Single lesson
Jesus Heals a Deaf Man
Mark 7:31–37
In this lesson, children follow the order of a short account where people bring a man to Jesus, Jesus takes him aside privately, and the crowd responds with amazement at what happened.
Before you teach
In Mark 7:31–37, Jesus came to the sea of Galilee through the middle of the region of Decapolis. People brought him a man who was deaf and had an impediment in his speech, and they begged Jesus to lay his hand on him. The passage then records Jesus’ actions, the immediate result, and the crowd’s reaction.
Students will be able to retell the sequence of Mark 7:31–37 and identify that Jesus healed the man, after which his ears were opened and he spoke clearly.
Welcome: Who brought the man to Jesus?
5 minBegin by reading the opening verses and naming the first details children need to know. Jesus came to the sea of Galilee through the middle of the region of Decapolis. People then brought to him a man who was deaf and had an impediment in his speech, and they begged Jesus to lay his hand on him.
Mark 7:31, Mark 7:32
Read and explain: Jesus took the man aside
8 minRead the middle of the account slowly. Point out that Jesus took the man aside from the multitude privately. This helps children observe Jesus’ actions from the text itself. Then notice each action in order: Jesus put his fingers into the man’s ears, spat, touched his tongue, looked up to heaven, sighed, and said, “Ephphatha!” meaning, “Be opened!”
Mark 7:33, Mark 7:34
Discuss the result: What changed immediately?
6 minAsk children to listen for the word “Immediately”. The text says the man’s ears were opened, the impediment of his tongue was released, and he spoke clearly. Help children see that the account gives a clear before and after. Before, he was deaf and had difficulty speaking. After Jesus spoke, he could hear and speak clearly.
Mark 7:32, Mark 7:35
Make and respond: Put the account in order
7 minGive children simple cards to draw or label key moments from the passage. Include Jesus travelling, the man being brought, Jesus taking him aside privately, Jesus saying “Be opened!”, the man hearing and speaking clearly, and the crowd’s reaction. Let pairs place them in order and retell the account using the verse details rather than adding extra parts.
Mark 7:31, Mark 7:32, Mark 7:33, Mark 7:34, Mark 7:35, Mark 7:37
Closing: How did the people respond?
4 minFinish with the final verses. Jesus commanded them to tell no one, but they proclaimed it widely. The people were astonished beyond measure and said, “He has done all things well. He makes even the deaf hear and the mute speak!” Invite each child to share one true sentence from this passage about what Jesus did or what the crowd said.
Mark 7:36, Mark 7:37
Questions to explore
What did the people beg Jesus to do for the man?
Use the exact request in the verse before Jesus took the man aside.
Mark 7:32
What did Jesus do before he said, “Be opened!”?
List the actions in order from the two verses just before the healing result is described.
Mark 7:33, Mark 7:34
What words did the crowd use when they were astonished?
Answer from the final verse, using the people’s own description of Jesus’ work.
Mark 7:37
Make, think or respond
Story Sequence Cards
What you’ll need
- Plain paper or card
- Pencils or markers
- Scissors
- Bible text
Try it together
- Write or draw six moments from the passage on separate cards: Jesus travelling, people bringing the man, Jesus taking him aside privately, Jesus saying “Be opened!”, the man hearing and speaking clearly, and the crowd’s response.
- Mix up the cards and let children work in pairs to place them in order.
- Read the related verses aloud as children check their sequence.
- Invite each pair to retell the account from their ordered cards.
This activity helps children follow the order of Mark 7:31–37 and notice the actions, results, and responses recorded in the passage.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, use four cards instead of six and repeat key phrases such as “Be opened!” and “he spoke clearly”.
- For older children, ask them to include Jesus’ command to tell no one and the people’s wide proclamation, then discuss both responses from the text.
An optional closing prayer
“Lord Jesus, thank you for what we have read today. Please help us listen carefully to your word and speak truthfully about what you have done. Amen.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Mark 7
31 Again he departed from the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and came to the sea of Galilee through the middle of the region of Decapolis.
32 They brought to him one who was deaf and had an impediment in his speech. They begged him to lay his hand on him.
33 He took him aside from the multitude privately and put his fingers into his ears; and he spat and touched his tongue.
34 Looking up to heaven, he sighed, and said to him, “Ephphatha!” that is, “Be opened!”
35 Immediately his ears were opened, and the impediment of his tongue was released, and he spoke clearly.
36 He commanded them that they should tell no one, but the more he commanded them, so much the more widely they proclaimed it.
37 They were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He makes even the deaf hear and the mute speak!”
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.