Title: Jesus and the Festival of Lights: Connecting Our Stories
Objective: To teach young children about the history of Hanukkah and its connection to Jesus, highlighting themes of hope, light, and God’s faithfulness.
Introduction:
Today, we are going to learn about a special story called Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights. We will see how this story connects to Jesus and what it means for us as followers of Him!
Story of Hanukkah:
In ancient times, there were brave people known as the Maccabees. They lived a long time ago in a place called Judea. The Maccabees loved God and wanted to worship Him freely, but a king named Antiochus did not allow them to do so. He wanted everyone to follow his rules and forget about the God of Israel.
The Maccabees fought hard for their freedom, and with God’s help, they won! They were able to take back their holy temple, a very special place where they worshiped God. When they entered the temple, they found it filled with dirt and things that shouldn’t be there. They worked really hard to clean it and make it a place where they could worship again.
While they were cleaning, they found a small jar of olive oil that was supposed to last for just one day. But, by a miracle from God, that little bit of oil lasted for eight whole days! This is why Hanukkah is celebrated for eight days, and it reminds us of how God provides for us, even in the smallest ways.
Connection to Jesus:
Now, let’s think about Jesus. Did you know that Jesus also celebrates Hanukkah? In the Bible, in the book of John, we read that Jesus was in Jerusalem for this festival. Jesus is often called the Light of the World. Just like the oil in the Hanukkah miracle brought light to the temple, Jesus brings light into our lives.
When we celebrate Hanukkah, we remember how God was faithful to His people and how Jesus is our light. Jesus teaches us to shine our light to others and to share God’s love every day!
Craft Activity:
Now that we know about Hanukkah and Jesus, let’s do a fun activity! We can make our own menorah (the special candelabrum used for Hanukkah). We will use paper or cardboard and decorate it with bright colors. After that, we can talk about how we can be a light to others, just like Jesus is a light for us.
Conclusion:
As we finish today’s lesson, let’s remember that God is always with us, just like He was with the Maccabees during Hanukkah and with Jesus when He walked the earth. Let’s be brave, just like the Maccabees, and let our lights shine brightly!
Prayer:
Let’s close in prayer. Dear God, thank You for the stories of the Maccabees and for Jesus, the Light of the World. Help us to be brave and to share Your love with everyone around us. Amen.
Remember, we are all part of God’s wonderful story!
