What was Jesus doing during the storm?

Sleeping on a pillow in the boat.

Free Bible lesson for kids · Ministry in Galilee

Jesus Calms the Storm

A great storm arose while Jesus slept in the boat. The disciples woke Him, afraid. Jesus rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace, be still,” and there was a great calm.

Teach this lesson: film, sheets and guide Print the coloring page

Bible passage: Mark 4:35–41 · Matthew 8:23–27 · Luke 8:22–25
Big idea: Jesus is stronger than every storm.
Memory verse: And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. Mark 4:39 (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

When evening came, Jesus said to His disciples, “Let us pass over unto the other side” (Mark 4:35). Then a great storm of wind arose, and the waves beat into the boat until it was full (Mark 4:37). But Jesus was asleep on a pillow in the back of the boat. The frightened disciples woke Him and cried, “Master, carest thou not that we perish?” (Mark 4:38).

Jesus arose, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still.” At once the wind stopped, and there was a great calm (Mark 4:39). Then Jesus asked, “Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?” (Mark 4:40). The disciples were filled with fear and wonder. They said to one another, “What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” (Mark 4:41).

Read it in the Bible: Mark 4:35–41 (KJV)

³⁵And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. ³⁶And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships. ³⁷And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. ³⁸And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? ³⁹And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. ⁴⁰And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? ⁴¹And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

Read it in the Bible: Matthew 8:23–27 (KJV)

²³And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. ²⁴And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. ²⁵And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. ²⁶And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. ²⁷But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!

Read it in the Bible: Luke 8:22–25 (KJV)

²²Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a ship with his disciples: and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. And they launched forth. ²³But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy. ²⁴And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm. ²⁵And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him.

Questions to ask

What was Jesus doing during the storm?
Sleeping on a pillow in the boat.
What did Jesus say to the sea?
“Peace, be still.”
What did the disciples ask afterward?
“What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”

What this story teaches

Even the wind and the sea obey Jesus (Mark 4:41).
Jesus can bring a great calm with just a word (Mark 4:39).
Jesus cares about us when we are afraid (Mark 4:38–39).
Faith trusts Jesus instead of giving in to fear (Mark 4:40).
Jesus slept like a man and ruled the sea as God (Mark 4:38–39).

Jesus Is Lord of Creation

The wind and waves obeyed Jesus, because all things in heaven and on earth were created by Him and for Him.

Colossians 1:16

A 45-minute lesson plan

5 min	Welcome and pray. Greet each child by name and pray: Tell Jesus about something that makes us 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: “Jesus is stronger than every storm.” What does that mean for us?
5 min	Memory verse. Say Mark 4:39 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

Storm and Calm

You need: Lively music

When the music plays, the storm is raging: everyone sways, waves their arms and rocks like a boat.
When the leader shouts “Peace, be still!” and stops the music, everyone freezes, silent.
Anyone who moves becomes a helper who watches for wiggles.

Jesus spoke to the wind and the waves, “Peace, be still,” and there was a great calm.

For youth group · game · indoors · about 20 minutes

Unsinkable Boats

You need: Aluminum foil, a tub of water, pennies

Each team gets one sheet of foil to build a boat in five minutes.
Float the boats, then add pennies one at a time.
The boat that holds the most pennies before sinking wins.

The disciples were sure they would sink, but Jesus was in the boat. He is with us in our storms.

Pray

Tell Jesus about something that makes us afraid.