing it into a ‘hiding place for thieves.’ ”

As he turned over tables, animals probably ran or flew

away. Money would have fallen on the ground. People

probably started running. Jesus wanted to make this area

of the Temple a peaceful place again, a place for people to

pray.

In this way Jesus taught that God wanted the Temple

to be a place for every person to come to God. God did not

plan the Temple to be only for rich people. He wanted poor people and people who were not Jews to be able to pray

there as well. Jesus became sad and angry when he saw the Temple was not being used the way God wanted.

The Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed shortly after

Jesus left this earth. But God still has a temple. Now God’s temple is his people. And God wants his people to be a

community where all are welcome to worship him and

pray to him. God wants us to remember that he loves all

people—rich and poor all over the world. God wants us to

make other people feel like they are at home with us.

`` Talk About It 1. What were Jewish children taught about the

Temple?

2. What did Jesus do when he came to the Temple? 3. What did Jesus want to teach about the Temple?

84  ◀ Chapter 19: Jesus Goes to the Temple

‡‡ Pray About It Lord Jesus, forgive me because sometimes I do not treat

people the way you want. Help me to always treat people

like you would. I know you want everyone to hear your

Good News and come to you. Help me to share with others how wonderful you are. Amen.

Chapter 19: Jesus Goes to the Temple ▶ 85

Chapter 20 — Luke 22:7–23

Jesus Eats a Passover Meal with His Friends 66 Read About It Just before Jesus died, he wanted to celebrate a special

day with his friends. That day is called Passover. Do you know what happens on Passover?

On the day of Passover, a very special meal is prepared,

and it is eaten as a family meal on that evening. The

Jewish people do this each year as a reminder of the very first Passover, when God set the Jewish people free from slavery in Egypt. That first Passover was over 3000 years

ago.

The Jewish people once suffered very much as slaves in

Egypt.

Do you know how many years the Jewish people were

slaves in that land?

Almost 400 years!

Their last years in Egypt were especially hard because

Egypt’s king (called Pharaoh) was a very bad man. Pharaoh forced the people to work all day long, and he made their

work very difficult. He also had them beaten.

The Jewish people cried out to God for help. God

answered their prayers by choosing a man named Moses

to go and tell Pharaoh to let the Jewish people leave Egypt.

But Pharaoh refused.

Then God caused some miracles to happen. These

miracles were signs warning Pharaoh to let the Jewish Chapter 20: Jesus Eats a Passover Meal with His Friends ▶ 87

people leave Egypt. God warned Pharaoh nine different

times by causing all kinds of terrible things to happen to the land of Egypt and its people. But Pharaoh would not listen!

As each bad thing happened, the Lord God protected

the Jewish people. The Egyptians suffered terribly, but

Pharaoh would not let the people of Israel go free. He was a very stubborn man. But God wanted his people to be

free. He told the Israelites that he loved them like his own children. So God caused the most terrible, but amazing,

sign—one he knew would change Pharaoh’s mind. As the

tenth and last sign, the Lord God came one night with an

angel called the Destroyer. The angel went into the houses to kill all the firstborn Egyptians—the first child born in each family!

But God gave the Jewish people a way to protect their

children. God told Moses that every family should kill a

lamb. They were to take the blood of the lamb and smear

it on the doorposts of their houses. Then for their evening meal, God told them to eat the lamb with some bitter

greens and bread without yeast. That night, the firstborn

Egyptians died, but no Jewish children died. The blood of the lambs on the doors of the houses caused God to

“pass over” those houses. This is where the name Passover comes from.

Do you think Pharaoh was ready to let the Jewish

people go after that?

Yes, he was. He ordered them to leave Egypt

immediately! Pharaoh was especially sad because his own son had died that night. He did not want to see any more

of these awful signs from God.

88  ◀ Chapter 20: Jesus Eats a Passover Meal with His Friends

That is how Passover started. After that, God told his

people to eat a special Passover meal each year at the

same time to remember how God set his people free. So

every year the Jewish people still celebrate Passover by

eating a meal as a family. During the meal, parents tell

their children the story of when God freed the people

from Egypt and brought them to their home in the land of

Israel.

For Jewish people, this special day is very important.

