Free Bible lesson for kids · On the Way to Jerusalem
The Man Born Blind
Jesus made clay, anointed the eyes of a man born blind, and told him to wash in the pool of Siloam. He came back seeing, and he told everyone what Jesus had done.
- Bible passage
- John 9:1–41
- Big idea
- Jesus is the light of the world.
- Memory verse
He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.
John 9:25 (KJV)- Ages
- Preschool to preteen (3 to 12), with tips for each age
- Time
- About 45 minutes
- Included, free
- Animated story film, coloring page, class sheet, teacher guide, questions and answers, a game
The story
Jesus saw a man who had been blind from birth. Jesus said he was born blind so the works of God could be shown in him (John 9:1–3). He said, “I am the light of the world” (John 9:5). He made clay, put it on the man’s eyes, and told him to “wash in the pool of Siloam” (John 9:6–7). The man washed and came back seeing (John 9:7).
The Pharisees questioned the man and his parents (John 9:15, 18–19). The man said, “one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see” (John 9:25). He said that if Jesus were not of God, He could do nothing, and they cast him out (John 9:33–34). Then Jesus found him and asked, “Dost thou believe on the Son of God?” (John 9:35). The man said, “Lord, I believe.” And he worshipped Jesus (John 9:38).
Read it in the Bible: John 9:1–41 (KJV)
1And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. 2And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? 3Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. 4I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. 5As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. 6When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, 7And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing. 8The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged? 9Some said, This is he: others said, He is like him: but he said, I am he. 10Therefore said they unto him, How were thine eyes opened? 11He answered and said, A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight. 12Then said they unto him, Where is he? He said, I know not. 13They brought to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind. 14And it was the sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes. 15Then again the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. He said unto them, He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and do see. 16Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them. 17They say unto the blind man again, What sayest thou of him, that he hath opened thine eyes? He said, He is a prophet. 18But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight. 19And they asked them, saying, Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? how then doth he now see? 20His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind: 21But by what means he now seeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not: he is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself. 22These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue. 23Therefore said his parents, He is of age; ask him. 24Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner. 25He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see. 26Then said they to him again, What did he to thee? how opened he thine eyes? 27He answered them, I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again? will ye also be his disciples? 28Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses’ disciples. 29We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is. 30The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes. 31Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth. 32Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind. 33If this man were not of God, he could do nothing. 34They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out. 35Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God? 36He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him? 37And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee. 38And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him. 39And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind. 40And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also? 41Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.
Questions to ask
Where did Jesus tell the man to wash?
In the pool of Siloam.
What did the man say when he was questioned?
“One thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.”
What did Jesus call Himself?
The light of the world (John 9:5).
What this story teaches
- God can use hard things to show His works (John 9:3).
- Jesus is the light of the world (John 9:5).
- Our story of what Jesus did for us is worth telling (John 9:25).
- Jesus finds and welcomes those whom others cast out (John 9:35).
- Believing in Jesus leads us to worship Him (John 9:38).
Jesus Is the Light
Jesus gave the blind man sight. He is the light of the world, and whoever follows Him will have the light of life.
John 8:12
A 45-minute lesson plan
| 5 min | Welcome and pray. Greet each child by name and pray: Thank Jesus for helping us see the truth. |
|---|---|
| 10 min | The story. Play the story film: each verse appears on screen in the King James Version while the scene plays. Pause to ask what happens next. |
| 10 min | Talk about it. Ask the three questions below. Then ask: “Jesus is the light of the world.” What does that mean for us? |
| 5 min | Memory verse. Say John 9:25 together, covering one word at a time until the children can say it alone. |
| 10 min | Activity. Younger children color the coloring page while you retell the story; older children do the class sheet (memory-verse fill-in, word search and questions). |
| 5 min | Pray and send home. Pray together and send the sheet home so families can talk about the first question this week. |
- Preschool: keep it short and physical. Act out the story, use a simple prop, and repeat the big idea in one sentence.
- Elementary: let children find the passage in their own Bibles. Ask “who, what, where” questions first, then “why.”
- Preteens: read the verses before and after the passage, and ask how this story fits the whole story of the Bible.
Game time
For kids · game · indoors · about 10 minutes
What Do You See?
You need: A big picture (an animal or a Bible scene) covered with sticky notes
- Show the covered picture.
- Kids take turns peeling off one sticky note and guessing what the picture is.
- Whoever guesses right picks the next picture.
The man had never seen anything, until Jesus opened his eyes. “One thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.”
For youth group · activity · indoors · about 15 minutes
One Thing I Know
You need: Index cards, pens
- Read John 9:24–25 together.
- Each person finishes the sentence on a card: “One thing I know: Jesus has…”
- Share them, if you’re willing, and pray for anyone who is still looking for answers.
The man didn’t have every answer, but he told what Jesus had done for him. Your story matters.
Pray
Thank Jesus for helping us see the truth.