Jesus Opens Blind Eyes

And as they went out of Jericho, a great crowd followed him. And behold, there were two blind men sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was passing by, they cried out, 'Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!' The crowd rebuked them, telling them to be silent, but they cried out all the more, 'Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!' And stopping, Jesus called them and said, 'What do you want me to do for you?' They said to him, 'Lord, let our eyes be opened.' And Jesus in pity touched their eyes, and immediately they recovered their sight and followed him.

— Matthew 20:29-34

1. What Did the Blind Men Call Jesus?

Leader tip — Expected answer: 'Son of David.' This means they knew Jesus was the promised King, even though they could not see Him with their eyes. Redirect: If a child talks about a different David, say 'Yes, King David! These men knew Jesus was the special King God promised.' Time: 2–3 minutes.

Ask the group: The two men could not see with their eyes, but they knew who Jesus was. What did they shout to Him?

2. What Did the Crowd Do?

Leader tip — Expected answer: The crowd told them to be quiet or tried to stop them. The sermon says the crowd was big but not spiritually minded. Redirect: If a child says the crowd helped, say 'Actually, the big crowd was not kind. They told the men to hush. Only Jesus stopped to listen.' Time: 2–3 minutes.

Ask the group: When the blind men cried out, did the crowd cheer them on? What did the crowd do instead?

3. What Did Jesus Give the Men?

Leader tip — Expected answer: Jesus gave them mercy and healed their eyes. The sermon says Jesus gives spiritual sight to those who trust Him. Redirect: If off-topic, say 'Let's look at the story. The men asked to see, and Jesus touched their eyes. What happened next?' Time: 2–3 minutes.

Ask the group: Jesus stopped and asked what they wanted. What did He give the two blind men?

Activity: Act It Out

Leader tip — Time: 5–7 minutes. No supplies needed. Assign roles: Jesus, two blind men, and a crowd. Have the blind men sit by a wall and shout, 'Lord, have mercy!' Have the crowd say, 'Be quiet!' Then have Jesus walk over, touch their eyes, and help them stand up and 'see.' Afterward, ask: Who really saw Jesus best—the men with blind eyes, or the crowd with working eyes? Expected answer: the blind men saw Jesus with their hearts.

Let the kids act out the story. Give each child a part, walk through the scene once, then let them try it again on their own. Remind them that the blind men saw who Jesus was even before their eyes were healed.