This story is one of those encounters that is really hard to explain away. There is no reason why a man with a mental illness would recognise Jesus as God. All the same, it is apparent that Jesus does not want whatever is possessing the man to keep shouting. It’s not time yet for the penny to drop among many of his followers yet! Jesus sees a man who needs help and heals the affliction, releasing the man’s mind and in the process releasing his mouth too!
This retold version of the Bible passage is supplied for inspiration, feel free to omit or embellish to give it your personal voice.
The time had come. Jesus was ready to begin teaching.
Off Jesus went to the synagogue (the church for the Jewish people), and when it was time for people to speak, he began preaching. The listeners were amazed. Nobody had ever preached like this before. Jesus didn’t tell them all the different viewpoints or mess about with long-winded traditions; he spoke simply, with authority.
But not everyone and everything was happy to see Jesus. A man entered the synagogue who was being controlled by an impure* spirit. When the spirit saw Jesus, he knew exactly who Jesus really was.
The spirit inside the man made him call out: “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth?”
What a question! What did Jesus want? Before him he saw a man who was in pain, a man who was being controlled, a troubled man. What do you think God’s heart of love for mankind wanted to do for this man and the spirit who tortured him?
“Have you come to destroy us?” The spirit yelled. “I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”
Well that was too much from this spirit – Jesus had only just started teaching people. They weren’t ready to recognise that he was The Son of God, the Messiah, the Holy One. “Be quiet!” said Jesus in a firm voice. “Come out of him!”
The poor man was shaken so hard as the spirit shrieked and cried out that he fell to the floor. When Jesus reached the man, the spirit had gone. The man was free. The man looked at Jesus without words to thank him. How long had he been imprisoned by the spirit? Jesus had healed him, freed him, given him a chance at life again.
The people were all amazed. Who was this man who taught with authority, who ordered the spirits? Soon everyone had heard of Jesus from Nazareth. Before long, whenever Jesus spoke, a crowd would gather.
*substitute ‘evil’, ‘bad’, or ‘demonic’ if you prefer.
The four men were called to follow, to walk in the dust of a rabbi, becoming like him and learning to fish for men. These games all hang on the ideas of calling, imitating and fishing.
Make up fishing poles using a dowel, string, and a magnet hook. Then cut out some small man shapes and slide a paper-clip around their waist. A quick time-saver is to cut a people paper chain and then divide it up. Add a twist by writing a task for the child to fulfil on each paper man.
Mirror Mirror
All Ages
Any size group
No Setup time
Noisy game
Space needed
Stand opposite your partner. Copy your partner’s gestures. E.g. lift your right arm and your partner will lift his left, smile and your partner will smile, etc
Fishing for…
Under 7’s
Small group
Requires setup time
Noisy game
Space needed
You’ll need plenty of items, small multicolour balls/beanbags work well in a group, or if you are at home, any item from around the house. In this gathering game, you gather things that share an attribute, perhaps a colour or a shape etc.
Follow the leader
Under 7’s
Any size group
No Setup time
Noisy game
Space needed
A classic copying game that takes you on a journey around your space.
Tag or catch
Under 7’s
Any size group
No Setup time
Noisy game
Space needed
Another classic but perfect to get the wriggles out and still links well.
‘I will make you fishers of men’ is iconic of itself. Here Jesus takes the everyday of the four men’s lives and transforms it radically. This spinning boats catch fills their nets with fish and then men, it’s super simple and suitable for any age group.
Jesus calls the first four disciples, and they drop everything to follow him, to become ‘fishers of men’. It’s a passage oh so familiar, but one that needs context to understand fully. This craft looks at that context using a mirror, reminding us that to fully see the picture, we need to see the background as well.
To make this craft, you will need the 1-page template printout, a mirror, scissors, and glue. I would strongly recommend a push pin and ruler for scoring too.
Score along all the straight inner lines on 3 of the pieces if you are scoring.
Cut out all the shapes.
Fold up each piece apart from the base – all the folds go the same way.
Glue together to make a triangular tube.
Find the letter side of your tube and the corresponding letter placement on the base.
Glue onto the base.
Repeat until all three pieces are in place.
Check your image is in the correct order by viewing at an angle.
To be sure, repeat in the other direction!
Now place the edge against a mirror and view the whole picture.
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