Single lesson
Friends Bring a Paralysed Man to Jesus
Matthew 9:1–8; Mark 2:1–12; Luke 5:17–26
In this lesson, children read Mark’s account as the main story, then compare how Matthew, Mark, and Luke each report Jesus forgiving and healing a paralysed man. They will notice choices, responses, and Jesus’ own explanation of his authority.
Before you teach
Matthew reports that Jesus came to his own city and a paralysed man was brought to him. Mark reports a crowded house, four people carrying the man, and the opening in the roof. Luke reports that Jesus was teaching while Pharisees and teachers of the law were present. Each account records forgiveness, a command to rise, and amazement afterwards.
Students will be able to sequence Mark 2:1-12 and explain from the Gospels that Jesus said this healing showed the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.
Welcome: Listen for actions and responses
4 minIntroduce the lesson title, then explain that today the class will read Mark’s account carefully and compare a few details from Matthew and Luke afterwards. Ask children to listen for what the men do, what Jesus says first, what the religious teachers think, and how people respond at the end.
Mark 2:3, Mark 2:5, Mark 2:6, Mark 2:12, Matthew 9:2, Luke 5:21
Read and explain: Mark’s account in order
8 minRead Mark 2:1-12 aloud. Help children sequence the events from Mark only: Jesus is at home and teaching, many gather, four people carry the paralysed man, they open the roof and lower him, Jesus says his sins are forgiven, then tells him to arise, take up his mat, and go home.
Mark 2:1, Mark 2:2, Mark 2:3, Mark 2:4, Mark 2:5, Mark 2:11
Discuss: What did Jesus say and why?
6 minFocus on Jesus’ words. He first says, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven you.’ Some scribes reason in their hearts that only God can forgive sins. Jesus asks why they reason that way and says the healing shows that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.
Mark 2:5, Mark 2:7, Mark 2:8, Mark 2:9, Mark 2:10
Make and respond: Compare the Gospel reports carefully
8 minAfter sequencing Mark, compare short details without blending them into one retelling. Matthew says Jesus saw their faith and records the crowd marvelling and glorifying God. Luke says Pharisees and teachers of the law were present and that the healed man glorified God. Children note what each writer actually says.
Matthew 9:2, Matthew 9:8, Luke 5:17, Luke 5:20, Luke 5:25, Luke 5:26
Closing: Tell one true thing from the passage
4 minInvite each child to say one thing they learned from the reading. Guide them to use words from the passage, such as Jesus forgiving sins, commanding the man to rise, or people glorifying God in amazement. Finish by restating Jesus’ own reason for the healing in these accounts.
Matthew 9:6, Mark 2:10, Mark 2:12, Luke 5:24, Luke 5:26
Questions to explore
In Mark’s account, what did the four people do when they could not get near Jesus because of the crowd?
Answer from Mark by naming the problem and the action they took with the roof and the mat.
Mark 2:3, Mark 2:4
What did Jesus say before he told the man to arise?
Look for Jesus’ first words to the paralysed man in each account, then compare them with the later command to get up and go home.
Matthew 9:2, Mark 2:5, Luke 5:20, Matthew 9:6, Mark 2:11, Luke 5:24
What did Jesus say people should know from this healing?
Use Jesus’ own explanation about the Son of Man and authority on earth to forgive sins.
Matthew 9:6, Mark 2:10, Luke 5:24
Make, think or respond
Mark Story Sequence Cards
What you’ll need
- plain paper or scrap card
- pencils or textas
- scissors
- a Bible
Try it together
- Choose four to six moments from Mark 2:1-12, such as the crowd, the roof opening, Jesus forgiving sins, Jesus telling the man to arise, and the man walking out.
- Children draw one moment on each card and, if able, write one short word or phrase from Mark’s account.
- Mix the cards and work in pairs to place them back in order from Mark 2:1-12.
- After sequencing, compare one extra detail from Matthew and one from Luke that is also in today’s reading time.
This activity helps children follow Mark’s sequence and then notice carefully that Matthew, Mark, and Luke each report the event in their own way while all recording Jesus’ words about forgiveness and authority.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, limit the sequence to four simple cards and retell Mark’s account slowly while they point to each picture in order.
- For older or more confident children, ask them to name one detail reported in Matthew, one in Mark, and one in Luke, while keeping each account separate.
An optional closing prayer
You could pray: ‘Lord Jesus, thank you for showing your authority in this passage. Please help us listen carefully to your words and glorify God for what we learn about you.’
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Matthew 9
1 He entered into a boat and crossed over, and came into his own city.
2 Behold, they brought to him a man who was paralyzed, lying on a bed. Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the paralytic, “Son, cheer up! Your sins are forgiven you.”
3 Behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man blasphemes.”
4 Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts?
5 For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven;’ or to say, ‘Get up, and walk’?
6 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins—” (then he said to the paralytic), “Get up, and take up your mat, and go to your house.”
7 He arose and departed to his house.
8 But when the multitudes saw it, they marveled and glorified God, who had given such authority to men.
Mark 2
1 When he entered again into Capernaum after some days, it was heard that he was at home.
2 Immediately many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even around the door; and he spoke the word to them.
3 Four people came, carrying a paralytic to him.
4 When they could not come near to him for the crowd, they removed the roof where he was. When they had broken it up, they let down the mat that the paralytic was lying on.
5 Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.”
6 But there were some of the scribes sitting there and reasoning in their hearts,
7 “Why does this man speak blasphemies like that? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
8 Immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you reason these things in your hearts?
9 Which is easier, to tell the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven;’ or to say, ‘Arise, and take up your bed, and walk’?
10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” —he said to the paralytic—
11 “I tell you, arise, take up your mat, and go to your house.”
12 He arose, and immediately took up the mat and went out in front of them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”
Luke 5
17 On one of those days, he was teaching; and there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by who had come out of every village of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. The power of the Lord was with him to heal them.
18 Behold, men brought a paralyzed man on a cot, and they sought to bring him in to lay before Jesus.
19 Not finding a way to bring him in because of the multitude, they went up to the housetop and let him down through the tiles with his cot into the middle before Jesus.
20 Seeing their faith, he said to him, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.”
21 The scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?”
22 But Jesus, perceiving their thoughts, answered them, “Why are you reasoning so in your hearts?
23 Which is easier to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise and walk’?
24 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,” he said to the paralyzed man, “I tell you, arise, take up your cot, and go to your house.”
25 Immediately he rose up before them, and took up that which he was laying on, and departed to his house, glorifying God.
26 Amazement took hold on all, and they glorified God. They were filled with fear, saying, “We have seen strange things today.”
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.
Source passages
Something to make together
These activities connect with the passage. Choose one that suits your group and the time you have.