That is why Jesus wanted to celebrate Passover with his friends. When the meal was prepared, Jesus sat at the table and said,

“I wanted very much to eat this Passover meal with you

before I die. I will never eat another Passover meal until it

is given its full meaning in God’s kingdom.”

After he said this, Jesus prayed, thanking God for the

food of the Passover meal. Then he began to pass wine

around to his friends and said,

“Take this cup and give it to everyone here. I will not

drink wine again until God’s kingdom comes.”

Then he took bread and thanked God for it too. He

broke off some pieces. He handed the pieces to his friends

and said,

“This bread is my body that I am giving for you. Eat this

to remember me.”

Do you know what Jesus was saying?

He was saying that his death on the cross is like a new

Passover. That is, his death paid the penalty for our sin

and freed us from slavery to sin. So now God can forgive all the bad things we have ever done because of Jesus’ sacrifice.

Chapter 20: Jesus Eats a Passover Meal with His Friends ▶ 89

This last meal that Jesus ate with his followers came

to be called the Lord’s Supper. His followers continued to

eat the Lord’s Supper when they came together. And they

remembered the special meaning Jesus gave to the bread

and wine. We still celebrate Jesus as the new Passover

lamb every time we eat this meal together. When we eat

the Lord’s Supper, we remember that we are free from the guilt of sin because Jesus offered his body and blood as a sacrifice for us.

`` Talk About It 1. What did the Passover celebrate?

2. How often did the Jewish people celebrate Passover? 3. Who is the new Passover lamb? 4. Why did Jesus die?

5. Do you believe that Jesus died to take away your

sins?

6. Would you like everyone to know this Good News?

‡‡ Pray About It Lord Jesus, I know you loved me before I was even born.

And I love you too. Thank you for coming to earth from

heaven to die so that all my sins can be forgiven. Thank

you for being the Passover lamb for me. I want to tell all my friends about you. Please help me. Amen.

90  ◀ Chapter 20: Jesus Eats a Passover Meal with His Friends

▶ 91

Chapter 21 — Matthew 26:47 – 27:61

Jesus Is Killed 66 Read About It The Jewish religious leaders were always against Jesus. Do you know why?

Because Jesus did not fit their idea of the king they

were expecting God to send. To them, he did not act like a king and certainly not like someone from God.

Jesus spent time with people that the religious leaders

thought were the worst sinners. Jesus showed love for

people who were poor and powerless. He healed the sick,

the blind, the deaf and the lame. He said these were the

kind of people who are most important to God—not the

people the world thinks are important. And this made the

religious leaders angry because they thought they were

the most important!

The religious leaders did not believe Jesus had come

from God. So they were very angry that he called God his father and made himself equal to God. Also, they were jealous of how popular Jesus was. Many people were

attracted to Jesus because of his teaching, his love and the good things he did. The leaders were afraid of his

influence over the people. So they made plans to kill him. But how could they kill him without being accused of

murder?

They had to find a way to charge him with a crime

worthy of the death penalty. They decided to arrest him.

With the help of Judas, one of Jesus’ followers, they found Chapter 21: Jesus Is Killed ▶ 93

him and arrested him late one night. They took him to the house of the high priest, where they questioned him all

night. They brought in a lot of people who told lies about

Jesus, but the leaders still did not find any reason to kill

him. But then two people said something that the Jewish

leaders thought was proof of Jesus’ claim to be equal to God.

The high priest asked Jesus if these charges were true.

But Jesus said nothing. He did not defend himself but

trusted God to take care of him. He knew it was God’s plan

for him to die as a sacrifice for the sins of the world.

Then the high priest commanded Jesus to answer this

question:

“Are you the Messiah [king], the Son of God?”

Jesus said, “Yes.” Then he quoted a Scripture that made

it clear that he claimed to be God’s Chosen King.

According to their Jewish law, this claim was a crime

worthy of death. But even then, the Jewish leaders did

not have the authority to execute Jesus. So they had to

convince the Roman governor that Jesus was dangerous

and should be executed.

When morning came, they led Jesus to Governor Pilate.

The first question Pilate asked him was, “Are you the king of the Jews?”

