Jesus Coloring Pages – 40 Sheets of the Good Shepherd

Jesus is one of the most recognized figures in the world, and these forty free coloring pages follow his story from the manger in Bethlehem to the quiet strength of the Good Shepherd carrying a lamb on his shoulders. Some sheets show him surrounded by children or seated with a small crowd, others focus on a single gentle scene, like a hand resting on a kneeling child. Whatever the moment, every page is drawn simply enough for young hands and print-ready in seconds.

Browse the 40 Free Jesus Coloring Pages

Every coloring page below is free and printable. Click any picture to open its PDF, sized to fit A4 paper for an easy print at home, at church or in the classroom. The forty sheets range from very easy outlines, perfect for little hands, to more detailed scenes for older children who enjoy filling in every corner.

The Good Shepherd

Good Shepherd Carrying a Lamb

A long-haired, bearded shepherd in a draped robe with a sash walks over grassy hills, holding a smiling lamb across his shoulders and a tall crook in his other hand. Small grass tufts and sandals add simple detail. The large, open shapes suit younger children.

Jesus Teaching Four Children on a Hillside

A seated, bearded Jesus in a draped robe and sandals talks with four children gathered around him: two boys and two girls, one with a ponytail. Rolling hills, three trees and grass tufts fill the background. The robe’s long folds are large, open areas that suit bolder crayons.

Jesus with Grazing Sheep and Shepherd’s Staff

Jesus stands in a draped robe with a sash, holding a tall curved staff and resting one hand on the woolly back of a grazing sheep. A second sheep grazes on the right, with a hill behind and a stone wall of large rounded stones along the bottom. The curly wool and the stones make good spots for texture and shading.

Jesus Blessing a Kneeling Boy

Jesus rests his hand on the head of a curly-haired boy who kneels and looks up at him with a smile. Rolling hills, a round-crowned tree, grass tufts and a folded cloth on a rock fill the scene. The wide sash and long sleeves are big, open areas, and the sandals are easy to pick out.

Jesus Seated with Two Children and a Lamb

Jesus sits on a rock with one hand open in a speaking gesture, while a boy sits cross-legged and a girl with a headband kneels in front of him. A curly-woolled lamb peeks out behind on the left. The lamb’s fluffy fleece has small curls that call for a fine crayon tip.

Birth and Childhood

Sleeping Baby in a Wooden Manger

A swaddled baby with closed eyes sleeps on a bed of straw inside a wooden manger, seen from the side. The manger has two wide planks with four round nail heads and crossed legs, and loose tufts of hay lie on the ground below. The wrapped cloth is split into broad bands, which are easy to color.

Nativity Scene with Mary and Joseph

A veiled woman sits beside a wooden manger and rests her hands near a swaddled sleeping baby, while a bearded man leans in behind her holding a tall staff. A stable beam, an arched window with hills and straw on the ground frame the scene. The jagged strands of straw are fine work, so a sharp pencil helps there.

Bethlehem Star Over Stable Roof

A large eight-pointed star shines above an open wooden stable with a peaked roof and crossed beams under the gable. Two small four-pointed stars flank it, and an empty manger with a tuft of hay stands inside. The big, open shapes suit younger colorers.

Shepherds Kneeling at the Nativity Stable

Two shepherds kneel with folded hands in the foreground, seen from behind, their curved crooks lying on the grass. Ahead of them a bearded man and a praying woman sit beside a manger with the baby, under a stable roof and a big star, while a lamb stands on a hill in the distance. The many small figures and clothing folds make this a medium-detail sheet.

Nativity with Ox, Donkey and Approaching Shepherds

Inside a timber stable, a praying woman and a bearded man kneel over a swaddled baby lying on hay in a wooden manger, with a smiling ox and donkey resting on either side. Three shepherds with crooks and a lamb walk over the hills toward an eight-pointed star. The tiny shepherds in the distance have small faces and folds, so they need a fine tip.

Holy Family Journey with Donkey

A bearded man in a headcloth and long robe walks beside a smiling donkey, holding its rope and a tall staff. A veiled woman rides on the donkey’s back and cradles a sleeping swaddled baby. Two palm trees, a crescent moon and a few rocks fill the desert setting. The large robes leave roomy areas, while the palm trunks have narrow bands that call for a finer tip.

Boy Jesus Teaching Two Elders with a Scroll

A curly-haired boy in a tunic sits on a low stone bench, holding an open scroll and raising one hand as he speaks to two bearded elders. The elders wear headbands and long robes, one resting his chin on his hand. A stone arch with two columns stands behind them. Large robes and clean, open outlines make this an easy sheet.

