Miracle Mud – a Mark 8 Craft

Materials:

• Potting soil
• Water
• Flower seeds
• Plastic cup or pot
• Marker or paint

Instructions:

1. Fill the plastic cup or pot with potting soil until it is about 3/4 of the way full.
2. Add just enough water to the soil to make it damp but not soaked.
3. Mix the soil and water together until it forms a mud-like consistency.
4. Using the marker or paint, write "Miracle Mud" on the side of the cup or pot.
5. Sprinkle flower seeds on top of the Miracle Mud and cover them with a thin layer of soil.
6. Place the cup or pot in a sunny window and water as needed.

Explanation:

This craft is based on the story of Jesus feeding the 4,000 in Mark 8. In the story, Jesus performs a miracle by multiplying a few loaves of bread and fish to feed a large crowd of people. The Miracle Mud craft represents this miracle by taking a small amount of soil and water and turning it into something that can grow and sustain life, just as Jesus transformed a small amount of food into enough to feed a multitude. The flower seeds represent the abundance that came from the miracle, just as the crowd was fed abundantly. By creating and caring for the Miracle Mud, children can learn about the power of Jesus and the miracles he performed.