This tells us what charge the Jewish leaders had

made against him. Of course, Jesus is the king that God

promised to send to Israel. So he agreed that he was. But he was not the kind of king the Jewish leaders wanted

Pilate to think he was. They wanted Pilate to see that

Jesus’ claim to be king made him dangerous to the Roman 94  ◀ Chapter 21: Jesus Is Killed

government. They were trying to give Pilate a reason to execute him.

Pilate finally gave in to the Jewish crowd. They began

shouting for Jesus to be killed on a cross, a Roman way of

killing criminals. Pilate turned Jesus over to his soldiers,

who beat him, dressed him up like a king with a crown made from thorny branches and made fun of him.

Finally, they led him out of the city to a hill, where

they nailed his hands and feet to a wooden cross and

raised it up, leaving him hanging there to die. Some of the religious leaders shouted insults at him and said,

“He saved others, but he can’t save himself! If he is the

king of Israel, he should come down now from the cross!

Then we will believe in him. He trusted God and even said he was God’s son. So let God save him now, if God really

wants him.”

Can you imagine the pain Jesus suffered?

It was not only physical pain that Jesus felt. He was also

hurt that his own people did not believe in him. Instead,

they mistreated him. They did not understand who he really was.

But Jesus still did not defend himself.

Did you know that Jesus could have called angels to

come and defend him and to save him? But he did not!

Jesus did not die for doing something bad. He died for

you and me and everyone in the world. We have all done bad things that keep us away from God. He loves us so

much that he wants to set us free from sin and give us life

forever in his kingdom.

Chapter 21: Jesus Is Killed ▶ 95

Do you wonder where Jesus’ friends and family were

when he was dying? What did they do?

Some of Jesus’ followers were so afraid that they ran

and hid. But a few of them followed him, like his close

friend John. Jesus’ mother and some of the women who

were his friends stayed nearby too. All they could do was cry.

That afternoon, a rich and important Jew named

Joseph came and asked Pilate for permission to bury Jesus’ body. He had become a follower of Jesus, hoping Jesus

would bring the kingdom of God. He took Jesus’ body

down from the cross and buried it quickly. The Sabbath

would begin as soon as the sun went down. Jews were

commanded by God to stop all work on this day of rest.

Normally, when someone died, the person’s family and

friends did some things to prepare the body to be buried.

Jesus’ family and friends did not have time to do any of

those things. They decided they would do them after the Sabbath was over. So that night, Jesus body lay in a tomb

that was like a cave.

But don’t think this is where the story ends. In the next

chapter, we will find out what happened on the third day

after Jesus died!

`` Talk About It 1. Why were the Jewish religious leaders always

against Jesus?

2. Was Jesus really God?

3. Why did Jesus not defend himself ?

4. What happened to Jesus’ body after he died?

96  ◀ Chapter 21: Jesus Is Killed

‡‡ Pray About It Lord Jesus, thank you for coming to earth to die for me.

I know you came to take the punishment for my sins and the sins of all people who put their faith in you. I believe

you can give me life with you forever. Help me to tell others about what your death means. Amen.

Chapter 21: Jesus Is Killed ▶ 97

Chapter 22 — Luke 24:1–12 and Matthew 28:11–15

Jesus Rises From Death 66 Read About It It was Sunday, the third day after Jesus died. Very early

in the morning, some of the women who were his friends

went to Jesus’ tomb. They took some sweet-smelling spices to put on Jesus’ body.

Some soldiers had put a huge stone in front of Jesus’

tomb. But when the women got there, the stone was

rolled away from the door. They looked inside the tomb.

And they got a very big surprise: Jesus’ body was not there! As they were wondering where Jesus’ body was, they

suddenly saw two angels. The angels wore bright, shining

clothes. The women were very afraid. But the angels calmed them by saying:

“Why are you looking for a living person here? This is a

place for dead people. Jesus is not here. He has risen from death. Do you remember what he said in Galilee? He said

that the Son of Man must be handed over to the control of sinful men, be killed on a cross and rise from death on the

third day.”

When the women heard what the angels said, they

remembered all these things. They believed that Jesus had risen from death. They were thrilled, so they ran to tell all

Jesus’ friends.

What do you think Jesus’ friends were thinking and

feeling after he died?