Miracles and the Crowd

Jesus Standing in a Wooden Sailboat

Long-haired, bearded Jesus stands in a wooden boat with one hand on the mast and the other held out, open. Behind him, a big single sail hangs from a crossbeam tied with a knot. The hull has long plank stripes, and wavy water and distant hills sit around it. The wide sail and hull planks make roomy, open areas that suit big markers.

Jesus Calling Two Fishermen at the Shore

Jesus stands on a rocky shore in a long robe and sandals, one hand stretched toward two bearded fishermen who lift an empty net in a plank-sided boat. A coiled net lies on the rocks in front, with hills behind the water. The fine net mesh needs a sharp pencil, while the robe and water are wide open.

Jesus Calming the Storm from the Boat

Two frightened fishermen, one curly-haired and one in a headband, sit gripping the rail while Jesus stands between them with one hand raised toward the sky. A tall mast carries a billowing sail, and three curling waves roll below the plank hull. The robes and sail are large and open, with fine detail only in the faces.

Jesus Holding Baskets of Bread and Fish

A smiling, bearded Jesus stands on a grassy hill and holds two woven baskets, one with five round bread loaves and one with three fish. He wears a sash robe and sandals, and a checkered picnic cloth lies at his feet. The basket weave and the plaid cloth are small, fine areas, so they take a sharp pencil.

Jesus Teaching a Seated Crowd on a Hillside

Long-haired Jesus sits on a rock in a sash robe and sandals, one hand open toward a crowd of eight listeners on the grass. Bearded men in headbands, veiled women and a short-haired boy sit in loose rows beneath a rolling hill. Grass tufts are scattered across the ground, and the folds of the robes are large and easy to color.

Jesus Handing Bread to a Smiling Boy

A long-haired, bearded Jesus in a draped robe leans forward to place a bread loaf into the open hands of a grinning boy in a belted tunic. Two woven baskets sit in front, one holding four loaves and the other two fish. The rope-trimmed basket weave is the finest detail on the page.

Servant Pouring from Jar into Cup

A servant in a headband and belted tunic tips a small jug so a thin stream falls into a cup on a square wooden stool. Jesus stands beside them with an open hand, and two tall striped jars sit in the foreground. The big robe and jar shapes are open and easy to color.

The Road to Jerusalem

Zacchaeus in the Sycamore Tree

A bearded man in a headband and sandals crouches on a thick sycamore branch while Jesus looks up and raises one open hand. A low stone wall runs across the foreground, and a small town with a domed roof and two cypress trees sits on the horizon. The scalloped leaf clusters and the wall stones are large, open shapes.

Jesus Stroking a Young Donkey by the City Wall

A donkey with tall ears and a rope halter stands side-on while a long-haired, bearded Jesus in a sash-draped robe rests one hand on its nose and holds the lead rope in the other. Behind them are a crenellated city wall with an arched gate, and pebbles dot the ground. The large, open shapes of the robe and the donkey’s body make this an easy sheet.

Jesus Riding a Donkey Toward the City Gate

Seen from the front, a long-haired, bearded Jesus in a sash-draped robe and sandals rides a small donkey with a rope bridle along a winding path. A castle-like city gate with two crenellated towers stands on the hill ahead, and round bushes, grass tufts and two stones line the way. The path’s long curves are a good place for a gradient of browns.

Children Laying Palm Branches for Jesus

A boy and a girl bend over a palm branch on the road while a long-haired, bearded Jesus stands beside them with one hand held out. Two more palm fronds and a spread-out cloak lie in the foreground, and a walled city with an open arched gate rises behind them. The feathery palm leaves have fine detail, while the robe and cloak are large, open areas.

Jesus Riding a Donkey Under a Stone Arch

Jesus waves from a donkey as he passes beneath a tall stone arch built from wedge-shaped blocks. A smiling boy and girl walk beside him, each holding up a palm branch. The stone blocks in the arch and pillars are easy to color in alternating shades of gray or tan.

Parables and Children

Boy Holding a Lamb Beside Jesus

A smiling boy in a belted tunic hugs a small lamb in both arms while a long-haired, bearded Jesus rests a hand on his shoulder. Behind a wooden fence, a shepherd’s staff leans on a post and a lone sheep stands on rolling hills. The fence boards and the lamb’s woolly curls are good spots for texture.

Jesus Talking with Three Children in a Circle

Jesus sits cross-legged with one hand raised as he speaks, and three children sit around him: a spiky-haired boy, a girl with a headband, and a curly-haired child seen from behind. The background is plain white, and the sash across his robe makes a broad diagonal band.

Jesus Showing a Seed to Two Children

Kneeling with a smile, Jesus holds a single tiny seed between his fingers while a boy and a girl in a headband kneel opposite, looking up at it. On the ground in front sit a small seedling in a mound of soil and a bowl of seeds.

