Jesus Heals 10 Men from Leprosy: Sunday School Lesson and Craft Idea for Kids

First read Luke Chapter 17: 11-14 and 15-19 to the class. Be sure to emphasize to the kids the important things are that Jesus made and can make sick people feel better. Also, be sure the kids understand Jesus did things other people could not do in working miracles. Most of my lessons have been on miracles lately so I expect the kids to know this but will repeat it again to be sure.

I have begun the past several classes with the question-do you know what a miracle is? A miracle is an action that happens when it is not expected to happen. Remember when Lazarus rose from the dead? Remember when Jesus walked on water toward the boat his disciples were on? These are both examples of miracles.

This story is about Jesus miraculously healing ten men who were affected by leprosy. Leprosy was and is a very painful and contagious condition that causes sores to form on a person's skin. In biblical times, when someone was diagnosed with leprosy he or she was isolated from healthy people so the blisters on their skin would not spread to the other people (the meaning of the word contagious).

Jesus had one request of the men after healing them from leprosy. He asked them to present themselves to the priest. In biblical times, priests were responsible for determining if a person who had leprosy was healed and could rejoin his family. Only one of these men bowed to praise Jesus before leaving to see the priest. The man who remembered to praise Christ for his blessings was a Samaritan-a man other Jews looked down on because of his religious practices.

These men had to act completely by faith. Have you ever had to act completely by faith as these men did? I certainly have when something has gone wrong in my home life and I have not had a way of changing it for myself. These actions of faith are always rewarded. God rewarded me each time and he will you as well.

So, nine of the ten men forgot to give God thanks. Why do you think they forgot? Were they too excited to see family again? Did they assume God knew how thankful they were in their hearts? Are we ever guilty of not thanking God for blessings? I think everyone is guilty of that at far too many points in their lives. From the food we eat, to the air we breathe, it is all a gift from God and we should always give thanks. We should give thanks not solely for the physical but for the spiritual-such as Christ's sacrifice for us on the cross as well.

A take away for the teacher as well as the students: Faith involves recognizing Christ's mercies are not deserved. Jesus told the man who returned to give him thanks that his faith made him well for that reason.

Craft idea: Banner paper is sold at Walmart for about $8.00. Because so many of the kids in my class are pre-verbal, I will allow them to draw pictures of what they are thankful for on the paper and may write what it is underneath it if the child requests (I don't want to insult by asking what the drawing is). We will then hang up the banner on the wall for a few weeks before I will cut out the parts the child drew and send them home with the child. Since the craft idea has yet to be done there is no picture to attach to this lesson.
Sources: King James Version of the Bible, Lifeway for Kids