Joyful Moments in Christ

A Sunday School Lesson: Luke 5:12–26

A Sunday School Lesson: Luke 5:12–26: Jesus Heals and Forgives: Coming to Him in Faith

Jesus Heals and Forgives: Coming to Him in Faith

This Sunday School lesson is intended for upper elementary students. All lessons on this website are protected by copyright, but you can use them for free in small groups or Sunday School classes. You may share a link to this page, but please do not copy these pages and put them on other websites.

The Big Idea

Jesus welcomes those who come to him in faith—he has authority to heal and forgive.

Lesson Objectives

  1. Learn how Jesus responded with compassion to physical sickness and spiritual need.
  2. Understand that Jesus has authority to forgive sins as the Son of God.
  3. Recognize the importance of faith in Jesus and helping others come to him.
  4. Reflect on Jesus’ habit of prayer and how we can follow his example.

Class Setting Notes

  1. Recommended for upper elementary Sunday School.
  2. Lesson length: 45–60 minutes. Can be shortened or extended based on activities selected.

Opening Activity

Faith in Action Relay

  • Divide students into small groups.
  • Give each group a small object (like a stuffed animal or a paper figure) representing a “friend in need.”
  • Create a simple obstacle course representing the crowded house from Luke 5.
  • Each group must carry their “friend” through the course together without dropping it.
  • End by gently placing the object on a designated “mat” in front of a Jesus figure or sign.

This activity helps introduce the theme of faith, friendship, and perseverance in bringing others to Jesus.

Bible Reading

Ask the class to read Luke 5:12–26 aloud together or have one person read it.

Additional Reading: Choosing the Right Bible Translation: A Comparison of 7 Versions

Suggested prompts:

As the class reads aloud, consider asking some of these prompts:

  1. What do you notice about how Jesus responds to hurting people?
  2. How do the actions of the sick men and their friends show faith?
  3. What surprises you in Jesus’ words or actions?
  4. Why do you think some people responded with amazement, while others were upset?

Teacher Background Notes

  1. In both healing stories, Luke highlights Jesus’ compassion and divine authority.
  2. Leprosy (or other serious skin disease) made people ceremonially unclean and socially isolated. Jesus’ touch was shocking, compassionate, and powerful.
  3. Jesus honors the law of Moses by sending the healed man to the priest, showing his respect for God’s covenant commands.
  4. Pharisees and teachers of the law were religious experts, often suspicious of Jesus. Their presence reminds us that Jesus was already being closely watched.
  5. The friends of the paralyzed man showed creative and determined faith. Their actions demonstrate true love and trust in Jesus.
  6. Jesus intentionally forgives the man’s sins before healing his body, showing that our deepest need is reconciliation with God.
  7. “Son of Man” is a title from Daniel 7 that Jesus used for himself—it points to his heavenly authority and messianic identity.
  8. The crowds were amazed, but not all believed. True faith responds with praise and obedience.

Theological Insights

  1. Jesus is both compassionate and powerful. He does not turn away the unclean or the helpless.
  2. Jesus touches the untouchable and restores them completely—spiritually and physically.
  3. Jesus has authority to forgive sins because he is the Son of God. This authority is unique to him.
  4. Faith that comes to Jesus—whether boldly or with help from others—is never ignored.
  5. Prayer was central in Jesus’ ministry. Even amid busy crowds, he withdrew to pray, showing us how to depend on the Father.

Discussion Questions

Understanding the Text

  1. What was the problem each man faced in these stories?
  2. How did the man with the skin disease approach Jesus?
  3. What did Jesus do that surprised people in both stories?
  4. Why were the religious leaders upset when Jesus forgave sins?
  5. What happened after Jesus healed the paralyzed man?

Personal Reflection and Application

  1. Have you ever asked Jesus for help when you were hurting or in need?
  2. Who in your life has helped you come closer to Jesus?
  3. How can you help others who are hurting or far from God?
  4. When can you take time this week to pray like Jesus did?
  5. What do these stories teach you about trusting Jesus in difficult situations?

Suggested Activities

Bandage Blessings Craft

  • Provide strips of cloth or medical bandage tape.
  • Have students write one word on each strip that describes how Jesus helps them (e.g., healing, love, forgiveness, peace).
  • Attach the strips to a paper cut-out of a body or heart as a reminder that Jesus heals and forgives.

This activity helps students reflect on the ways Jesus brings healing and wholeness to their lives.

Through the Roof Skit

  • Assign students roles (Jesus, paralyzed man, friends, crowd, Pharisees).
  • Re-enact the story from Luke 5:17–26, using chairs or tables to represent the roof and house.
  • Emphasize the friends’ determination and Jesus’ powerful words.

This activity helps students internalize the story by acting out the events and emotions involved.

Prayer Partners

  • Pair students and give each pair a prayer card.
  • Ask them to share one thing they need prayer for, then write a prayer for their partner.
  • Take turns reading the prayers aloud or silently praying for one another.

This activity helps students practice compassion and intercessory prayer, like the friends in the story.

Memory Verse

Bible verse from Luke 5:24 about Jesus’ authority to forgive sins.

But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins—he said to the man who was paralyzed, “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home.”

Luke 5:24 (ESV)

Closing Prayer

Father,

Thank you for sending Jesus, who has power to heal and authority to forgive. Help us to come to him with faith, and to love others the way the friends in the story did. Make us people who pray, trust, and praise you in every situation.

In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

A Sunday School Lesson: Luke 5:12–26: Jesus Heals and Forgives: Coming to Him in Faith
Bible verse from Luke 5:24 about Jesus’ authority to forgive sins.

The ESL Version

I also create materials for adult English Language Learners (ELLs) and ESL students. You can find my ELL Bible Studies based on Luke 5:12–26 here:

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English Standard Version (ESV): Unless otherwise noted, scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language.

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