October 25: A Blind Man Sees & A Dead Man is Raised to Life

April 19: Jesus Heals Blind Bartimaeus (Mark 10:46-52)

April 19: Jesus Heals Blind Bartimaeus (Mark 10:46-52)

Supplies:

Scraps of fabric to make a blindfold for each child

12 Popsicle sticks for each child

1 cardstock pattern for each child

Band-aids and stickers

Glue

Yarn

First-Aid Kit

Activity Before Story:

            Open the first aid kit and one by one take the supplies out and talk with the kids about what they are and what we use them for and why. Ask students, “Have you ever been sick, or gotten hurt? Who took care of you? Doctors—doctors are smart people, and they are smart because God gives them the knowledge to heal people. God helps the doctors learn about making sick people well again. Read the story of Jesus healing the blind man.

Story:

            Jesus and his followers were leaving Jericho one day. There was a very large crowd of people with them. As they walked out of town, a blind man named Bartimaeus was sitting beside the road. When Bartimaeus heard that Jesus was near, he began to shout.

“Jesus, have mercy on me,” he cried out. Some of the people yelled at blind Bartimaeus. “Be quiet!” they shouted. But Bartimaeus called out to Jesus even louder. “Have mercy on me!” he begged. “Please be kind and help me.”

“Jesus heard blind Bartimaeus. “Tell him to come here to me,” jesus said. “Jesus wants you to come to him,” some people told Bartimaeus. So Bartimaeus threw his coat to one side and felt his way over to Jesus. “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked. “Help me to see,” Bartimaeus answered.

“You may go now,” Jesus said. “Because you believed in me, your eyes are healed.”

As soon as Jesus said that, Bartimaeus could see. He was healed! Then Bartimaeus followed Jesus as he went on down the road.

What was the blind man’s name? What did he ask Jesus to do? How did Jesus help him? Why do you think Bartimaeus followed Jesus after he was healed?

Summary & Questions:

What was the blind man’s name? What did he ask Jesus to do? How did Jesus help him? Why do you think Bartimaeus followed Jesus after he was healed? Can Jesus heal us when we are sick? How can we ask Jesus to help us feel better when we are hurt or sick?

Activity After Story:

            Blindfold each child and play a short game of Simon Says while they are blindfolded. Then put them all in a line, have them hold onto each other’s waists and walk around the room (you leading the way). After a couple of minutes, sit down on the floor again. Then they may take the blindfolds off. Ask children, “Could you see anything with the blindfolds on? What was it like walking around the room when you could see where you were going? Would you want to be blind all the time? How did you know you weren’t going to bump into anything while you were walking around? You knew I was leading you—that’s called faith, when you trust someone to lead you and not let you get hurt. The blind man had faith in Jesus that He would heal him, and make him see again. That’s why Jesus was able to heal him. Jesus can only help us if we believe that He can. Do you believe that Jesus can make you well when you are sick or hurt? Let’s make something to help us remember that Jesus can heal us when we are sick or hurt. Pass out cardstock. Have students cut out squares and decorate with band-aids and stickers. Use glue to attach 12 Popsicle sticks (log-cabin style) to the sheet of cardstock. Be sure kids keep the picture frames flat on the table. When they are finished, glue yarn to the top corners on the back of the frame as a hanger.

January 4: Jesus Heals a Blind Man

I start out every lesson by explaining whether the story is in the Old Testament (before Jesus came to live on earth), or New Testament (stories while Jesus was on the earth and after He went back to Heaven). If it's New Testament, I ask if it's a "Jesus story." If it is, then I explain whether it is in Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John. I do this EVERY.SINGLE.WEEK. to let it gradually sink in. I also explain, when applicable, if the story is a parable or not. I think it's important to keep the lines drawn very obviously when something really happened or not. That always confused me as a child. Anyway...

January 4: Jesus Heals a Blind Man (John 9:1-41)

Hand out copies of pre-cut masks on cardstock to color while the story is being read.

There was a man once who was blind. He could not see flowers, he could not see people, he could not see anything! This man had been blind since he was born. But something special happened to the blind man. Although he couldn't see Jesus, Jesus saw him. 

Jesus did something strange. He spit on the dirt and made some mud. Then He put the mud on the man's eyes. "Go and wash your eyes," Jesus said. The man did what Jesus said. He washed the mud off his eyes. He looked around. He could see! And the man worshipped Jesus. 

-What did Jesus do to heal the blind man?
-Did the blind man believe that Jesus was the Son of God?
-When Jesus did this, he made the religious leaders mad. Why?
-What are some other miracles of healing that Jesus did?

Have students cut around outside of mask and attach string. Once kids put the mask on, ask them if it works. (No- there are no eye holes!) Ask students what it's like to not being able to see through their masks (Frustrating, annoying, etc.)

Explain how this is how the blind man felt before he met Jesus. He was probably frustrated that he needed people to help him with everyday tasks. He was most likely annoyed that he couldn't be independent. Wherever his friends took him, that's where he had to go. He didn't have much choice to do what he wanted, did he?

Have students remove masks and cut eye-holes. Once they put them back on, ask how much easier it is now to see. Explain that Jesus helped this blind man see so that he could be independent. God wants us to be independent, too. He wants us to love and obey Him because we want to, not because someone is leading us in that direction.