Single lesson
Jesus Heals Bartimaeus and the Blind Men near Jericho
Matthew 20:29–34; Mark 10:46–52; Luke 18:35–43
These Gospel accounts show blind men near Jericho calling out to Jesus for mercy. Children will trace what happened in each account, notice how people responded, and see how the healing led to following Jesus and praising God.
Before you teach
Matthew, Mark and Luke each record a healing near Jericho. Matthew speaks of two blind men by the road, Mark names Bartimaeus as a blind beggar, and Luke tells of a blind man begging who hears the crowd and asks what is happening. In each account, Jesus hears the cry for mercy and responds.
Students will be able to sequence the main events in these accounts and explain, from the text, how the blind men called to Jesus, Jesus responded with compassion, and the healing led to following and praising God.
Welcome: Listen for the cry for mercy
5 minTell the children they will hear three Gospel accounts about blind men near Jericho. Ask them to listen for repeated words and actions: sitting by the road, crying out, being told to be quiet, Jesus stopping, and receiving sight. Briefly explain mercy as asking for kind help. Read the key cries aloud together.
Matthew 20:30, Matthew 20:31, Mark 10:47, Mark 10:48, Luke 18:38, Luke 18:39
Read and explain: What each account says
8 minRead the passages in short parts. Point out carefully that Matthew says two blind men, Mark names Bartimaeus, and Luke speaks of a blind man who asked what was happening. Do not blend the details. Help children notice the shared pattern: Jesus is near Jericho, the blind men call for mercy, the crowd rebukes them, and Jesus stops.
Matthew 20:29, Matthew 20:30, Mark 10:46, Mark 10:47, Luke 18:35, Luke 18:36, Luke 18:37, Luke 18:38, Luke 18:39, Luke 18:40
Discuss: Choices and responses in the story
6 minTalk about the choices in the accounts. The blind men choose to call out to Jesus even when others rebuke them. Jesus chooses to stop, call them, ask what they want, and respond. In Matthew, Jesus is moved with compassion. In Mark and Luke, the healed man follows Jesus, and in Luke he glorifies God.
Matthew 20:31, Matthew 20:32, Matthew 20:34, Mark 10:48, Mark 10:49, Mark 10:52, Luke 18:39, Luke 18:40, Luke 18:42, Luke 18:43
Make and respond: Sequence card retell
7 minGive children simple cards to draw or label with story moments: by the road, cry for mercy, crowd rebukes, Jesus stops, what do you want, receive sight, follow and praise. Let them arrange the cards in order and retell the account in pairs using words from the text where possible.
Matthew 20:30, Matthew 20:32, Matthew 20:33, Matthew 20:34, Mark 10:46, Mark 10:49, Mark 10:51, Mark 10:52, Luke 18:35, Luke 18:40, Luke 18:41, Luke 18:43
Closing: What did people do after the healing?
4 minFinish by asking children to name the outcomes in the passages. Eyes were opened, sight was received, Jesus was followed, God was glorified, and people praised God. Invite each child to say one true thing they learned about Jesus from these verses, such as that he stopped, listened, and showed compassion.
Matthew 20:34, Mark 10:52, Luke 18:42, Luke 18:43
Questions to explore
What did the blind men do when people told them to be quiet?
Look for the repeated action in each account: they cried out even more for mercy instead of stopping.
Matthew 20:31, Mark 10:48, Luke 18:39
What question did Jesus ask before healing?
Find Jesus' own words and notice that he invited them to speak clearly about what they wanted.
Matthew 20:32, Mark 10:51, Luke 18:40, Luke 18:41
What happened after sight was received?
Read the ending carefully. Mark and Luke mention following Jesus, and Luke also says the man glorified God and the people praised God.
Matthew 20:34, Mark 10:52, Luke 18:43
Make, think or respond
Jericho Story Sequence Cards
What you’ll need
- plain paper or card
- pencils or crayons
- scissors
- Bible
Try it together
- Make seven small cards and label or draw these moments: by the road, cry for mercy, rebuke, Jesus stops, what do you want, receive sight, follow and praise.
- Read one of the accounts again and ask the children to place the cards in order.
- Let pairs retell the account using the ordered cards and at least one exact phrase from the passage.
- If time allows, compare the ending cards with Matthew, Mark and Luke and notice what each account says.
This activity helps children follow the order of the accounts and notice the choices, words and outcomes named in the text.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, prepare picture prompts in advance and let them place the cards in order before retelling the story with short phrases from the verses.
- For older or more confident children, divide the class into Matthew, Mark and Luke groups and ask each group to sequence only their account, then compare what each writer includes.
An optional closing prayer
You may pray: "Lord Jesus, thank you that you stopped and listened. Please help us to see what these verses teach and to respond with trust and praise."
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Matthew 20
29 As they went out from Jericho, a great multitude followed him.
30 Behold, two blind men sitting by the road, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, “Lord, have mercy on us, you son of David!”
31 The multitude rebuked them, telling them that they should be quiet, but they cried out even more, “Lord, have mercy on us, you son of David!”
32 Jesus stood still and called them, and asked, “What do you want me to do for you?”
33 They told him, “Lord, that our eyes may be opened.”
34 Jesus, being moved with compassion, touched their eyes; and immediately their eyes received their sight, and they followed him.
Mark 10
46 They came to Jericho. As he went out from Jericho with his disciples and a great multitude, the son of Timaeus, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the road.
47 When he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, you son of David, have mercy on me!”
48 Many rebuked him, that he should be quiet, but he cried out much more, “You son of David, have mercy on me!”
49 Jesus stood still and said, “Call him.” They called the blind man, saying to him, “Cheer up! Get up. He is calling you!”
50 He, casting away his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus.
51 Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man said to him, “Rabboni, that I may see again.”
52 Jesus said to him, “Go your way. Your faith has made you well.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the way.
Luke 18
35 As he came near Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the road, begging.
36 Hearing a multitude going by, he asked what this meant.
37 They told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by.
38 He cried out, “Jesus, you son of David, have mercy on me!”
39 Those who led the way rebuked him, that he should be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “You son of David, have mercy on me!”
40 Standing still, Jesus commanded him to be brought to him. When he had come near, he asked him,
41 “What do you want me to do?” He said, “Lord, that I may see again.”
42 Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight. Your faith has healed you.”
43 Immediately he received his sight and followed him, glorifying God. All the people, when they saw it, praised God.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.