Mark 13 teaches children that Jesus told his friends to be watchful and trusting, even when frightening things happen. This lesson is for children about 5 to 11 years old and takes about 20 to 30 minutes to teach.
Big Idea
Jesus knows what is coming, so we can keep watching, stay close to him, and trust him even when the world feels scary.
Memory Verse
Mark 13:33
Watch, keep alert, and pray; for you don’t know when the time is.
(WEB)
Cup both hands over your eyes like a pair of binoculars, then slowly pull them away as if you are looking far down a road. Say “Watch” each time you do it, so your body remembers the word.
The Story: Mark 13 for Kids
One day Jesus walked out of the big temple in Jerusalem. One of his disciples looked back at the huge stone buildings and said, “Teacher, look at those amazing stones and buildings!” Jesus answered that a day would come when not one of those stones would be left standing on top of another.
Later, Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives across from the temple. Four of his closest friends, Peter, James, John, and Andrew, came to him privately and asked, “Tell us when these things will happen.” They wanted to know what sign would tell them the time was near.
Jesus told them that there would be many troubles. People would hear about wars and fighting, and there would be earthquakes and hunger. Some people would even pretend to be Jesus and try to trick others. Jesus said, “Be careful that no one leads you astray.”
Jesus also said that his friends would be taken to places of trouble because they followed him. He told them not to worry about what to say, because the Holy Spirit would help them speak. Jesus said, “You will be hated by all men for my name’s sake, but he who endures to the end will be saved.” Then he gave his friends a picture of a fig tree. When its branches get soft and green, you know summer is coming, and in the same way, his friends could know when important things were near.
Jesus ended by saying that no one knows the exact day or hour, not even the angels, only the Father. So he told his friends to keep watch and pray, like a servant waiting for his master to come home.
Read It Together
Mark 13:5-6
5 Jesus, answering, began to tell them, “Be careful that no one leads you astray. 6 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and will lead many astray.
(WEB)
Point out that Jesus warned his friends about people who would try to lead them away from the truth. Ask children how they can tell when someone is telling the truth about Jesus, and remind them to check with a parent, teacher, or the Bible itself.
Mark 13:11
When they lead you away and deliver you up, don’t be anxious beforehand, or premeditate what you will say, but say whatever will be given you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.
(WEB)
Show children that Jesus did not expect his friends to have every answer ready. Explain that when we feel nervous about talking about Jesus, we can ask God to help us, and he will.
Mark 13:31
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
(WEB)
Point out that everything in the world can change, but Jesus’s words always stay true. Ask children to name something that never changes, and help them connect it to God’s promises.
Talk About It
- What is one thing in the story that made Jesus’s friends feel worried, and how do you think they felt?
- What does it mean to watch for something, and how can we watch for Jesus in our everyday lives?
- Why do you think Jesus told his friends not to worry about what to say when they were in trouble?
- How does the picture of the fig tree help us understand that good things are coming?
- When you feel scared about something, what is one thing you can do to remember that Jesus is with you?
Activity Ideas
Watchtower Drawing
You will need paper, crayons or markers, and a pencil. Ask each child to draw a tall watchtower on the page, with a small window at the top where a guard can look out. Inside the window, have them draw a small picture of Jesus or a sign that reminds them to keep watching and praying.
Watch and Wait Game
You will need a open space and one child to be the “master” who stands at one end of the room. The other children are “servants” who stand at the other end. The master calls out “Watch!” and the servants tiptoe slowly toward him, freezing whenever he turns around. The first servant to reach him wins, and everyone practices staying alert while moving carefully.
Fig Tree Take-Home
You will need a small paper plate, green and brown paint or crayons, and a sheet of paper for each child. Have children paint or color a simple fig tree on the plate and tape a paper leaf to the back with the words “Watch and pray.” Encourage them to show the plate to their family at dinner and tell one thing they learned about Jesus from the story.
Teacher Notes
For adults, Mark 13 is often called the “little apocalypse” because Jesus speaks about the future, including troubles, the end of the age, and his return. The main emphasis is not on predicting dates but on faithful living, endurance, and trust in God’s control over history. Jesus himself says that no one knows the day or hour, so the chapter calls believers to readiness rather than speculation.
When teaching children, avoid overstating frightening details or linking the chapter to current news events. Keep the focus on the simple truths that Jesus knows what is coming, that he is with us, and that we can trust him and keep praying, so children feel secure rather than afraid.
A Prayer to Close
Dear Jesus, thank you for telling us about the future and for being with us in every season. Help us to watch for you, to pray, and to trust you when things feel scary. Keep our hearts close to you every day. Amen.
