Free Bible lesson for kids · Ministry in Galilee
Jairus’s Daughter
On the way to heal Jairus’s daughter, a woman touched the hem of Jesus’ garment and was healed. Then word came that the girl had died, but Jesus said, “Be not afraid, only believe,” and raised her up.
- Bible passage
- Mark 5:21–43 · Luke 8:40–56 · Matthew 9:18–26
- Big idea
- We can trust Jesus even when it seems too late.
- Memory verse
As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe.
Mark 5:36 (KJV)- Ages
- Preschool to preteen (3 to 12), with tips for each age
- Time
- About 45 minutes
- Included, free
- Animated story film, coloring page, class sheet, teacher guide, questions and answers, a game
The story
A ruler of the synagogue named Jairus fell at Jesus’ feet and begged Him to come, for his little daughter was dying (Mark 5:22–23). On the way, a woman who had been sick for twelve years came behind Jesus in the crowd (Mark 5:25–27). She said, “If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole” (Mark 5:28). She touched Him and was healed at once. Jesus told her, “Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole” (Mark 5:29, 34).
Then word came that Jairus’s daughter had died (Mark 5:35). Jesus said, “Be not afraid, only believe” (Mark 5:36). At the house people were weeping, but Jesus said the girl was not dead but sleeping, and they laughed at Him (Mark 5:38–40). He took her by the hand and said, “Talitha cumi” (Mark 5:41). At once the twelve-year-old girl got up and walked (Mark 5:42).
Read it in the Bible: Mark 5:21–43 (KJV)
21And when Jesus was passed over again by ship unto the other side, much people gathered unto him: and he was nigh unto the sea. 22And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet, 23And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live. 24And Jesus went with him; and much people followed him, and thronged him. 25And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, 26And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, 27When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment. 28For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole. 29And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague. 30And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes? 31And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? 32And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing. 33But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth. 34And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague. 35While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further? 36As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe. 37And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James. 38And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly. 39And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth. 40And they laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying. 41And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise. 42And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment. 43And he charged them straitly that no man should know it; and commanded that something should be given her to eat.
Read it in the Bible: Luke 8:40–56 (KJV)
40And it came to pass, that, when Jesus was returned, the people gladly received him: for they were all waiting for him. 41And, behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue: and he fell down at Jesus’ feet, and besought him that he would come into his house: 42For he had one only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she lay a dying. But as he went the people thronged him. 43And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any, 44Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched. 45And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? 46And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me. 47And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately. 48And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace. 49While he yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue’s house, saying to him, Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master. 50But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole. 51And when he came into the house, he suffered no man to go in, save Peter, and James, and John, and the father and the mother of the maiden. 52And all wept, and bewailed her: but he said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth. 53And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead. 54And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise. 55And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and he commanded to give her meat. 56And her parents were astonished: but he charged them that they should tell no man what was done.
Read it in the Bible: Matthew 9:18–26 (KJV)
18While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live. 19And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did his disciples. 20And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment: 21For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole. 22But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour. 23And when Jesus came into the ruler’s house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise, 24He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn. 25But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose. 26And the fame hereof went abroad into all that land.
Questions to ask
Who was Jairus?
A ruler of the synagogue.
How was the woman in the crowd healed?
She touched Jesus’ garment in faith.
What did Jesus say to the girl?
“Talitha cumi” — “Damsel, I say unto thee, arise.”
What this story teaches
- Jesus has power over sickness and death (Mark 5:29, 42).
- Faith reaches out to Jesus for help (Mark 5:27–28).
- Jesus tells us not to fear, but only believe (Mark 5:36).
- It is never too late for Jesus to help (Mark 5:35–36).
- Jesus cared for the girl, even making sure she ate (Mark 5:43).
Jesus Has Defeated Death
Jesus called death a sleep and raised the girl up. Our Saviour has abolished death and brings never-ending life through the gospel.
2 Timothy 1:10
A 45-minute lesson plan
| 5 min | Welcome and pray. Greet each child by name and pray: Ask Jesus to help us believe and not be afraid. |
|---|---|
| 10 min | The story. Play the story film: each verse appears on screen in the King James Version while the scene plays. Pause to ask what happens next. |
| 10 min | Talk about it. Ask the three questions below. Then ask: “We can trust Jesus even when it seems too late.” What does that mean for us? |
| 5 min | Memory verse. Say Mark 5:36 together, covering one word at a time until the children can say it alone. |
| 10 min | Activity. Younger children color the coloring page while you retell the story; older children do the class sheet (memory-verse fill-in, word search and questions). |
| 5 min | Pray and send home. Pray together and send the sheet home so families can talk about the first question this week. |
- Preschool: keep it short and physical. Act out the story, use a simple prop, and repeat the big idea in one sentence.
- Elementary: let children find the passage in their own Bibles. Ask “who, what, where” questions first, then “why.”
- Preteens: read the verses before and after the passage, and ask how this story fits the whole story of the Bible.
Game time
For kids · game · indoors · about 8 minutes
Touch the Hem
You need: A long scarf
- One child is Jesus and tucks the scarf in at the back so it trails behind.
- Jesus walks through the room while the crowd tries to touch the end of the scarf.
- When someone touches it, Jesus stops and asks, “Who touched me?” That child becomes the next Jesus.
A woman touched the hem of Jesus’ garment and was healed. Then Jesus told Jairus, “Be not afraid, only believe.”
For youth group · game · indoors · about 15 minutes
Who Touched Me?
You need: Chairs in a circle
- One person, the detective, leaves the room. The leader taps one person secretly to be the “toucher”.
- With the detective back, the toucher quietly taps others on the shoulder. Anyone tapped stands up.
- The detective watches and asks yes-or-no questions to find the toucher.
In a big crowd, Jesus noticed one woman’s faith. He notices you too.
Pray
Ask Jesus to help us believe and not be afraid.