Chapter 22: Jesus Rises From Death ▶ 99

Of course, they were very sad. And they were

disappointed because all the wonderful things they

expected Jesus to do had not happened. Like the women

at the tomb, Jesus’ friends also forgot everything Jesus said would happen. So the friends did not believe the

women when they told them Jesus was alive. It sounded

like nonsense! But Peter ran to the tomb to see if what the

women said was true. When he came to the tomb, all he

saw was the cloth that Jesus’ body had been wrapped in. It

was just lying there. But he did not see Jesus’ body! Peter wondered what had happened.

After the women left the tomb, some of the soldiers

there ran to tell the Jewish religious leaders everything

that happened. The leaders were afraid that if the people

heard this news, they would all believe Jesus really did rise

from death. And this would convince everyone that Jesus really was who he said he was—the Son of God. So the

leaders gave money to the soldiers to tell lies to the people. Can you guess what lies they told?

They said that Jesus’ friends came during the night and

stole his body. And many people believed this lie.

But the truth is that Jesus rose from death. And

this proved that he was who he said he was and that

everything he promised would happen. God raised Jesus

from death, which shows his great power over all the forces of evil.

100  ◀ Chapter 22: Jesus Rises From Death

`` Talk About It 1. Why did the women go to the tomb early on Sunday?

2. What surprise did they find?

3. Who told the women what had happened?

4. What do you think happened to Jesus’ body? 5. What lie did the soldiers tell?

‡‡ Pray About It God, I thank you that Jesus was not dead on that

Sunday morning. Thank you that Jesus showed he is God

and really has power over death. Thank you that when I die, I know Jesus can raise me from death to live forever

with him. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Chapter 22: Jesus Rises From Death ▶ 101

Chapter 23 — Luke 24:13–49

The Risen Jesus Talks to Some of His Friends 66 Read About It On Sunday, the day Jesus rose from death, two of

his friends were walking down a road going away from

Jerusalem. They had known Jesus. They had seen his

miracles. Now they were headed towards a village called

Emmaus. They were very sad. As they walked, they talked

about all the terrible things that had happened in the city, ending in Jesus’ death.

Jesus approached them and began walking with them.

They did not recognize him. Jesus asked:

“What’s this I hear you discussing with each other as

you walk?”

The two friends were very surprised. They could

not believe that this man, who had obviously been in

Jerusalem, did not know what had happened there on

Friday. Why didn’t he know about Jesus being killed? So

they began to explain what had happened. They told him how sad they were. They told him how they had believed

that Jesus would be the one who would save Israel. But now they didn’t know what to believe. And then one of them said:

“And now something else: it has been three days since

he was killed, but today some of our women told us an

amazing thing. Early this morning they went to the tomb Chapter 23: The Risen Jesus Talks to Some of His Friends ▶ 103

where the body of Jesus was laid. But they did not find his body there. They came and told us they had seen some

angels in a vision. The angels told them Jesus was alive! So some of our group went to the tomb too. It was just as the

women said. They saw the tomb, but they did not see Jesus.” Then Jesus said to them:

“Why is it so hard for you to understand and accept all

that the prophets wrote? They said that the Messiah must suffer these things before his time of glory.”

They kept talking as they walked down the road, and

Jesus continued to explain to them what the Scriptures said about him. When they arrived in the town of

Emmaus, Jesus acted as if he was not going to stop there.

But the two friends begged him to stay because it was almost dark. So Jesus stayed with them.

Up to this point, neither of the two people recognized

Jesus. But when they sat down at the supper table, Jesus

picked up the bread and gave thanks. When he broke off a piece of the bread, they recognized him.

As soon as they realized who he was, Jesus disappeared.

They said:

“When he talked to us on the road, it felt like a fire

burning in us. How exciting it was when he explained to

us the true meaning of the Scriptures!”

These two followers of Jesus did not even finish their

meal. They immediately went back to Jerusalem to

tell Jesus’ other friends that they had seen Jesus alive.

They had walked and talked with him, and suddenly

he disappeared! Now they knew for sure that Jesus had defeated death and was living again.

104  ◀ Chapter 23: The Risen Jesus Talks to Some of His Friends

Jesus defeated death, which means he has the power to

raise you from death and give you life forever with him.

`` Talk About It 1. Who was walking on the road to Emmaus?

