68. A Blind Man Sees
Background Scripture (read 2-3 times during the week)
Story Summary
This particular miracle of Jesus healing the man blind from birth is only recorded in John. This miracle is notable for several reasons:
- The theological question that preceded the miracle: Jesus' disciples assumed that someone's sin caused this man to be blind. They weren't asking if this was the cause. They asked who was the cause. Jesus told them that his blindness was not because of sin, but instead would be used to show God's glory.
- The method Jesus used: instead of just healing the man with his words, Jesus spit in some dirt, made mud, and spread the mud over the man's eyes. Then, he told him to wash in the Pool of Siloam and the man could suddenly see.
- The response of the Pharisees to the miracle: Even in the face of this miracle, the Pharisees doubted and became angry. They were angry at Jesus for "working" on the Sabbath, which was to be a day of rest. They threw this man out of the synagogue because he insisted that Jesus healed him.
- Jesus' clear claim of divinity after the miracle: Jesus clearly claimed to be God after this miracle occured. He did so directly to the man who was healed, and in the hearing of the Pharisees.
What You Will Need
- Supplies
- mud
- Snack Suggestion
- mud pie
Video Options
From Saddleback Kids
From Crossroads Kids Club. This video includes many miracles, one of which is Jesus healing the man born blind.
Resource Sheet
This coloring sheet depicts the blind man wiping the mud off his eyes that Jesus used to heal him.
1. Warm Up get your kids talking and engaged
Do you like to play in the mud?
Today, we are going to learn about a time when Jesus made mud with his own spit and used it to do something really amazing!
2. Teach the Story teach a holistic story
Read story from a Children's storybook Bible for younger children.
For older children, read the story from an age-appropriate Children's storybook Bible or read directly from the Bible.
3. Bible Mastery give them basic Bible skills
Scripture for Kids to Read Aloud: John 9:1-23
4. Comprehension Questions make sure they understand the story
First, ask the children if they have any questions about the story. What to do if you don't know the answer?
- What question did the disciples ask about the man they passed who was blind from birth? (who sinned to cause this man to be blind)
- What was Jesus' answer? (no one sinned, but the man's blindness would be used to bring glory to God)
- How did Jesus heal the man? (he made mud with his spit, put it on his eyes, and told him to go wash it off in the Pool of Siloam)
- Why were the Pharisees upset at Jesus? (he healed the man on the Sabbath, or Saturday)
- What did the Pharisees initially think about this? (that this man wasn't really blind from birth, that he just looked like the man)
- Who convinced them that he was really the same man who was blind from birth? (his parents)
- What did the Pharisees do to the man after he kept insisting that Jesus healed him? (they threw him out of the synagogue)
- What did Jesus do after they threw the man out? (he went searching for him, found him, and asked him if he believed in the Son of Man, or the Messiah)
- How did the man answer (he asked Jesus who the Son of Man was, and after Jesus revealed that he was the Son of Man, the man believed in Jesus)
5. Faith Questions open up a conversation about faith and the gospel; close with prayer
- In this story, the man born blind believed Jesus was the messiah or God himself.
- Do you believe that Jesus is God?
6. Memory Verse hide God's Word in their heart
Don't worry about anything. Instead, tell God about everything. Ask and pray. Give thanks to him. Philippians 4:6Blind Man's Bluff
Scripture As Jesus went along, he saw a man who was blind. He had been blind since he was born. John 9:1
Supplies blindfold
- Choose one child to be "it."
- Blindfold "It."
- Turn "It" around a few times.
- Let "it" try to tag one of the other children, who will then become "it".
Blind Man Obstacle Course Relay
Scripture As Jesus went along, he saw a man who was blind. He had been blind since he was born. John 9:1
Supplies blind fold, obstacles, such as a chair, table to crawl under, etc
- Create an obstacle course.
- Divide children into two teams.
- Each team chooses someone to navigate the course. This person is blindfolded.
- Each team takes turns navigating their blindfolded teammate through the course.
- The team that gets their teammate through the course the fastest, wins.
- You can change the obstacle course around and play again.
- The team members must work together to give directions to the bindfolded teammate.
Blind Man Mud Game
Heads up! Picture of the blind man needs to be laminated.
Scripture After he said this, he spit on the ground. He made some mud with the spit. Then he put the mud on the man's eyes. John 9:6
Supplies Laminated picture of Blind Man, bowl of mud, paint brush, blindfold, damp cloth
- Tape the picture of the blind man onto the wall.
- You might want to put a trash bag on the wall behind the picture to protect the wall.
- Blindfold child.
- Ask them to paint mud onto the man's eyes. (Like pin the tail on the donkey)
- Wipe the picture clean between each child's turn.
Blind Drawing
Scripture After he said this, he spit on the ground. He made some mud with the spit. Then he put the mud on the man's eyes. John 9:6
Supplies paper, crayons, blindfolds
- Blindfold each student.
- Give them a piece of paper and crayons.
- Ask them to draw a picture of their house.
- Place newspaper or a plastic tablecloth on the table for easy clean up, especially if children are young and more apt to color on table.
Reading Braille
Scripture As Jesus went along, he saw a man who was blind. He had been blind since he was born. John 9:1
Supplies braille books, check your local library
- Provide braille books for your students to practice reading.
- Or, escort them around your church looking for braille on signs (like restroom signs).
- Bring a mobile device with the braille alphabet and see if they can decode the letters on the sign.
Mud painting
Scripture After he said this, he spit on the ground. He made some mud with the spit. Then he put the mud on the man's eyes. John 9:6
Supplies dirt, water, small containers, paper, paintbrushes
- Give each child a small bowl of dirt. Allow them to add a small amount of water to make mud.
- They can stir with their hands or use a paintbrush.
- Allow students to "paint" with the mud.
Guess What's in the Bag
Scripture As Jesus went along, he saw a man who was blind. He had been blind since he was born. John 9:1
Supplies brown paper bags, small objects or toys
- Put one object in each paper bag (a toy car, play dough, a piece of chalk, a comb, a small cup, etc.)
- Let the children take turns sticking their hand in a bag and trying to guess what object is inside without looking.
Mud Sling
Scripture After he said this, he spit on the ground. He made some mud with the spit. Then he put the mud on the man's eyes. John 9:6
Supplies large cardboard cut out of a person, thick mud
- Trace a person onto cardboard and cut out.
- Draw eyes onto the cut out.
- Optional: place contact paper over cardboard.
- Place cardboard cutout up against an outside wall (not near windows).
- Have students take turns throwing mud at the person to try and get mud onto eyes.
- Make sure mud is thick, so it isn't a runny mess at they throw it.