Boy Planting a Seed Beside Jesus

A bearded Jesus crouches with a hand resting on his knee and watches a smiling boy press one tiny seed into a bed of soil with his fingertip. Behind them are a brick wall, a leafy tree and small bushes. The brick wall has plenty of open blocks that take flat color easily.

Father Embracing the Returning Son

A bearded old man with closed eyes and a head cloth folds his arms around a kneeling young man in a ragged, patched tunic. Behind them stand an olive tree with many leaves and a small house with an arched window, all framed by a stone block border.

Good Samaritan Bandaging an Injured Traveler

A bearded man in a head cloth kneels on the grass and wraps a strip of cloth around the forearm of a wounded traveler. The traveler sits propped on one hand with a bandaged head, a torn tunic and sandaled feet stretched out. A round tree, bushes, grass tufts and a rock fill the background.

Jesus and Children Guiding Sheep Through a Fence Gate

A smiling Jesus with a long staff gestures toward a girl and a boy who guide five woolly sheep through a rope-tied gate in a wooden fence. Six small sheep graze on the hills behind them, with clouds and round trees above. The curly wool on the big front sheep gives fine shapes to work with.

Last Supper and Easter

Jesus at Supper with Three Disciples

Four bearded men sit around a plank table set with a round loaf of bread on a plate and a goblet. Jesus, with long wavy hair, gestures with an open hand. Behind them, an arched stone window shows hills and a tall cypress. The large, open shapes in the robes suit younger colorers.

Jesus Praying Among Olive Trees

Jesus kneels on the grass with closed eyes and folded hands, his long wavy hair falling past a wide-sleeved robe with a sash. Two olive trees with fruit-laden branches frame him, a large round moon hangs above, and a few fallen leaves lie in the grass. The long robe folds make big, calm areas to fill.

Jesus Holding an Olive Branch on a Rock

A smiling, bearded Jesus sits on a large rock in a draped robe and sandals, holding up a long olive branch with oval leaves and three olives. Four small stars float in the night sky, and grass tufts sit at the base of the rock. The big, smooth leaves are easy to fill, even for young colorers.

Angel at the Empty Tomb

A smiling, curly-haired angel with folded wings sits on a big round stone and gestures toward the open, arched tomb. Two loose strips of linen cloth lie on the ground, and a sun rises over the hills behind. The wide sleeves and long robe make large, open areas.

Jesus in the Empty Tomb with Folded Linen

Inside a rocky cave, a bearded Jesus in a draped robe and sandals looks down at a stone slab holding neatly folded burial cloths, with one strip hanging over the edge. Light rays slant in from the upper left, and the cave walls have crack lines. The rock walls are broad shapes that take gray and brown shades well.

Two Women and Angel at the Empty Tomb

Two women in long head veils and sandals walk up a path toward a rock tomb, where a winged angel sits on a boulder with an open hand held out. A round rolled-away stone stands in front, and a sun with straight rays rises over the hills. The feathered wings offer a good spot for several shades.

Christian Symbols

Dove Mandala with Leaf Border

A dove with wide-spread wings hovers in the middle of a round mandala, with straight rays fanning out behind it. An outer ring is divided into ten sections, each holding one pointed leaf with a center vein. The bold, open shapes suit younger children.

Jesus Mandala with Doves, Fish and Lambs

A standing, bearded Jesus with open hands sits at the center of a triple-ring mandala. Two lambs and four candles surround him, five fish sit in the middle ring, and six doves fill the outer ring. The doves’ feathered wings are a good place to try several shades.

Cross Filled with Lilies, Doves and Candles

A large Latin cross outline is packed with open lilies, pointed leaves, three doves in flight and six lit candles. The lilies have long stamens with dotted tips, and the design fills the whole cross shape. It is a fine, dense pattern that suits older children and patient colorers.

The Story of Jesus

A Childhood in Nazareth

According to the New Testament, Jesus grew up in Nazareth, a small town in the region of Galilee. It was a quiet, ordinary place, far from any royal court, and the Gospels say very little about his early years there, which is part of why artists across the centuries have pictured his childhood with such warmth and simplicity. The coloring pages in the birth and childhood gallery above picture this part of the story, from the wooden manger filled with straw to the ox and donkey standing nearby, with Mary and Joseph close at hand and a star shining over the stable.