2. What day was it?

3. Why did these followers not recognize Jesus? 4. When did they recognize him?

5. When Jesus disappeared, what did his two friends

do?

6. Why is it important to you that Jesus rose from

death?

‡‡ Pray About It God, thank you that Jesus defeated death. One day, I

know he will come and give me new life in a new body. I

want to live forever with him. And I want all my friends to know that Jesus is alive. Please help me to tell them. I ask

this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Chapter 23: The Risen Jesus Talks to Some of His Friends ▶ 105

Chapter 24 — John 21:15–19

Jesus and Peter 66 Read About It After Jesus was killed on the cross, he rose from death

on the third day.

When he was alive again, Jesus appeared several times

to people who knew him, especially his closest friends. A few days after Jesus rose from death, some of his

friends went fishing. They had been fishing all night, and it was now early in the morning. Jesus was waiting for

them on the shore of Lake Galilee. He had made a fire and

was cooking some fish.

When Jesus’ followers saw him by the lake, they were

very happy to see him. This was the third time Jesus had

appeared to them. He invited them to join him, and they began to eat together. When they finished eating, Jesus began talking to Peter.

Do you remember who Peter was?

He was one of the special friends Jesus chose to follow

him.

Jesus knew he would soon go back to heaven. So he

asked Peter:

“Do you love me more than these other men love me?”

He wanted Peter to think seriously about how much he

loved him. Peter quickly replied:

“Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Then Jesus said to him:

“Take care of my sheep.” Chapter 24: Jesus and Peter ▶ 107

With these words Jesus was telling Peter to look after

his other followers after Jesus went back to heaven. But

Jesus wanted Peter to be very sure of his love for him, so he asked again:

“Do you love me?”

Peter again said the same thing:

“Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus repeated himself:

“Take care of my sheep.”

And what do you think happened next?

Jesus asked Peter the same thing a third time:

“Do you love me?”

How do you think Peter felt when Jesus asked the same

question for the third time?

He may have felt very sad and ashamed. When Jesus

was on trial, Peter had denied knowing Jesus three times.

Maybe he thought Jesus did not believe him now. But then Peter remembered that Jesus knows what is in a person’s heart. Since Jesus is God, he knows what we are thinking

and feeling. So Peter answered one more time:

“Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.” So, for the last time, Jesus said:

“Take care of my sheep.”

Jesus loved Peter so much that he forgave him for all

the bad things he had done. And he loved him enough to

trust him to do the work he had for him to do. He wanted

to use Peter to tell the world about the Good News. This is

how much Jesus loved Peter. Jesus loves us that much too.

He wants to forgive our sins and use us to tell others about him.

108  ◀ Chapter 24: Jesus and Peter

`` Talk About It 1. Who did Jesus appear to at Lake Galilee after he

rose from death?

2. What did Jesus ask Peter? How many times did he

ask him?

3. What did Jesus want to do for Peter? 4. How much do you love Jesus?

5. Are you sharing the story of Jesus with your friends?

‡‡ Pray About It Lord Jesus, thank you for loving me enough to forgive

all the wrong things I do. I love you too. And thank you for

trusting me to do the work you have for me to do. Help me share the Good News about you with my friends. I know

you love them too. Amen.

Chapter 24: Jesus and Peter ▶ 109

Chapter 25 — Luke 24:44–53 and Acts 1:9–11

Jesus Is Carried Up Into Heaven 66 Read About It Forty days after Jesus rose from death, he returned to

heaven.

Do you know how this happened?

The last day Jesus was on earth, he took his followers

with him to a nearby hill called the Mount of Olives. He

began to explain that he had done all that the Scriptures

said he would do: he suffered and died. He rose from death

on the third day.

Now his followers were to spread the Good News that

Jesus wanted to forgive everyone’s sins. These are all

things that had been written about Jesus hundreds of

years before in the Jewish Scriptures.

But Jesus’ followers weren’t sure what to do next. So Jesus explained these things to them:

“And it is written that the people of all nations must

be told to change and turn to God, which will bring them

his forgiveness. You must start from Jerusalem and tell

this message in my name. Remember that I will send you

the one my ­Father promised. Stay in the city until you are given that power from heaven.”

Jesus’ followers must have felt sad to realize that he

was going away. But he promised to come back again. For now, he had a very important work for them to do. They

must have been a little fearful when they heard all that he

was expecting of them.

