Grade 1 - Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States

Sunday School Curriculum Grade 1
Week 4 – Healing the Sick Man of Bethesda
Objective:
Show the students the kindness of Jesus Christ to the disabled
Memory Verse:
“Rise, take up your bed, and walk” (John 5:8)
References:
John 5:1-15: Explanation of the Gospels
Introduction:
Revision of the previous lesson and verse, showing Christ’s authority over the wind, the water
and fish.
Prepare a picture of today’s lesson or prepare the following visual aids:
A plastic container to be filled with water to simulate the pool
Some toys to simulate people around the pool. Use them to simulate the sick people
jumping into the pool
Prepare a picture of an angel that moves the water in the pool
Lesson Outlines:
Once upon a time there was a pool of water called Bethesda. What was the name of the pool? The
pool had five halls around it. The five halls were full of sick people. There were people who could
not see, people who could not hear or people who could not walk. All kinds of sick people were
staying around the pool continuously. Once every year, an angel used to come down and move the
water of the pool. The first sick man who jumped into the pool after it was moved by the angel would
become well. All these sick people were waiting for the angel to come down and move the water so
they can jump into the pool immediately after the angel. Every one wanted to be the first to jump
after the angel.
Jesus Christ came to the pool of Bethesda, there He found a man who was sick for 38 years. How
many years was the man sick for? This man could not walk and he was living by the pool hoping that
he can be the first to jump into the water after the angel. But every time the angel comes and moves
the water he could not beat others to the pool because he could not walk fast. He tried and tried for 38
years but he was never the first. So Jesus, who was kind and felt bad for this man, asked him if he
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