A Teacher of Parables and Miracles

As an adult, Jesus traveled and taught, and many of his lessons have come down to us as parables, short stories built around a single piece of wisdom. One of the most familiar tells of a shepherd who leaves his whole flock to search for a single lost sheep, an image that gave rise to the gentle figure known as the Good Shepherd, shown here carrying a lamb across his shoulders and holding a long, curved staff. Tradition also holds that he chose twelve close companions, his disciples, who traveled with him and turn up again and again throughout these scenes. The Gospels recount several miracles as well, among them calming a storm on the water, healing the sick, and feeding a large crowd from just a few loaves and fish, all of which appear across the miracle and crowd sheets in this collection.

The Cross and the Resurrection

The story reaches its two best known moments in the two most widely celebrated Christian holidays in the world. Christmas marks his birth in Bethlehem, and Easter marks his resurrection after the events of the Last Supper and the garden of Gethsemane. Both are represented across this collection, from the road into Jerusalem to the quiet, hopeful scenes of Easter morning, giving families and classrooms a way to color through the whole story from beginning to end.

How to Print and Color These Pages

Each sheet in this collection is a free PDF, sized for standard A4 paper, and opens with a click on its picture in the gallery above. For the cleanest lines, print at the highest quality setting your printer allows rather than a draft mode, and use plain white printer paper for crayons, colored pencils or markers, or a slightly heavier paper if you plan to use paint or other wet materials. Check that the page is set to fit or center on the paper before printing so no part of the drawing is cut off at the edge.

The forty sheets range from very easy to detailed, so it helps to match the sheet to the artist. Calm, simple portraits and the Good Shepherd carrying his lamb are a good starting point for younger children, since the lines are large, bold and set well apart. The fuller story scenes, crowded with disciples, a loaded boat or baskets of bread, give elementary age children more to explore and work best once a child is comfortable staying inside smaller shapes and finer details.

Ideas for Your Finished Sheets

• Put the pages in order, from the manger to the empty tomb, and bind them into a small booklet for a homemade picture Bible to keep or give as a gift.
• Pick a favorite sheet from each of the seven gallery groups above and hang the set together on a wall or bulletin board for a small overview of the whole story.
• Use the parable and miracle scenes as a starting point for telling the story out loud while coloring, turning the page into a quiet conversation between parent and child.
• Color the symbol pages, the dove, the fish and the lamb, then cut them out and use them as bookmarks, gift tags or a simple garland.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are these Jesus coloring pages really free?

Yes. All forty sheets in this collection are free to download and print for personal, church and classroom use.

What age are these pages designed for?

The collection spans a wide range. The simplest portraits and the Good Shepherd sheets suit younger children just getting comfortable with a crayon, while the more detailed story scenes, with several figures or a full crowd, are better suited to elementary age children who enjoy more detail.

What colors are historically accurate?

Christian art has long used a fairly consistent palette for these scenes. White and gold usually stand for purity and dignity, a soft blue is often used for Mary’s robe, and warm earth tones, browns, tans and muted reds, are typical for everyday clothing and the landscape around it.

Can I use these pages in a classroom or Sunday school?

Yes, these sheets work well in a classroom, Sunday school or vacation Bible school setting. Because the collection is organized by story, from the Nativity through the parables to Easter, it is easy to pick out just the sheets that match a particular lesson.

What do the symbols on some of the pages mean?

Several sheets in the Christian symbols gallery turn familiar signs into simple patterns. The dove stands for peace, the fish, known as the Ichthys, was an early Christian mark that let believers recognize one another, and the lamb represents innocence, echoing the lamb the Good Shepherd carries.

Do I need any special materials to color these pages?

No. A regular printer, plain paper and any coloring tools already on hand, crayons, colored pencils or markers, are all you need. The line art is kept clean and open on purpose, so it works well with almost any medium a child or adult prefers.

Matthew Matthysen( Drawing and Painting Artist )

Matthew Matthysen is an educated multidisciplinary artist and illustrator. He successfully completed his art degree at the University of Witwatersrand in South Africa, majoring in art history and contemporary drawing. The focus of his thesis was to explore the philosophical implications of the macro and micro-universe on the human experience. Matthew uses diverse media, such as written and hands-on components, to explore various approaches that are on the border between philosophy and science.

Matthew organized various exhibitions before and during his years as a student and is still passionate about doing so today. He currently works as a freelance artist and writer in various fields. He also has a permanent position at a renowned online gallery (ArtGazette) where he produces various works on commission. As a freelance artist, he creates several series and successfully sells them to galleries and collectors. He loves to use his work and skills in various fields of interest.

Matthew has been creating drawing and painting tutorials since the relaunch in 2020. Through his involvement with artincontext.org, he has been able to deepen his knowledge of various painting mediums. For example, watercolor techniques, calligraphy and lately digital drawing, which is becoming more and more popular.

Learn more about Matthew Matthysen and the Art in Context Team.