Jesus Heals a Blind Man

Jesus Heals a Blind Man Goal: To wonder at Jesus power to heal a man born blind. RECOGNIZING GOD S GRACE...... In Mark 8:22 26 Jesus healed a blind man in two stages. When the blind man was brought to Jesus, he spit on his eyes and laid his hands on the man and asked him, Do you see anything? The man said, I see people. They look like trees, only they are walking around (vv. 23 24; CEB). This was the first phase. Jesus responded by placing his hands on the man s eyes again. This time his sight was restored, and he could see everything clearly (v. 25). So Jesus healing brought the man fullness of health and life. Usually Jesus miracles occurred instantaneously. In this story, the healing took place, as John Calvin put it, little by little and drop by drop. We do not know why Jesus worked this way. But the story shows us that Jesus has the freedom to heal however he wants. We cannot prescribe in advance how Jesus must act, or know how Jesus may work. But Jesus does work for health and healing in whatever ways he chooses. Jesus brings health and wholeness. We can trust his grace, in whatever ways that grace is given. For Jesus grace, the blind man and we ourselves are most grateful!... In Your Children s Experiences This healing story invites children to enter the life of the blind man. You could ask the children to close their eyes and try to move about the room to experience what it is like to walk and find things without seeing them. Then ask, How do you think the blind man felt after Jesus restored his sight? What would it have been like for him? This story also invites us to think with children about being healthy and the ways we are taking care of the bodies that God has given us.... In Your Relationships with the Children There may be children in your group who know family members or friends who are sick and in need of healing and health. This would be a good time to ask them to name those people. Younger children will need help in understanding different ways of healing. It might not always be possible for a blind person to receive their sight back, like in this story. But children can understand that healing can happen when people who can see help people who are blind so they can live healthy and productive lives. Be sure to include the people named by the children in a closing prayer at the end of the session. O God, hear our prayer and with compassion heal our illness. In Christ s name. Amen. 2017 Congregational Ministries Publishing 107

Jesus Heals a Blind Man Supplies basic supplies (see p. vii) e-book or story audio (see p. vii) Music & Melodies (MM) 2017 2018 Stories, Colors & More (SCM) 10, 10a, 16 18, 29, 31, 34 37 Guided Play choice 2: prepared cards from SCM 16 18 Exploring choice 4: copies of Grace Notes (GN) 1 Use items that children will recognize. Do not use sharp objects or items that might be scary for a child. GATHERING IN GOD S GRACE Before the Children Arrive Select the activities that will work best for you and your children. You do not need to do everything suggested. Designate a story corner and lay out a blanket or individual mats for the children so their backs will be to the door. Post SCM 34 35. Use the visual schedule to provide clear expectations and a visual cue. See SCM 36 37 for the key to icons (for example, ) and ways to adapt for children with special needs or disabilities. Before the session, cut apart the matching cards on SCM 16 18 for Welcoming and Guided Play choice 2. Welcoming and Guided Play Greet children as they arrive and say, Grace and peace be with you. Prompt them to respond, And also with you. Be sensitive to any children who might be coming for the first time. Introduce yourself to parents/caregivers that you do not know personally. Tell the parents today s story is about when Jesus healed a blind man. Invite the children to choose a guided play activity to start: 1. Objects in Bags Place a variety of simple objects that children would recognize in paper bags. Tell the children that when someone cannot see, they must feel an object to determine what it is. Invite the children to put their hand in a bag and feel what the object is. Assure the children that nothing in the bag will harm them. 2. Seeing Shapes Lay out the cards cut from SCM 16 18 face up. The children can take turns finding the cards that go together a clear picture that matches a blurry picture. If they need a bit more of a challenge, turn the cards facedown and let them play a matching game turning over the cards. If a match is found play continues; if not, the cards are turned back over and another child gets a turn. 3. Blocks Invite the children to play with blocks and build towers or lines of blocks. Have blindfolds available and challenge the children to try to build without seeing. Transitions can be difficult for children. Do not force reluctant children to join a group activity. Instead, allow them to observe quietly from their own play area or to listen to a story read to them by an adult helper until they are ready to join the group. 108 2017 Congregational Ministries Publishing

