Deep and Wide

Jesus told the story about the prodigal son to tell us how much our heavenly father loves us, even when we don't deserve it. The son took his inheritance early and wasted it on parties and wild living. When he came back home, what was his father's reaction?

When Jesus saw a crippled woman in the synagogue he couldn't wait for her to be healed. He told her she was set free, and when he laid his hands on her she was able to straighten up. But it made the leader mad - for someone to be healed on the sabbath day. But what did Jesus say?

In John chapter 6, Jesus calls himself the Bread of Life. When we were dead on the inside, and couldn't get back to God by ourselves, God sent Jesus to make us alive and connected to God again. 

Mary is sitting at Jesus' feet with the other people, listening to every word Jesus is saying. Martha is in the kitchen, making a meal for their guests. Martha wants Mary to help her. But when she asks Jesus to tell Mary to help, he surprises her. Doesn't Jesus care about Martha?

Jesus tells a story about a man who was hurt. He got jumped on by robbers who took his money and even his clothes. They left him by the side of the road. Who will hellp him? 

A man in the crowd approached Jesus and begged him to help. His son had lost control of his body! He sometimes fell into fires, or into water. The man had asked the disciples to expel the demon that was causing this, but they couldn't do it. When Jesus spoke to the demon, it left right away. But why couldn't his disciples do it?

Jesus sent his disciples away in a boat. It was time to cross the lake. But Jesus didn't have a boat, so he started walking toward the boat. How did he do that? He believed that when God told him to do something he would have the power to do it. He walked by faith. When Peter saw Jesus, he wanted to walk on the water too. Can he do it?

Jesus gave his disciples power over demons and over disease. He sent them out to different villages to tell people about the kingdom of God. Their words were like seeds that found a place in people's hearts. Where their words were received, the kingdom of God came. If people didn't want to hear it, then the disciples were free to leave. 

When Jesus was invited to Simon the Pharisee's house, he wasn't greeted with a kiss, he wasn't offered water for his feet, and he didn't get any perfumed ointment for his head. But when the sinful woman came, she kissed Jesus' feet, and washed them with her hair. Jesus explained her behavior. He told Simon that whoever has a lot of sins forgiven will have a lot more love t...

Have you ever felt like you were too young or too foolish to be important to God? Jesus wants to tell you something in this story. John the Baptist sent messengers to see how Jesus was doing. Jesus was doing everything that God wanted him to do. He was healing the sick, making blind people see, making lame people walk, and even making dead people come back to life. When you recognize Jesus, and ag...

When Jesus ate with sinners, people who were doing wrong things, it was confusing to people who were being good. They thought he was making a mistake. Jesus told them about finding a lost sheep to explain why he wanted to be with sinners. 

When Jesus crossed the lake, a man came running toward him and fell at his feet. He was full of demons! The demons talked to Jesus and asked him not to send them into the dark pit. They wanted to go into a big herd of pigs that was nearby. Jesus gave them permission, and they all came out of the man.  But what happened to those pigs?

The ten sick men stayed away from Jesus and his friends. They didn't want Jesus to get leprosy. It was an incurable skin disease. But they knew Jesus could heal people, so they yelled, "Jesus, Master, have pity on us!" Jesus didn't touch them, but he yelled back. "Go show yourselves to the priest!" As they were going, they noticed something happening to their skin. Wh...

Nicodemus knows that Jesus must be sent by God. He can heal people, feed them, raise people from the dead! 

Jesus took good care of people, like a shepherd takes care of his sheep. When they were out in the field away from home, they didn't have any food. One little boy had brought his lunch. He had five loaves and two fish. Will that be enough for five thousand people?

A blind man was sitting near the road when Jesus was going by. He heard that Jesus could heal people, so he shouted out! Jesus heard him, and called for him to come closer. Jesus asked him what he wanted. He wanted to see. Can Jesus make his eyes get well? 

When Jesus and his friends traveled through Samaria, Jesus stopped by a well. A woman came to draw water, and Jesus asked her for a drink. Normally, Jews and Samaritans don't even talk to each other. Why did he ask her for a drink? Actually, he wanted to give her a very special drink. But how does Jesus get her to trust him?

In Mark chapter 5, the synagogue leader falls at Jesus' feet to beg for his help. If Jesus would come and lay hands on his dying little girl, she would live! Jesus made his way through the crowd to Jairus' house. But before they arrived, messengers came to tell them it was too late. The mourners had already started singing their dirge. But Jesus said to the father, "Don't be af...

A crowd was following Jesus so closely that they were pressing against him. One woman, Marian, was desperate to get close to Jesus. She thought, "If I can just touch the hem of his robe, I will be healed." She had been bleeding for 12 years, and had spent all her money on doctors. They were not able to help her. In fact she was worse. She threw herself forward and managed to touch his ro...

Jesus and his disciples had had a long day. Jesus healed so many people! Now, he needed to rest. He told his disciples they were going to the other side of the lake. When he got into the boat, he fell asleep. His disciples were wide awake! A violent storm came up, with wind and waves. They were afraid the boat would sink, so they woke Jesus up. What did Jesus do?

Jesus explained things to people by comparing it to something they already knew. They already knew what happens when a farmer goes out and sows the seed. Some falls on paths, some on rocks, some among weeds, and some on good ground. But what kind of seed is Jesus talking about. The seed is the word that comes from God. If the word grows, it makes God's kingdom come to life!  Can you be a plac...

The Roman army was occupying the land of Israel during the time of Jesus. One of the commanders believed that Jesus could heal his servant. His servant was very sick, paralyzed and close to death. He sent messengers asking Jesus to come to his house. But when Jesus got closer, the centurion sent another message, telling Jesus that he wasn't worthy for Jesus to come. But if Jesus would just sa...

According to the Jewish rules, nobody was allowed to do work on the Sabbath. There was no buying and selling.  The Sabbath was the day of the week that was holy. You could go to the synagogue and read the Bible. You could teach, but no working! Jesus taught at the synagogue and noticed a man there with a withered hand. What would the Pharisees say if Jesus asked them, "Is it okay to heal this...

Jesus told the story about two men who prayed to God. One of them thought he was a really good man. He was good at keeping the rules. He was a Pharisee. The other man was a cheater. He had a lot of sins. He was a tax collector. The way they prayed was very different. Which one would be forgiven? You might be surprised!

The story of the paralyzed man getting healed is recorded in Matthew, Mark and Luke. His friends make a hole in the roof, and lower him down so he is right in front of Jesus. Jesus tells him to cheer up - his sins are forgiven. Then he shows it's really true, by giving him the command to stand up. Are his sins forgiven? Can he stand up and walk?