"I can see!"
Children's sermon
Object:
a blindfold for as many children as you think might want
to participate (a dish towel works fine with children)
Once Jesus entered the town of Jericho. Jesus and his
disciples must have stayed for awhile and then it was time for
them to leave. As they were leaving the town, a man by the name
of Bartimaeus was sitting there. Bartimaeus had a problem. Who
knows what Bartimaeus wanted? (Let them answer.) He was blind.
He couldn't see!
This morning I would like for us to try to see what that would be like. Who here would like to see what Bartimaeus saw that day? (Let them respond. Give each child who wants one a blindfold to put on.) Good. Let's put on these blindfolds so that you can't see anything! Bartimaeus couldn't see anything.
In those days when a person couldn't see, about the only thing he or she could do would be to beg. In other words, they could not work; they had to depend on others to give them money. Blind people often sat alongside the road, asking people for help. That is exactly what blind Bartimaeus did that day. He cried out for help. More than that, he said, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" How he knew about Jesus, we don't know. Somehow Bartimaeus knew that Jesus could help him in ways that others could not.
Jesus called for Bartimaeus and asked him, "What do you want me to do for you?" What do you think Bartimaeus asked for? (Let them answer.) That's right! He asked for the ability to see again. He knew that Jesus could give him something much more important than money. He knew that Jesus could give him sight.
What did Jesus do? (Let them answer.) That's right! Jesus healed blind Bartimaeus and made it so he could see again. (Have them remove their blindfolds now.) Jesus made it so Bartimaeus could see. Bartimaeus was so thankful to Jesus, he followed him and became a disciple. We are also thankful to Jesus. Jesus gives us many things and protects us from danger. Even today Jesus heals -- through prayer, medicine and treatment. So we also are thankful to Jesus.
Dear Jesus: Thank you for helping us see how great you are. Amen!
This morning I would like for us to try to see what that would be like. Who here would like to see what Bartimaeus saw that day? (Let them respond. Give each child who wants one a blindfold to put on.) Good. Let's put on these blindfolds so that you can't see anything! Bartimaeus couldn't see anything.
In those days when a person couldn't see, about the only thing he or she could do would be to beg. In other words, they could not work; they had to depend on others to give them money. Blind people often sat alongside the road, asking people for help. That is exactly what blind Bartimaeus did that day. He cried out for help. More than that, he said, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" How he knew about Jesus, we don't know. Somehow Bartimaeus knew that Jesus could help him in ways that others could not.
Jesus called for Bartimaeus and asked him, "What do you want me to do for you?" What do you think Bartimaeus asked for? (Let them answer.) That's right! He asked for the ability to see again. He knew that Jesus could give him something much more important than money. He knew that Jesus could give him sight.
What did Jesus do? (Let them answer.) That's right! Jesus healed blind Bartimaeus and made it so he could see again. (Have them remove their blindfolds now.) Jesus made it so Bartimaeus could see. Bartimaeus was so thankful to Jesus, he followed him and became a disciple. We are also thankful to Jesus. Jesus gives us many things and protects us from danger. Even today Jesus heals -- through prayer, medicine and treatment. So we also are thankful to Jesus.
Dear Jesus: Thank you for helping us see how great you are. Amen!
