This lesson teaches children that Jesus forgives people who have done wrong and that he is the light of the world. It is for children about 5 to 11 years old and takes 20 to 30 minutes to teach.
Big Idea
Jesus is kind and forgiving, and he is the light that shows us the way to live. When we follow him, we do not have to stay in the dark.
Memory Verse
John 8:12
Again, therefore, Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.”
(WEB)
Hold both hands out in front of you, then slowly open your fingers like a sunrise. Say “light” as you open them. Repeat the motion each time you say the verse together.
The Story: John 8 for Kids
Early one morning, Jesus was sitting in the temple teaching a large crowd of people. Some religious leaders came in, pushing a woman who had done something wrong. They put her in the middle of the crowd. They wanted to see what Jesus would say, because they were trying to catch him doing something wrong.
The leaders told Jesus that the law said this woman should be stoned. Then they asked him what he thought. Jesus did not answer right away. He bent down and wrote in the dirt with his finger. The leaders kept asking him, so he stood up and said, in his own words, “Whoever has never sinned may throw the first stone.”
One by one, the leaders walked away, starting with the oldest ones. Only Jesus and the woman were left standing there. Jesus asked her where everyone had gone and whether anyone had punished her. She said no one had. Jesus told her that he did not condemn her either, and he said, in simple words, “Go and do not sin anymore.”
Later, Jesus spoke to the crowd again. He told them that he was the light of the world. He said that anyone who follows him will not have to walk in the dark, because he will have the light of life.
Read It Together
John 8:7
But when they continued asking him, he looked up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw the first stone at her.”
(WEB)
Point out that Jesus did not rush to judge the woman. Ask the children what it felt like for the crowd to be waiting for an answer. Notice that Jesus invited the people to look at their own hearts first.
John 8:10-11
10 Jesus, standing up, saw her and said, “Woman, where are your accusers? Did no one condemn you?” 11 She said, “No one, Lord.” Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go your way. From now on, sin no more.”
(WEB)
Show the children how Jesus spoke gently to the woman and asked her where her accusers had gone. Point out that he did not excuse her wrong, but he offered her a new start. Explain that forgiveness means God gives us a fresh beginning.
John 8:31-32
31 Jesus therefore said to those Jews who had believed him, “If you remain in my word, then you are truly my disciples. 32 You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”
(WEB)
Explain that when we keep following Jesus and listening to his words, we learn the truth. Point out that the truth Jesus teaches sets us free from fear, shame, and the habit of doing wrong. Ask the children how they can keep listening to Jesus this week.
Talk About It
- How do you think the woman felt when the crowd was pointing at her?
- Why do you think Jesus bent down and wrote in the dirt before he spoke?
- What did Jesus say to the people who thought they had never done anything wrong?
- What is one way the light of Jesus can help us when we feel scared or unsure?
- How can we show forgiveness to someone who has made a mistake against us?
Activity Ideas
Make a Light Lantern Drawing
You will need paper, crayons or markers, and a pencil. Ask each child to draw a lantern with a bright flame in the middle. Have them write or draw one way Jesus is the light in their life. Let them take the drawing home to remind them of the lesson.
Follow the Leader in the Dark
Turn off the lights or cover the windows with blankets so the room is dim. Choose one child to hold a flashlight and lead the others around the room while they follow closely. Talk about how it is easier to walk safely when someone shows you the light. Then tell the children that Jesus is the light who leads us.
Forgiveness Jar at Home
You will need an empty jar, paper, and a pen. Each day this week, ask family members to write down one time they forgave someone or were forgiven. Fold the notes and place them in the jar. At the end of the week, read a few together and thank God for his forgiveness.
Teacher Notes
For adults, this chapter shows that Jesus treats sin with both honesty and mercy. He exposes the hypocrisy of those who want to condemn others while ignoring their own failings, yet he also refuses to condemn the woman and calls her to leave her sin behind. The passage also presents Jesus as the one who brings light, truth, and freedom to those who follow him.
Avoid suggesting to children that the woman’s sin was small or unimportant, and do not present forgiveness as something that makes wrongdoing acceptable. Be careful not to make the story about children being judged, since the focus is on Jesus’s kindness and the call to turn from sin.
A Prayer to Close
Dear Jesus, thank you for being the light of the world. Thank you for forgiving us when we do wrong and giving us a fresh start. Help us to follow you each day and to forgive others the way you forgive us. Amen.
