Lesson Continued...

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.

Comprehension Questions

First, ask the children if they have any questions about the story. 

• 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

Faith Questions

• In this story, the man born blind believed Jesus was the messiah or God himself. Do you believe that Jesus is God?

Memory Verse

Don't worry about anything. Instead, tell God about everything. Ask and pray. Give thanks to him. Philippians 4:6 

Directions

Directions

Directions

1. Create an obstacle course.

2. Divide children into two teams.

3. Each team chooses someone to navigate the course. This person is blindfolded.

4. Each team takes turns navigating their blindfolded teammate through the course.

5. The team that gets their teammate through the course the fastest, wins.

6. You can change the obstacle course around and play again.

7. The team members must work together to give directions to the bindfolded teammate.

Directions

1. Blindfold each student.

2. Give them a piece of paper and crayons.

3. Ask them to draw a picture of their house.

4. 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.