Chapter 25: Jesus Is Carried Up Into Heaven ▶ 111

How would they be able to do it?

Imagine how happy they were to hear that he would

send someone to help them.

As they were talking, Jesus was suddenly lifted up into

the sky. Then a cloud hid him from their sight. Everyone

was still looking up and watching. Then two angels were suddenly standing there with them saying,

“Men from Galilee, why are you standing here looking

into the sky? You saw Jesus carried away from you into

heaven. He will come back in the same way you saw him go.”

With this promise, Jesus’ friends were no longer sad.

They returned to Jerusalem. They stayed there just like

Jesus had asked them to do. Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit, so they waited for him to come.

What do you think Jesus’ friends did while they waited

for the Holy Spirit to come?

They all met together and prayed. They probably

thanked God for sending Jesus to them. Jesus had forgiven their sins, healed many of them and told them to tell all the people in the world about him.

`` Talk About It 1. How many days was Jesus on earth after he rose

from death?

2. What did Jesus tell his friends on the last day he

was with them?

3. Where did Jesus tell them to wait until God sent

the Holy Spirit?

4. What did the angels promise to Jesus’ followers? 112  ◀ Chapter 25: Jesus Is Carried Up Into Heaven

‡‡ Pray About It Lord Jesus, thank you for coming to this earth and

for your promise to come back again. And thank you for

sending the Holy Spirit to help us until you return. I am

very happy when I think about your coming again. Amen.

Chapter 25: Jesus Is Carried Up Into Heaven ▶ 113

Chapter 26 — Acts 2:1–13

The Holy Spirit Comes to Jesus’ Followers 66 Read About It Do you remember who Jesus promised he would send

when he went to heaven?

He promised to send the Holy Spirit.

Do you know what Jesus’ friends were doing while they

waited for the Holy Spirit to come?

They were meeting together to pray.

After Jesus went back to heaven, do you know how

many days passed before the Holy Spirit came? Only seven days!

On the seventh day, Jesus’ followers were praying in

an upstairs room in a house. Suddenly, they heard a loud noise like a strong wind blowing. This noise filled the

whole house where they were sitting. Right then, each

person who was there was filled with the Holy Spirit and

began to speak different languages. It was the Holy Spirit

who was doing these things through them.

Many people were visiting in Jerusalem from other

countries for a special religious festival. Because the noise coming from the house was so loud, a large crowd of

these people began to gather around. They were surprised because they heard everything in their own language.

They wanted to know what was happening. Some people in the crowd said:

Chapter 26: The Holy Spirit Comes to Jesus’ Followers ▶ 115

“Look! These people we hear speaking are all from

Galilee. But we hear them in our own languages. How is

this possible?”

But other people in the crowd began to laugh. They

said:

“They are drunk from too much wine.”

When Peter heard what they said, the Holy Spirit began

to give him words to speak. He stood in front of the crowd

and spoke loudly so that all the people could hear. He

began to tell them about Jesus. He told them about the

things Jesus said and did while he was on earth. He said:

“Jesus was handed over to you, and you killed him. With

the help of men who care nothing about our law, you

nailed him to a cross. But God knew all this would happen.

It was his plan—a plan he made long ago. Jesus suffered

the pain of death, but God made him free by raising him to life. There was no way for death to hold him.”

Peter told the crowd how Jesus had promised to

send the Holy Spirit. This was why Jesus’ followers were speaking different languages so that they could tell the

people visiting from all over the world about Jesus.

When the people heard what Peter said, many of them

decided to change their hearts and lives and be baptized.

They wanted to follow Jesus too.

From that time on, God’s Spirit has been with Jesus’

followers. The Holy Spirit gives them the ability to share the Good News about Jesus with people all around the

world.

116  ◀ Chapter 26: The Holy Spirit Comes to Jesus’ Followers

`` Talk About It 1. How long did the followers have to wait for the

Holy Spirit to come after Jesus went back to heaven?

2. What were Jesus’ followers doing when the Holy

Spirit came?

3. What happened while they were praying? 4. What did Peter do?

‡‡ Pray About It God, I thank you that Jesus is my Saviour and King.

