Single lesson
Jesus Heals People at Gennesaret
Matthew 14:34–36; Mark 6:53–56
Jesus arrives at Gennesaret, and people respond quickly when they recognise him. In this lesson, children will trace what happened, notice the choices people made, and see how the passage describes Jesus bringing healing to those who came to him.
Before you teach
Both Matthew and Mark say that Jesus and his disciples crossed over and came to Gennesaret. The people there recognised Jesus, spread the news through the surrounding area, brought sick people to him, and begged that they might touch the fringe of his garment. The passage repeats that those who touched were made well.
Students will be able to retell the sequence of events at Gennesaret and identify how the people responded to Jesus and what happened to the sick.
Welcome: Arriving at Gennesaret
4 minShow the reference and explain that today’s story happens after Jesus and his disciples crossed over by boat. Ask children to listen for where they arrive, what the people do next, and what happens to the sick. This prepares them to hear the sequence carefully from the passage itself.
Matthew 14:34, Mark 6:53
Read and explain: What the people did
8 minRead the passage aloud from both Matthew and Mark. Point out the order: they arrived at Gennesaret, the people recognised Jesus, they sent word or ran through the region, and they brought sick people to him. Mark adds that some were carried on mats and brought wherever people heard he was.
Matthew 14:34, Matthew 14:35, Mark 6:53, Mark 6:54, Mark 6:55
Discuss: What happened when people came to Jesus
6 minTalk about the people’s request. Matthew and Mark both say they begged that the sick might touch the fringe of Jesus’ garment. Then both accounts say that those who touched were made well. Keep the focus on what the text says about Jesus and the people’s response.
Matthew 14:36, Mark 6:56
Make and respond: Sequence cards
8 minChildren make simple sequence cards with four scenes: arriving at Gennesaret, recognising Jesus, bringing the sick, and the sick being made well. After arranging the cards in order, ask children to retell the account to a partner using the pictures and the words of the passage.
Matthew 14:34, Matthew 14:35, Matthew 14:36, Mark 6:54, Mark 6:55, Mark 6:56
Closing: Remembering the lesson
4 minReview the main sequence together in one or two sentences per step. Emphasise that the passage shows people recognising Jesus, bringing those who were sick, and Jesus making well those who touched him. Finish with a short prayer of thanks for what this passage shows about Jesus.
Matthew 14:35, Matthew 14:36, Mark 6:54, Mark 6:56
Questions to explore
What happened first when Jesus and the disciples reached Gennesaret?
Look at the opening verses and notice the order: they crossed over, came to Gennesaret, and the people recognised Jesus there.
Matthew 14:34, Mark 6:53, Mark 6:54
How did the people respond when they recognised Jesus?
The passage says they sent into the surrounding region, ran around the whole region, and brought sick people to where Jesus was.
Matthew 14:35, Mark 6:55
What does the passage say happened to those who touched the fringe of Jesus’ garment?
Both accounts answer this clearly by saying that those who touched were made whole or made well.
Matthew 14:36, Mark 6:56
Make, think or respond
Gennesaret Story Sequence Cards
What you’ll need
- plain paper or card
- pencils or textas
- scissors
- Bible
Try it together
- Help children divide a sheet into four boxes or make four separate cards.
- In each box, draw one part of the account: arrival at Gennesaret, people recognising Jesus, sick people being brought, and people being made well.
- Cut out the cards if needed and mix them up.
- Children place the cards in order and retell the story using the pictures and the Bible verses.
- Invite pairs to check their order by listening again to the verses.
This activity helps children follow the order of events in Matthew 14:34–36 and Mark 6:53–56 and notice the people’s response to Jesus.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, provide the four sequence steps verbally and let them draw one simple picture for each before ordering them together.
- For older or more confident children, ask them to add short captions from the passage, such as recognised him, brought the sick, and made well.
An optional closing prayer
You might pray: “Lord Jesus, thank you for showing your power and kindness in this passage. Please help us listen carefully to your word and understand what it says about you. Amen.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Matthew 14
34 When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret.
35 When the people of that place recognized him, they sent into all that surrounding region and brought to him all who were sick;
36 and they begged him that they might just touch the fringe of his garment. As many as touched it were made whole.
Mark 6
53 When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored to the shore.
54 When they had come out of the boat, immediately the people recognized him,
55 and ran around that whole region, and began to bring those who were sick on their mats to where they heard he was.
56 Wherever he entered—into villages, or into cities, or into the country—they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged him that they might just touch the fringe of his garment; and as many as touched him were made well.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.