Jesus Heals a Blind Man Transitioning to Story Time When you sense the children are ready to move into group time, call them to the story corner, singing We are Blessed to Be a Blessing MM 10; SCM 29. Repeat words and phrases as appropriate. Listening Ask the children to find a place against a wall. Tell them that you will give them instructions to join you in the story corner and they need to listen carefully. Use directions, such as take one giant step, turn in a circle, take two tiny steps, take a hop, or those of your own choosing. Give directions until all the children have joined you. God Made Me Sing or say the words to the song Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes, and do the corresponding actions while pointing to each body part. For the line God made me and I m a child of God, raise your hands for God made me and hug yourself for and I m a child of God. Head and shoulders, knees and toes, Knees and toes. Head and shoulders, knees and toes, Knees and toes. God made me and I m a child of God. Head and shoulders, knees and toes. Eyes and ears and mouth and nose, Mouth and nose. Eyes and ears and mouth and nose, Mouth and nose. God made me and I m a child of God. Eyes and ears and mouth and nose. Hearing the Story Open the Bible to Mark 8 so the children know the story comes from the Bible. Tell the children that they are going to hear a story about when Jesus healed a blind man. Read SCM 10 or 10a. Express the emotions of the story in your voice, gestures, and facial expressions. Conclude the story by prompting the children to say, Amen. Reread the story and invite the children to act out the story as you tell it. Ask them to cover their eyes until the man can see. They can pantomime the actions. You can give additional suggestions, if the children need it. 2017 Congregational Ministries Publishing 109

Jesus Heals a Blind Man EXPLORING GOD S GRACE 1. Now I See Colors Make a cut from the outer rim of two paper plates to the center. Prepare two plates in the same manner for each child. Give the children one plate and instruct them to color it all black. Give them a second plate and invite them to color it with as many colors or pictures as they choose. When they have finished coloring, have the children place the black plate on top of the colored plate lining up the cuts. Tell the children that the black plate is all the blind man could see. Everything he saw was blackness. Tuck the edge of the slit of the black plate under the slit of the colored plate. Turn the black plate so that it disappears under the colored plate. Tell the children that when Jesus healed the blind man, he began to see colors swirling around him. 2. Blind But Now I See Clear an area of the room so it is free of tables, chairs, and other obstacles. Invite the children to get into pairs. Tell the children that they will take turns leading their partner around the room as the blind man s friends led him. Instruct one child to close their eyes and pretend not to see. Instruct the partner to lead their friend around being careful not to bump into tables, chairs, or other objects in the room. After a few minutes, tell the children who are pretending not to see to open their eyes and describe what they see. Tell the children to change roles. If the surface of the floor seems slippery for the paper, tape the paper down. 3. I Can See Colors Place a variety of colors of construction paper in a circle on the floor. Tell the children to each stand on a colored paper. Ask the children to take turns telling what color they are standing on. Tell the children that they can tell what color they are on because they can see with their eyes. Play music and invite the children to walk in the circle on the colored papers. Stop the music and invite the children to take turns telling what color they are standing on or you may ask questions, such as Who is standing on red? Who is next to green? 110 2017 Congregational Ministries Publishing

Jesus Heals a Blind Man Wondering questions help a child think aloud. Answers are neither right nor wrong. They help teach children to speak from their hearts. 4. Coloring Page Hand out GN 1 and crayons. Invite the children to color the picture of Jesus and the man seeing for the first time. Engage the children in conversation as they color using the following wondering questions. ZI Zwonder, What did the man who was blind do each day? ZI wonder, What was the man s favorite thing to look at once he Z What does it feel like to have spit on your eyes? ZI wonder, could see? Transitions can be difficult. This may be a good time for some quick physical activities, such as closing eyes and running in place, opening eyes and running in place, and so forth. LOVING AND SERVING GOD Call the children together, singing Amazing Grace MM 19; SCM 31. Repeat words and phrases as appropriate. Remind the children that Jesus did a miracle that helped a blind man to see. Tell them that the blind man might not have met Jesus if his friends hadn t helped him. Ask the children what they can do this week to help a friend. If you would like to share a snack, now would be a good time. Pray: Ask parents and caregivers for their e-mail addresses so you can send the Grace Sightings link, or invite them to visit gracesightings.org. God is great and God is good, And we thank God for our food; By God s hand we all are fed, Give us, Lord, our daily bread. Amen. As the children leave, bless them: (Name), Go in peace. God loves you. Help a friend today. The grace of God goes with you. 2017 Congregational Ministries Publishing 111

Grace Notes February 4, 2018 GN 1 Jesus Heals a Blind Man Jesus heals a man who hasn t been able to see for a long time. 2017 Congregational Ministries Publishing 113