Preschool Bible Lesson - Jesus as a boy

Lesson Overview

9:45 - sign in and free play time
10:05 - opening prayer, Bible lesson - Jesus as a Boy
10:20 - craft activity: Bookmarks for Bibles - paper bookmarks decorated and laminated.
10:40 - snack: Jennifer to bring
10:50 - Bible story books
11:00 - craft activity: coloring fish for game
11:05 - carnival games: "children's activities from ancient times" theme: fishing, throw "rocks" into cups, pennies in the water,  acting out David and Goliath
11:25 - coloring sheet Jesus-InTheTemple, closing prayer
11:30 -sign out

Bible Lesson

The Bible does not say very much about Jesus as a boy. There are only two stories in the Bible about Jesus as a boy.  The first story was Jesus at two years of age when the wise men came to visit him. The other story is about Jesus at 12 years of age.

Each year, Jesus and his parents went to Jerusalem to celebrate the passover feast. (Do you remember the passover from our story of Moses?) When the days of the Passover feast had ended, Mary and Joseph packed up and journeyed out of Jerusalem with their caravan. (A caravan is a long line of people traveling together with their animals.) The journeyed for a whole day and looked for Jesus. They thought that Jesus was with some of their relatives or friends. They searched the whole caravan but could not find Jesus anywhere. Mary and Joseph decided to travel back to Jerusalem.

They looked for Jesus for 3 more days. (How do you think they would have felt? How do you think your parents would feel if you were missing for 3 days?) After 3 days they finally found him sitting in the temple with the teachers. He was listening to them and asking questions. He was also answering their questions. All of the people who heard Jesus talk were amazed at how much he understood. Mary and Joseph were surprised and  amazed too.

Mary said to Jesus, "We have been so worried about you. How could you do this to us?"

Jesus answered, "Why were you looking for me? Do you not know that I need to be in my Father's house?"

Mary and Joseph did not understand what Jesus had said to them. Jesus went back to Nazareth with them. 
As Jesus grew up, he obeyed his parents at all times. Mary kept these things in her heart. As Jesus grew older, he grew in wisdom and favour with both God and men.

Q. Why did Mary, Joseph and Jesus go to Jerusalem?
A. To celebrate the Passover Feast.

Q. Where did Mary and Joseph finally find Jesus?
A. In the Temple.

Q. What was Jesus doing in the Temple?
A. Learning everything he could by listening and asking questions. Then he would answer the teachers questions (much like we are doing now.)

Q. What does the Bible say Jesus did when he got home with his parents?
A. Obeyed his parents at all times, grew in wisdom (learned everything he could), grew in favour with God (he loved and obeyed God), and grew in favour with men (he loved people and showed them kindness)

Q. How can we be like the boy Jesus?
A. Obey our parents always, learn everything we can from our parents, grandparents, teachers and priests), love God and obey his commandments (the 10 commandments), and be nice to others.