Teaching John 2

John 2 for 3-5s

Theme: Jesus turned water into wine because He is God

Story:

[You’ll need a glass jug of water, another jug, non-see through, with a little undiluted squash and a glass]

[Have a jug of water] Who can turn this water into juice? Let’s give it a go. [do all sorts of abracadabra attempts] Why can we not do it? We can’t do it because we are not God.

Tell story either from reliable children’s bible (eg Beginner’s Bible) or using flannelgraph.

What did Jesus do that was amazing when he was at the wedding? [take answers]

[Act it out] He got the servants to pour the water into these stone jars. And when they went to pour it out into glasses, amazingly it had turned into wine.

When I did it just then, it was a trick. I’d put squash in the bottom of our jug secretly. But Jesus hadn’t. He turned the water into wine. No tricks. No magic. And he can do it because He is the God who made the whole world.

Say it with me: Jesus turned water into wine because He is God.

Pray

Songs:

Stick with Jesus

Follow, follow

Jesus is the boss (from J is for Jesus)

Craft:

Stick pictures of jars and people onto wedding scene

Stick red paper onto wine glass

John 2 for 5-11s

Theme: Jesus has come to bring an amazing new way

Aim: So follow Him!

Intro:

Old and New – hide some old things and some new things around the room. They need to find and pair.

Story:

Imagine you’ve gone to a wedding or a party. How would you feel if you they say, ‘there’s no cake and there are no fizzy drinks. All we have is stale bread and water.’

Would that be a good party?

The next thing John tells us in his book is that Jesus went to a wedding.

Read passage/Dramatize/use powerpoint visuals

Ask: What amazing thing did Jesus do? How was He able to do that?

            What’s better: a wedding party with water, or a wedding party with brilliant wine?

So, Jesus is saying, ‘The old way of following God was like water. Now, following me is like wine; it’s brilliant, it’s fantastic. So follow me!

But then Jesus went to the temple. This was meant to be a holy place to meet with God but people were buying and selling stuff. Jesus was really angry!

Read 2:14-17. He kicked over the tables scattering money and animals. [It would be very memorable to do this in front of them, however make sure you kick away from them.]

The old way of sacrifices and buildings was to end. Now people were to come to Jesus to meet with God. The Jews didn’t believe Him, so he calls Himself the temple and says he will die and rise again. Read 2:18-21.

So Jesus has come to bring a brilliant new way. Are you going to be like the Jewish leaders saying, ‘No thank you!’ Or are you going to be like Jesus’ disciples who believed in Him and followed Him?

Table time questions:

Knowledge

• What amazing thing did Jesus do at the wedding?
• What amazing thing did Jesus do at the temple?

Understanding

• What do we learn about Jesus from the first ‘sign’ (miracle)?
• Why was Jesus’ new way better than the old way?

Application

• How did the Jews respond? Are you tempted to respond like that?
• How did the disciple respond? Have you followed Jesus?
• What difference does it make to believe and follow Jesus?

Funsheet