John 12
Explanation and Bible story for toddlers and preschoolers (ages 3-6)
The Explanation
It was evening. The sun was going down. In a little house in Bethany, a table was set. Lamps were burning. It smelled of bread and soup.
Jesus was there as a guest. And guess who else? Lazarus! Lazarus had been dead. But Jesus had made him alive again. Now Lazarus sat right next to Jesus at the table.
Martha brought in the food. She poured the drinks. And there was Mary too. Mary had something in her hands. A little jar. A very, very special jar. Inside was oil that smelled so sweet.
Mary knelt down. Right by Jesus' feet. She opened the little jar. And she poured all the oil out. Every drop. Over Jesus' feet.
The whole house began to smell sweet. So sweet! Then Mary took her long hair. And she wiped Jesus' feet with her own hair.
What Does This Mean?
Mary loved Jesus so much. So very much. She gave Him the most beautiful thing she had. She did not keep it for herself. She gave everything.
Jesus saw it. And Jesus was glad. He said, "Let her be. What she does is good."
The Common Thread
The next day something else happened. Jesus went to the big city. It was called Jerusalem. Jesus sat on a little donkey. A little donkey with soft ears.
And oh, so many people came! They ran to the road. They broke branches off the palm trees. Big green branches. They waved them in the air. They laid them on the ground.
And they shouted. Loud! "Hosanna! Hosanna! Here comes our King!"
Jesus was their King. Not a King with a sword. Not a King on a big horse. A King on a little donkey. A gentle King. A King who loves.
Jesus came for everyone. For big people and little people. For Mary. For Lazarus. And also for you.
For You
Do you know what Jesus said? He said, "I am the Light." Like a lamp in a dark room. When Jesus is with you, it is not dark inside you anymore.
Mary gave Jesus something very precious. Do you have something you want to give Jesus too? Not a jar of oil. But maybe a song. Or a picture. Or a big thank you. Or your heart.
Jesus is happy with everything you give Him. Even a very little thing. Because He looks at your heart.
Talk About It
What did Mary give to Jesus? And what would you like to give to Jesus?
Jesus is a King on a little donkey. What kind of King is that?
Praying Together
Dear Jesus,
You are our King. You are the Light. Thank You that You love me. I love You too.
Amen.
Questions about John 12
Short answers for anyone reading about this for the first time.
What is John 12 about?
What does John 12 say?
What does John 12 teach us about God?
What can toddlers learn from John 12?
Why is John 12 an important Bible story?
What others discovered
Jesus says, "If anyone listens to my sayings, and doesn't believe, I don't judge him. For I came not to judge the world, but to save the world."
Notice He doesn't say "if anyone rejects me." He says "listens... and doesn't believe." Some of us have heard His words our whole lives and still hold back. And even then, His posture toward you today is not the raised gavel, but the open arms of a Savior.
While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become children of light." Jesus says this, then hides Himself. The light was leaving. Notice He does not say admire the light or study it, but believe in it. Faith is how the light gets inside you and starts shining out. What are you doing with the light you still have today?
Looking for something for slightly older children?
We also have dedicated versions for elementary age (7-12) and teens (12 and up).
Open in the Children's Bible tool
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