During the lesson, the information for you to know is written in regular type, and what we suggest speaking or reading aloud to children is in bold. All resources for this lesson, including the Teacher Guide, Student Page, Family Connection Card, and other resources can be downloaded in a ZIP file by clicking on the following link:
In some lessons you will find "resource articles." These are articles written by experts from around the world to help equip you for your work with children and adolescents. Share them with parents or guardians if you consider it appropriate.
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:14
Let your children’s families know that this week their children will learn what Jesus’ life was like as a child. The children can share what they learned and talk about how His life on earth was similar to or different from theirs.
Teacher Tip: If possible, email or text the Family Connection Card to the families of your students.
Greet children warmly as they arrive. Have them form a circle and remain standing.
Jesus, the Son of God, came to live on earth as a human being just like you or me. Did you ever wonder what it would have been like to grow up in the house next to Jesus? What if you were the same age and maybe even friends? Today you will learn about what life was like when Jesus was a child. You might discover that His life was not very different from yours!
Explain that you will read facts describing what life was probably like when Jesus was a child. Some of the information comes from the Bible, but much of it comes from other reliable historical documents. If a child thinks that his life is similar to the statement, he should step into the centre of the circle. Children should return to the circle between each statement.
Have the children sit down for the lesson after the activity.
We just discovered that there are some ways that Jesus’ life here on earth was similar to
our lives.
Optional: If possible, share the images from The Action Bible.
When Jewish families travelled to Jerusalem for the religious festivals, they travelled in caravans for safety. A caravan is a large group of people traveling together. The caravans were separated into a men’s group and a women’s group. All males 13 years old and older travelled in the men’s group. This group usually included about 15–30 people. Females of all ages, younger children, and animals travelled in the women’s group. Let’s imagine we are a group of families from Jesus’ hometown of Nazareth on our way to Jerusalem.
Lead the class in lining up as a caravan. If there are any male students, teachers, or volunteers age 13 or older, have them gather at the front of the line. Women and children ages 12 and younger will gather in a separate group behind the men and older boys. If there are no men or older boys in your class, have several of the older children in your class pretend they are men over 13. Have them gather together at the front of the line. Ask the group in front to lead the class in walking around your space. If you are outside, ask them to lead the caravan around a building, tree, or field. Encourage the class to remain separated into 2 separate groups the whole time. Then have the children sit down, and continue teaching.
Optional: If you are using The Action Bible, allow the children to read the story on pages 542–544 before continuing the lesson.
Each year Mary and Joseph travelled with their children, including Jesus, to Jerusalem to attend the Jewish feast of Passover. During this feast, the Jews thanked God for delivering His people from slavery in Egypt hundreds of years before.
When Jesus was 12, the family went to the feast as usual. After the feast was over, Mary and Joseph set out for home. As the Nazareth caravan headed back north from Jerusalem to Galilee, Joseph probably thought that Jesus was with the women’s group because He was still a 12–year-old boy.
Meanwhile, Mary probably thought that Jesus was with the men’s group since He was on the edge of adulthood. Because they walked all day in separate groups, they did not realize that Jesus was missing until that night. So Mary and Joseph returned to Jerusalem to look for Him. Eventually they found Jesus in the temple discussing the Jewish Scriptures (which we call the Old Testament) with the religious teachers.
“Jesus,” Mary cried, “We have been looking everywhere for You! We were so worried.”
Jesus answered, “Why were you looking for Me? You should have known that I needed to be in My Father’s house.” But Mary and Joseph did not understand. What do you think Jesus meant when He talked about His Father’s house?
Allow children to share their ideas. If needed, explain that the temple was God’s house. So Jesus was there talking with the teachers about God, His Father.
Jesus returned to Nazareth with Mary and Joseph and continued to obey them. His mother, Mary, thought about these things in her heart. Listen to what this verse says about when Jesus was a boy:
And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.
Luke 2:52
Another way to say this verse is that Jesus grew mentally and physically. He grew in His relationship with God the Father. And He grew in His relationships with others.
Jesus is fully God and fully human. As a child, Jesus did many of the same things you do. He ate food, obeyed His parents, went to school, and played with His friends. Jesus grew up just as you are growing up.
Let’s imagine what it would be like to have Jesus living here in ___________ (say the name of your community).
What do you think it would be like to eat dinner with Jesus? Sit by Him at school? Have Him living in the house next to you?
Allow several children to share their thoughts.
Do you think you would be friends with Him? Why or why not?
Allow several children to share their thoughts.
Ask your children to find partners. If you have an odd number of children, there can be a group of
3 children.
Our verse tells us that Jesus grew in wisdom. This means that He grew mentally.
Turn to your partner and share one way you can grow mentally. For example, you can choose to study hard in school.
Here are some ideas to share if the children get stuck: listen to teachers, listen to parents, read good books, study hard.
Allow the pairs to talk for about a minute. Ask 2 children to share their ideas.
Jesus grew physically. His body grew and changed just as your body is growing and changing.
Turn to your partner and share one way you can grow strong physically. For example, you can choose to try to care for your body and get exercise.
Allow the pairs to talk for about a minute. Ask 2 different children to share their ideas.
Jesus grew in the favour of God. That means that He grew spiritually.
Turn to your partner and share one way you can grow spiritually. Jesus spent time in His Father’s house. What can you do?
Here are some ideas to share if the children get stuck: pray, read the Bible, spend time with Christians, go to church.
Allow the pairs to talk for about a minute. Ask 2 different children to share their ideas.
Jesus grew up in favour with others. His relationships with family and friends grew stronger.
Turn to your partner and share one way you can grow in your relationships. For example, you could choose to be kind instead of angry.
Here are some ideas to share if the children get stuck: be helpful, forgive, be friendly.
Allow the pairs to talk for about a minute. Ask 2 different children to share their ideas.
Optional: If you are using the Student Pages, there is space for the children to create their plans
on those.
Something to remember is that Jesus is always in God’s presence, even when He was a boy here on earth, because He is God’s Son. God has promised that His Holy Spirit will live in us to help us grow in the same ways Jesus did. Everyone can choose to grow in these 4 areas, but if you are a Christian, you can ask the Holy Spirit to help you.
Let’s create motions to help us remember this verse.
Demonstrate the following actions as you read Luke 2:52 aloud.
If you are using the Memory Verse Poster, show it to the students.
And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.
Luke 2:52
Close class by speaking this blessing from Luke 2:52 over the children.
Blessing: May you know that Jesus is God with us! Because He lived a life like yours, He understands when you face difficulties and happy times. Know that God loves you and will hear you when you ask Him for help.
Lead the children in singing this quarter’s song, if possible.
Life on Life ©2020 David C Cook. Reproducible for home or classroom use only. All other uses require written permission from David C Cook [email protected]. All rights reserved.
