Single lesson
Jesus Heals a Blind Man at Bethsaida
Mark 8:22–26
Children will read this short healing account closely, put its actions in order, and notice the unusual change from partial sight to clear sight as the story moves step by step.
Before you teach
In this passage, Jesus comes to Bethsaida, where people bring a blind man and beg Jesus to touch him. Jesus takes the man by the hand, leads him out of the village, asks what he sees, lays hands on him again, and then sends him to his house with a clear instruction.
Students will be able to retell the sequence of Mark 8:22–26 and describe that the man first saw partially and then saw clearly after Jesus laid his hands on him again.
Welcome: Who is in the story, and what do they do?
5 minTell children they are listening for the people in the account and each person’s action. Read Mark 8:22 first. Ask them to identify Jesus, the blind man, and the people who brought him. Notice that the people begged Jesus to touch the man, which begins the whole sequence.
Mark 8:22
Read and explain: Follow every action in order
8 minRead all five verses slowly. Then list the actions in order: Jesus came to Bethsaida, people brought the blind man, Jesus took him by the hand and brought him out of the village, spat on his eyes, laid his hands on him, asked if he saw anything, laid his hands on his eyes again, and sent him to his house.
Mark 8:22, Mark 8:23, Mark 8:25, Mark 8:26
Discuss: Why does the sight change in two stages?
6 minKeep children close to the wording of the passage. After the first touch, the man said, “I see men, but I see them like walking trees.” After Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again, he was restored and saw everyone clearly. Help children compare the first answer with the final result.
Mark 8:24, Mark 8:25
Make and respond: Put the story cards in order
7 minChildren make five simple cards showing the main moments: brought to Jesus, led by the hand out of the village, first answer, second laying on of hands, sent to his house. Mix the cards, then reorder them. Ask children to retell the account using the Bible’s sequence and words where possible.
Mark 8:22, Mark 8:23, Mark 8:24, Mark 8:25, Mark 8:26
Closing: Repeat the ending instruction carefully
4 minReview the account using only what the text says. The man was restored and saw clearly. Then Jesus sent him away to his house with two parts to the instruction: “Don’t enter into the village” and “nor tell anyone in the village.” Finish by reciting the sequence together.
Mark 8:25, Mark 8:26
Questions to explore
What did the people beg Jesus to do for the blind man?
Look at the first verse and find the exact action they asked from Jesus.
Mark 8:22
What did the man say after Jesus asked if he saw anything?
Use the man’s own words and notice that he could see something, though not clearly yet.
Mark 8:23, Mark 8:24
What is different between the man’s first seeing and his final seeing?
Compare his words about “walking trees” with the later statement that he was restored and saw everyone clearly.
Mark 8:24, Mark 8:25
Make, think or respond
Five-Step Story Cards
What you’ll need
- plain paper or cardboard
- pencils or textas
- scissors
- Bible
Try it together
- Write or draw five moments from the passage: brought to Jesus, led out by the hand, first answer, second laying on of hands, sent to his house.
- Mix the cards up on a table or the floor.
- Ask children to place the cards in the order of the passage.
- Invite each child to retell the account using the ordered cards and the Bible text.
This activity helps children follow the order of Mark 8:22, Mark 8:23, Mark 8:24, Mark 8:25, and Mark 8:26, and notice that the man first saw partially and then clearly.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, write the five card headings for them so they can focus on drawing the moments and placing them in order.
- For older or more confident children, ask them to add a short phrase from each verse to the matching card, especially the first answer in Mark 8:24 and the result in Mark 8:25.
An optional closing prayer
Dear God, thank you for this passage about Jesus and the blind man. Please help us read your word carefully and remember what Jesus did here. Amen.
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Mark 8
22 He came to Bethsaida. They brought a blind man to him and begged him to touch him.
23 He took hold of the blind man by the hand, and brought him out of the village. When he had spat on his eyes, and laid his hands on him, he asked him if he saw anything.
24 He looked up, and said, “I see men, but I see them like walking trees.”
25 Then again he laid his hands on his eyes. He looked intently, and was restored, and saw everyone clearly.
26 He sent him away to his house, saying, “Don’t enter into the village, nor tell anyone in the village.”
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.