THE CHURCH IN NEW YORK CITY
CHILDREN’S MEETING LESSON
DATE: December 20, 2015
SUBJECT: JESUS MEETS MAN’S NEEDS: The Healing of the Royal Official’s Son
SCRIPTURE: John 4:43-54
AIM: To help the children realize that the Lord’s Word is trustworthy and that we need to have a
believing heart.
MEMORY VERSES TO CHOOSE FROM: Isaiah 40:8 (The grass withers and the flower fades, But
the word of our God will stand forever.); Romans 10:17 (So faith comes out of hearing, and hearing
through the word of Christ.); Psalm 33:9 (For He spoke, and it was; He commanded, and it stood.)
SUGGESTED SONGS TO CHOOSE FROM: 20 (All Things are Possible when We Believe); 24
(He’s Able); 25 (I Believe God); 28 (Just Keep on Believing); 33 (When Your Fears Grow Mountain
High); 57 (He Cannot Fail); 9409 BSS The Bible Song 9 (Oh, the Grass Will Wither And the Flower
Fade); 9410 BSS The Bible Song 10 (I Believe the Promises of God); 9031 BSS Go Jesus Song 12 (If
You Ever See a Needy One); 19 (When We’re Kind to Others)
APPROACH: Have you ever said you were going to do something, and then you didn’t do it? Maybe
you told your parents you were going to make your bed today, but then you forgot to. Maybe you
promised your friend you were going to play with them after school, but then you couldn’t because you
had an afterschool class or your parents made other plans. But there is Someone who really cares about
us, who always keeps His Word. That is the Lord Jesus.
CONTENT: In the previous lessons we heard about some of the ways in which the Lord Jesus meets
man’s need. In today’s lesson, we will hear about a sick, little boy who was healed by the Lord Jesus.
The boy was not just a little bit sick. Sometimes we get a cold or a sore throat, or maybe a
stomachache. But this boy was very sick. In fact, he was about to die. The boy’s father must have been
very concerned.
The boy’s father was a royal official. That means he worked for the king. The royal official had heard
about Jesus, and must have heard that Jesus was able to heal people. When he heard that Jesus had
come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and asked Him to come down and heal his son because
he was about to die. The Lord spoke something to the royal official and also listened to the royal
official’s desperate request. The royal official said to Jesus, “Sir, come down before my little child
dies.” He really wanted the Lord to hurry and come and heal his precious little boy. Do you think Jesus
went? Actually, He did not go to where the boy was! Instead, Jesus spoke something powerful and
trustworthy. The Lord Jesus said to the royal official, “Go, your son lives.” The man believed the word
which Jesus said to him and went his way.
As he was on his way, the royal official’s slaves met him and told him that his child was living! He
asked them in what hour he got better and they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour (7:00 p.m.)
the fever left him.” The father then knew that his son was healed in the same hour that Jesus had said to
him, “Your son lives.” And the royal official believed in Jesus. But not just him! He believed in Jesus,
he and his whole house.
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SUGGESTED APPLICATIONS TO CHOOSE FROM:
 We should care for others with compassion, just as the Lord cared for others. The Lord was so
sympathetic when He heard about the sick boy. His speaking comforted and encouraged the royal
official. The Lord answered the man’s request to heal his son. How can we care for others?
Sometimes, someone in our family such as parents or grandparents becomes sick. Or, maybe one of
our friends or neighbors that we know. Or, our teacher in children’s meeting. One way to comfort
sick ones is to send them a card. How about making them a “Get Well Soon” card? We can
especially comfort and encourage sick ones in our family by speaking nicely to them and helping
out. When our mom has a cold or headache and needs to rest, instead of— “Mommy, I need a
snack right now, I’m hungry.”—How about “Mommy, here’s a glass of water for you.” Older
children can do chores and help younger children so that Mom can rest. Discuss with the children
other ways they can comfort someone who is sick.
 The Lord’s Word is trustworthy and powerful. When the Lord speaks, His Word is trustworthy.
What the Lord says, He always does. He spoke to the royal official, “Go, your son lives.” Just as
the Lord spoke, the son was healed. Today, we can also trust and believe in God’s Word, the Bible.
Science books and other books change and need to be edited over time, but the Bible remains the
same because it is God’s Word and it is true.
 Faith comes by hearing, and hearing through the Word of God. How can we have faith in the
Lord? One way is by hearing the Word of God. Initially, the royal official “heard that Jesus had
come out of Judea and into Galilee.” So, he had heard at least a little about Jesus. Then, when he
met Jesus, he directly heard the Lord’s Word. Listening to the Lord’s Word helped the royal official
to have the faith to believe. When the Lord Jesus said, “Go, your son lives”, he did not doubt in his
heart. He believed the word that Jesus said to him. In the same way, for us to have faith in the Lord,
it is very important that we hear the Lord’s word in a consistent way. Coming to the children’s
meeting every week and listening to the Lord’s Word will help us have a believing heart.
Memorizing our verses every week, which are all verses from the Bible, also help us have a
believing heart.
All things are possible when we believe,
All things are possible when we believe,
Faith moves the hand of God,
Faith in His living Word.
All things are possible when we believe.
Children’s Song #20
Adapted from the Church in New York City’s Children’s Meeting lessons: 11/24/96; 11/24/02; 12/21/08; 12/19/10
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