Thank you also that the Holy Spirit is in my life to always

help me obey you. I want the Holy Spirit to make me able

to tell my friends about Jesus. I ask this in Jesus’ name.

Amen.

Chapter 26: The Holy Spirit Comes to Jesus’ Followers ▶ 117

A Final Word We hope that you have learned many things about

Jesus from this book. He did so much for us. If Jesus has

become Lord of your life, thank him for everything he has

done for you. Pray and tell him how thankful you are for a

new way to live here on earth and for the promise of life in heaven with him forever.

If you have just learned about the love Jesus has for you,

we encourage you to accept Jesus as your Saviour and King.

He really wants you to follow him. He wants to be the king of your life from now on. If you have decided to follow

Jesus, here’s a prayer you can say.

‡‡ Pray About It God, I thank you for sending your Son, Jesus, to save me.

Please forgive me for all the bad things I’ve done that are

against what you want for me. Thank you for loving me. I believe that Jesus died for my sins and rose from death so

that I can live for him all my life. I want to live with you

forever. Show me in your Word and through your Spirit

what you want me to do. And help me to do everything

you ask. I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

“But some people did accept him. They believed in

him, and he gave them the right to become children of God” (John 1:12).

118  ◀ A Final Word

Answer Key Chapter 1: Jesus Is Born 1. Jesus is God’s Chosen King.

2. He came to take away our sins. 3. Reader response. 4. Reader response.

Chapter 2: Wise Men Give Jesus Gifts 1. They knew Jesus was the new Jewish king, so they

wanted to bring him gifts.

2. Reader response. 3. Reader response.

Chapter 3: Jesus Goes to the Temple as a Young Boy 1. Reader response.

2. Reader response. 3. Reader response. 4. Reader response.

Chapter 4: Jesus Is Baptized by John 1. Yes. We can read the Bible and pray.

2. God spoke from heaven and told the people Jesus

was his Son.

3. Reader response.

Answer Key ▶ 119

Chapter 5: Jesus Chooses His Twelve Apostles 1. He wanted a special group to hear and obey his

teachings.

2. Reader response.

3. Follow and obey him.

Chapter 6: Jesus Welcomes Children 1. Reader response.

2. People who are like children. 3. Reader response.

Chapter 7: Jesus Heals a Paralysed Man 1. They took him to Jesus.

2. Reader response. 3. Reader response.

4. Because they knew only God could forgive sins. And

they did not think Jesus was God.

5. Yes, because he is God.

6. Yes, because he has the power to do anything.

Chapter 8: Jesus Heals a Blind man 1. Jericho.

2. A blind man.

3. The man said he wanted to see again.

4. Jesus said the man was healed because he believed. 5. He wants to know if we have faith in him.

6. Reader response.

120  ◀ Answer Key

Chapter 9: Jesus Calms a Storm 1. A bad storm came.

2. Sleeping.

3. Reader response.

4. He commanded the storm to stop. 5. Reader response.

6. Reader response.

Chapter 10: Jesus Feeds More Than 5000 People 1. Maybe more than 10,000.

2. They had been listening all day and had no food. 3. Bread and fish.

4. He multiplied five loaves of bread and two fish into

enough for everyone.

5. Reader response.

Chapter 11: Jesus Walks on Water 1. He went away to pray.

2. To show his followers that he was God.

3. They thought Jesus was a ghost. They had never

seen anyone walk on water.

4. Pray, because only God can help us do the things he

wants us to do.

Chapter 12: Jesus’ Friends Catch Many Fish 1. Throw out his nets again.

2. He had been fishing all night and had not caught

anything.

3. He bowed down in front of Jesus.

Answer Key ▶ 121

Chapter 13: Jesus Gives Life to a Dead Girl 1. She was twelve years old.

2. He was a leader in the synagogue. 3. “Little girl, stand up!”

4. He is God. He can do anything. Even those who are

dead obey him.

5. Jesus.

Chapter 14: Jesus Tells a Story About a Good Samaritan 1. Anyone who needs my help or who helps me.

2. We should love our neighbour. 3. He was a Samaritan.

4. The Samaritans were enemies of the Jewish people.

The Jews hated them.

5. We help them and love them.

Chapter 15: Jesus Tells a Story About a Lost Sheep 1. He wanted people to know they were lost and

needed Jesus to save them.

