Joyful Moments in Christ

Questions and Answers About Jesus

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 is the promised one who shows his power and wisdom, and he invites us to trust him even when we have questions.

Lesson Objectives

1. Students will learn that John the Baptist asked Jesus if he was the promised one.
2. Students will see how Jesus answered by showing his works of healing and preaching.
3. Students will understand that it is okay to bring honest questions to Jesus.
4. Students will learn that true wisdom is found in trusting Jesus.

Class Setting Notes

1. Recommended for upper elementary Sunday School.
2. Lesson length: 50-60 minutes. Can be shortened or extended based on activities selected.

Opening Activity

Who Has the Answer?

1. Write simple riddles or questions on slips of paper (for example: “What has hands but cannot clap? A clock.”).
2. Ask volunteers to pick a slip, read the question, and let the class try to answer.
3. After a few turns, say: “Sometimes we have questions that are harder than riddles. In our story today, John the Baptist had a very big question for Jesus.”

This activity helps introduce the idea that we all have questions and that Jesus gives the best answers.

Bible Reading

Ask the class to read Luke 7:18-35 aloud together or have one person read it.

• Very Easy: Easy-to-Read Version: Luke 7:18-35 (ERV)
• Very Easy: New International Reader’s Version: Luke 7:18-35 (NIRV)
• Easy: Good News Translation: Luke 7:18-35 (GNT)
• Medium: New Living Translation: Luke 7:18-35 (NLT)
• Hard: New International Version: Luke 7:18-35 (NIV)
• Very Hard: English Standard Version: Luke 7:18-35 (ESV)

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 question did John the Baptist send his disciples to ask Jesus?
2. What did Jesus show the disciples about his power?
3. How did Jesus describe John the Baptist?
4. Who accepted John’s message and who rejected it?
5. How did Jesus explain the way people responded to him and John?

Teacher Background Notes

1. John the Baptist was in prison at this time and may have struggled with doubt about whether Jesus was truly the Messiah.
2. Instead of giving a simple “yes,” Jesus pointed to his miracles and preaching as proof that he was fulfilling Old Testament prophecies (Isaiah 35:5-6; 61:1).
3. Jesus affirmed John’s ministry as the promised messenger preparing the way for the Messiah (Malachi 3:1).
4. Jesus said that even the least in the kingdom of God is greater than John, showing the greatness of belonging to the new covenant in Christ.
5. Many ordinary people and outcasts believed John’s message, but the Pharisees and teachers of the law rejected it because they did not want to repent.
6. Jesus explained that people rejected both John and himself, but God’s wisdom is always proven true by those who believe.

Theological Insights

1. Jesus is the promised Messiah who fulfills God’s plan of salvation.
2. Honest questions are not condemned by God, and Jesus answers with truth and compassion.
3. Jesus’ works of healing and preaching confirm his authority as the Son of God.
4. Belonging to the kingdom of God is greater than any earthly honor.
5. God’s wisdom is shown to be true in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

Discussion Questions

Understanding the Text

1. What question did John’s messengers bring to Jesus?
2. How did Jesus answer their question?
3. What miracles did the messengers see Jesus do?
4. What did Jesus say about John the Baptist?
5. Why did some people reject both John and Jesus?

Personal Reflection and Application

1. Have you ever had questions about God or Jesus? How did you find answers?
2. Why do you think Jesus showed his works instead of only giving words?
3. How does this story encourage you when you have doubts or questions?
4. What can we learn from the way people responded differently to Jesus?
5. How can you trust God’s wisdom this week?

Suggested Activities

Show and Tell Faith

1. Give each student an object (a pencil, a bandage, a coin).
2. Ask: “How can this object remind us of something Jesus did in this story?” (For example, a bandage can remind us that Jesus healed the sick.)

This activity helps children connect Jesus’ works to real life and remember them more clearly.

Messenger Relay

1. Divide the class into teams. Whisper a short message about Jesus (for example, “Jesus heals the blind”) to the first student in each line.
2. Students pass the message down the line by whispering.
3. The last student says it aloud. Compare to how John’s messengers carried questions and answers.

This activity helps children see the role of messengers in the story and think about how we share Jesus’ message today.

Wisdom Builders

1. Provide building blocks or simple drawing supplies.
2. Ask students to work in small groups to build or draw something that represents “wisdom” (a strong house, a shining light, an open Bible).
3. Share together what they made.

This activity helps students think about God’s wisdom and how it is shown in Jesus.

Memory Verse

And he answered them, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them.”

Luke 7:22 (ESV)

Closing Prayer

Father,
Thank you for showing us that Jesus is the promised one. Help us to bring our questions to you and to trust the wisdom you give through your word. Teach us to believe in Jesus and to share the good news with others.
In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

The ESL Version

I also create materials for adult English Language Learners (ELLs) and ESL students. You can find my ELL Bible Study based on Luke 7:18-35 here:

ELL Lesson 32: Luke 7:18-35 — John’s Questions and Jesus’ Answer

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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.