Get Out of the Boat

The past few weeks in kindergarten, leading up to learning about Jesus' death and resurrection, we've been studying the life of Jesus and learning about the miracles He did. Teaching Bible to the kindergarten students this year is one of my greatest joys. Not only am I continually learning and being encouraged as I take another look at these Biblical accounts I've heard throughout my life, but the students love it! They cheer whenever I announce that we'll have Bible time. Days we have to do our actual English curriculum, sometimes they'll ask, "Bible time? Bible time?"

When we were learning about Jesus giving sight to the man born blind (John 9), I was presenting the story through the children's picture Bible and lots of hand motions. When I got to the part where the man washed as Jesus had told him, and he could SEE, the students were completely enthralled. One boy exclaimed, "God is GOOD!" Amen!

We learned about when Jesus walked on water. We talked about how the disciples were afraid and thought they saw a ghost (the students thought that was really funny actually). Then we talked about Peter who said, "Jesus, if it's really you, tell me to come out and walk on the water." Jesus said, "Come!" Peter stepped out and walked on the water!... until he noticed the wind... and the waves... and took his eyes off Jesus. Becoming suddenly afraid at what had been the case all along, even during his faithful, miraculous and exciting steps across the water, Peter begins to sink. Nothing changed but his focus. Does Jesus say, "Hey you! Look back here!" "Or come ON, Peter, stop being afraid." No. Jesus reaches out, clasps Peter's arm, and pulls him up. Peter is saved by Christ's strength, not his own in any way shape or form. "Truly, you are the Son of God," the disciples confessed. The students and I shared in the disciples' amazement.

At any rate, here are some of the pictures that the kindergarten students created/colored after learning about Jesus walking on water. I thought they were really good...

I like to call this one "Nurse Jesus"... you can tell the kids were not finished with their drawing/coloring when I took these. At the bottom of the page, you can kind of make out (amidst the water) our phrase for the day, "Jesus said, 'Do not be afraid!'"







"Agh! A ghost!" That is what the jumping-with-alarm little man is thinking as shown in the red thought bubble. Unfortunately, I don't know the significance of the dead fish at the bottom. Maybe it got run over by the boat? I like the other fish that are watching intently. It's cool to note that Jesus is holding onto Peter in this one.








"You want me to step down WHERE?" And then there's the OTHER disciple thinking about trying it on the left side of the boat.








I like the little guys on the boat and the question mark above the one's head. :)









Jesus gives us the biggest love. What better way to represent that than holding out a giant heart!