2. When sinners change their hearts and minds and

let Jesus guide their lives.

3. He came to find people who are lost and save them.

Chapter 16: Jesus Tells a Story About Two Sons 1. The younger son wanted all the things that would

be his when his father died, even though his father

was still alive.

2. He spent all his money, had to take a job feeding

pigs and became very hungry.

3. He wanted to tell his father that he would now be

the father’s servant.

122  ◀ Answer Key

4. He forgave his younger son and said it was like his

son had been dead and was now alive again.

5. God is like the father.

6. He did not think it was right for his younger brother

to be forgiven and for his father to give him a party.

Chapter 17: Jesus Tells a Story About a Farmer Sowing Seed 1. The Word of God.

2. People who hear God’s Word but don’t really

understand it.

3. People who hear God’s Word but don’t let it put

deep roots in their hearts.

4. People who accept God’s Word but soon let other

things get in the way of obeying.

5. People who hear and understand God’s Word and

then obey it.

6. Reader response.

Chapter 18: Jesus Enters Jerusalem Like a King 1. To pay the penalty for all the bad things we have

done.

2. We ask Jesus to forgive us and to guide our lives. 3. He wanted to show he was not a king like they

expected. Instead, he came to serve and carry our burdens.

4. “Welcome! God bless the king who comes in the

name of the Lord. Peace begins in heaven, and glory belongs to God!” They believed that Jesus was the

king that God promised to send.

5. Reader response.

Answer Key ▶ 123

Chapter 19: Jesus Goes to the Temple 1. They were taught that it was the place God heard

people’s prayers.

2. He saw that people were buying and selling things.

So he began to turn over the tables and benches of

the sellers.

3. He wanted the Temple to be a place for every

person to be able to worship God. He also did not

want poor people to be treated badly there.

Chapter 20: Jesus Eats a Passover Meal with His Friends 1. When God set the Jewish people free from slavery

in Egypt.

2. Every year. 3. Jesus.

4. He died so that he could free us from the penalty of

sin, which is death.

5. Reader response.

6. Reader response.

Chapter 21: Jesus Is Killed 1. The Jewish leaders did not believe Jesus came from

heaven. And they didn’t like him caring for the poor, sick and powerless.

2. Yes, he is God.

3. He trusted God the F ­ ather to take care of him. 4. It was put into a tomb that was like a cave.

124  ◀ Answer Key

Chapter 22: Jesus Rises From Death 1. They went to put spices on Jesus’ body.

2. Jesus’ body was not there. 3. The angels.

4. Reader response.

5. They said Jesus’ followers stole his body.

Chapter 23: The Risen Jesus Talks to Some of His Friends 1. Two of Jesus’ followers.

2. Sunday, the day Jesus rose from death. 3. Reader response.

4. When he broke pieces of bread at the meal.

5. They went back to Jerusalem to tell Jesus’ other

followers.

6. Reader response.

Chapter 24: Jesus and Peter 1. Peter and some of Jesus’ other followers.

2. He asked if Peter loved him more than the other

men. He asked three times.

3. Jesus wanted to forgive Peter and show him that he

loved him. Jesus also wanted Peter to care for Jesus’ people.

4. Reader response. 5. Reader response.

Answer Key ▶ 125

Chapter 25: Jesus Is Carried Up into Heaven 1. 40 days.

2. Jesus told his friends that he had done what God

had promised. Now, they should tell others about him.

3. He told them to go back to Jerusalem and wait.

4. Jesus would come back in the same way he left.

Chapter 26: The Holy Spirit Comes to Jesus’ Followers 1. Seven days.

2. They were praying.

3. The Holy Spirit came upon them, and they all spoke

in other languages.

4. He spoke to the crowd and told them about Jesus.

126  ◀ Answer Key

a story that can change your in an Easy-to-Read style with

26

life

™

FULL-COLOR illustrations

E A S Y-T O -R E A D V E R S I O N

the life of jesus for children

The Life of Jesus for Children is based on

the four books about Jesus found in the New Testament of the Bible.

We want everyone to read or hear this Good News, the

story of Jesus, God’s Chosen King. It is the greatest story ever told. Our hope is that the children who receive this book will love and follow Jesus.