Preschool Children’s Message: Does Jesus Cry?
Use this children’s message to teach preschoolers that Jesus understands how we feel, even when we are sad and even we cry.
You’ll need:
Preschool Children’s Message: Does Jesus Cry?
Ask: Have any of you ever been sad? What are some things that make you sad?
Say: Let’s all pretend that we’re sad. Encourage children to make sad faces, slump their shoulders, and pretend to cry. It’s not a lot of fun to be sad. OK, everyone can be happy again!
Ask:
- When you see someone who is sad and crying, what do you do?
- What are some ways we can help a friend who is upset?
Say: We can give our friend a hug. Or maybe if our friend has a skinned knee, we could give him or her a Band-Aid. Let’s play a game.
Explain the following directions to the preschoolers
- Everyone will find a partner.
- Have partners tell each other one thing that makes them cry.
- Partners help their friend put a Band-Aids over the place where their friend hurts. (For example, preschoolers would put a Band-Aid on someone’s heart if that person cries because of something sad. Or, kids would place the Band-Aid on someone’s knee if that person cries because of a skinned knee.)
Give kids a couple of minutes to talk and to place the Band-Aids on each other, and offer help as needed.
Ask: What was it like to help your friend?
Say: Sometimes it’s hard to know how to help a friend. But because we’ve all been sad, we know what our friend feels like. That helps us to care for our friends. I know someone who cares for you all the time and knows just how you feel when you’re sad. Did you know that Jesus has gone through sad times just like you have? That’s why he can help us when we’re sad.
Connect to the Bible
Open your Bible to John 11:35.
Say: John 11:35 is the shortest verse in the whole Bible. It contains two words: “Jesus wept.” “Wept” is another word for “cried.” Jesus’ friend Lazarus had died and Jesus was so sad that he cried. So when you’re sad, Jesus knows just how you feel. Jesus is good at making us feel better when we’re sad.
Pray: Dear Jesus, it is so wonderful to know that you understand us when we’re sad. Thank you for comforting us when we’re upset. In your name, amen.
Say: When you look at the Band-Aid you’re wearing, remember that Jesus understands how you feel.
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