A Children’s Sermon on Mark 1:29-39

Preface for Pastors & Parents — and Theatre Goers

I’m happy to bring you a children’s sermon on Mark 1:29-39, after not being able to write for a couple weeks. I’m in a play at the Cider Mill Stage in Endicott, New York. As we ramped up toward opening night it got pretty intense. 

But I digress. If you want to see my Monday Meditation on this week’s Gospel, it’s right here. And now I’ll jump in to my children’s sermon on Mark 1:29-39.

A Children’s Sermon on Mark 1:29-39

Good morning kids! I’m so happy to see you in worship this morning. Thanks for coming up to hear the children’s sermon.

In these weeks since Christmas, our stories from the Gospel of Mark have been telling us about the early days of Jesus’ ministry.

• Jesus started his work by going to the River Jordan to be baptized by John.
• Then he went out to the wilderness to pray and prepare.
• When he came back from the wilderness, he began to teach about the Kingdom of God, and to call people to follow him. In Mark’s Gospel, the first people to follow Jesus were Peter, Andrew, James, and John.
• They went to a synagogue, where Jesus taught and helped a man who had some deep troubles in his spirit.

And that’s where today’s story picks up.

House Guests

When they left the synagogue, Peter said, “Andrew and I live near here. Why don’t you stay with us tonight?” 

Jesus said “Thanks—but is there room for James and John too?”

“Sure!” said Peter. “We love having friends over. The more the merrier.”

“But your wife…” asked Jesus. “Will she be okay with three unexpected houseguests?”

“Absolutely!” said Peter. “She loves surprises.”

“Okay,” said Jesus, “If you’re sure.” 

“Sure, I’m sure,” said Peter. “Trust me. And here we are now.” 

They all went up the front walk. 

Peter opened the door and called out, “Honey! I’m home!”

But instead of greeting Peter with a hug and a kiss, she rushed to the door, eyes wide, saying “Shhh! Be quiet! My mom is sick in bed!”

“Oh, sorry!” said Peter. “I didn’t know. Oh, honey, this is Jesus. You know James, and John. They’re gonna stay with us tonight. What’s for dinner?”

“Good grief!” said his wife, “I wish you’d warned me. This isn’t really a good time… My mom has such a high fever, I’ve been doing everything I can to try to make her comfortable, but nothing helps. I’m so worried. And now so many guests…”

Jesus Helps

James and John were sort of looking at their sandals. They were embarrassed that they’d come at a bad time. 

But Jesus spoke right up. “May I see her? I think I can help.” 

Peter’s wife had only just met Jesus, but something about the loving look in his big brown eyes made her feel okay. 

“Sure,” she said. “Follow me.” 

She led Jesus into a bedroom where her mom lay on the bed. Her mom looked absolutely miserable. Her face was flushed from the fever. The sheets were wet with sweat, and she was moaning softly. 

Jesus quietly walked up beside her bed. He put his hand on her burning hot forehead. Then he closed his eyes for a moment. 

All of a sudden her color came back to normal and she sat up. She looked at Jesus and asked “Who are you?”

“This is Jesus, Ma,” said Peter’s wife. “He’s a friend of my husband’s. He and James and John are all staying here tonight.”

 “Three houseguests!” said Peter’s mother-in-law. “We better get dinner started!”

And she got up and headed for the kitchen. 

“But Ma!” said Peter’s wife. “Half a minute ago you were sick in bed!” 

“Well I’m fine now!” she said. “Let’s get to work!” 

Everybody laughed. It seemed kind of funny to go from being so sick with a fever to working on dinner just like that. But that’s the kind of person she was. 

A Crowd

While some of them helped with dinner, the others went outside. 

They told the neighbors how Jesus had healed Peter’s mother-in-law. Then the neighbors told some people in the shops.

Then those people told their families and their neighbors.

And pretty soon everyone who was sick and suffering was saying to their friends and relatives “Take me to Jesus! Maybe he’ll heal me too!”

They all made their way to Peter’s house. 

Now, since everybody knew somebody who was at least a little bit sick, pretty much every person in town gathered at Peter’s doorstep. Or in Peter’s yard. Or on the sidewalk out front. And down the street as far as you could see.

That evening, one by one Jesus visited with a whole lot of those people. And he healed a whole lot of those people. 

Not everybody, of course. After all, it was just one evening, and eventually they all needed to go to bed.

Some Time Alone

But early in the morning, while everybody was still in bed, Jesus decided he needed something more than sleep. He needed some time by himself. He needed to spend time alone with God, his Father, praying. 

So Jesus snuck out of the house.

He walked to a place where there were no houses, and no people to interrupt him. I don’t know if it was up on a hill or out in the woods, but Jesus found a secret place to be alone and pray.

Then when the sun came up, everybody in the house woke up. They looked around. Where was Jesus?

Peter said “Maybe he went out to heal some more people.”

So Peter, Andrew, James, and John went outside. The crowd was still there, but nobody had seen Jesus. They looked in the front yard. They looked on the sidewalk. They looked up and down all the streets nearby. Jesus just wasn’t there.

Finally they went to a lonely place beyond all the houses. And there was Jesus, praying. 

“Hey Jesus!” said Peter, “Everybody is waiting for you back at the house.” 

“I know,” said Jesus. “But I’m not going back. You ready to head out?”

Peter, Andrew, James, and John were confused. 

“What do you mean you aren’t going back?” said Peter. “Don’t you know those people are all waiting for you to heal them?”

“I know,” said Jesus, “But I need to go to the other towns too. I need to tell them about the kingdom of God. That’s what my Father sent me to do.” 

So Jesus and his friends went from town to town, teaching about the Kingdom of heaven and healing people along the way.

Wondering 

I wonder why Jesus didn’t stay and heal everybody before traveling on? 

I wonder how the other people in town felt when they found out Jesus had left town?

I wonder if you’ve ever hoped Jesus would heal or help you in some way? 

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You are, of course, free to use this children’s sermon, or adapt it as you find most useful. But, if you use it, please do one (or more!) of the following.

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