Hello, my amazing young friends! Today I want to share an incredible Bible story with you about two blind men who wanted more than anything to be able to see. This story is from Matthew 20:29-34, and it shows us the beautiful way Jesus responds when people call out to Him with faith.

Stories for Easter

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The Adventures of Jacob and Josephine their Quest for jesus: The Heart of the Forest

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Imagine sitting by a dusty road, hearing people walk by but never being able to see their faces. That's what life was like for these two blind men until one special day when they heard Jesus was passing by. Their desperate cries for help and unwavering faith led to an amazing miracle that changed their lives forever! Let's discover together what happened when these two blind men refused to stay silent and how Jesus responded with compassion and healing power.

Two Blind Men Receive Sight: Jesus Heals Those Who Call Out

Chapter 1: By the Roadside

Outside the bustling city of Jericho, two blind men sat beside the dusty road. Day after day, they would sit in the same spot, listening to the sounds of travelers passing by. They couldn't see the bright blue sky, the green palm trees, or even the faces of their own family members. Their world was dark, and they depended on the kindness of strangers who might drop a few coins into their outstretched hands.

Being blind in ancient times was especially difficult. There were no schools for the blind, no support services, and no jobs they could easily do. Most blind people had to beg just to survive. These two men likely knew each other well, sitting together for company and safety as they begged from those traveling on the road.

The Bible tells us in Matthew 20:29-30: "As Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him. Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, 'Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!'"

These men might have seemed unimportant to others passing by. Just two more beggars along a busy road. But Jesus would soon show that no one is invisible to Him – not even those whom society overlooks.

Chapter 2: The News Spreads

Suddenly, the blind men noticed something different. The road seemed busier than usual. People were talking excitedly, and the sound of many footsteps filled the air. "What's happening?" one of the blind men might have asked someone nearby.

"Jesus of Nazareth is coming!" came the reply. "He's leaving Jericho with his disciples, and a huge crowd is following him!"

The blind men's hearts began to race with excitement. They had heard amazing stories about this man Jesus. People said he could heal the sick, make the lame walk, and even restore sight to the blind! Could this be their chance? Would Jesus notice them among the crowd?

They had heard that some called Jesus the "Son of David" – a special title for the Messiah, the promised king from King David's family line who would save God's people. Though they couldn't see Jesus with their eyes, in their hearts they believed he was truly special, sent from God.

This was their moment! They might never get another chance like this. Jesus was passing by right now, and they needed to get his attention among all those people. Even though they couldn't see him, they knew exactly what they needed to do – they needed to call out to him with all their might!

Chapter 3: Crying Out for Mercy

The blind men began to shout at the top of their lungs: "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!" Their voices rang out above the noise of the crowd. They didn't just call out once or twice – they kept shouting persistently, desperately wanting Jesus to hear them.

Their cry was simple but powerful. "Lord" showed their respect. "Son of David" showed they believed Jesus was the promised Messiah. "Have mercy on us" was their heartfelt plea for help. They didn't just want Jesus to notice them – they wanted Him to show them compassion and use His power to change their lives.

But not everyone appreciated their shouting. Matthew 20:31 tells us: "The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, 'Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!'"

The people in the crowd might have thought these blind beggars were being disrespectful or causing a disturbance. "Be quiet!" they scolded. "Don't bother the teacher!" Perhaps they thought Jesus was too important to be bothered by blind beggars, or maybe they just found the shouting annoying.

But the two blind men refused to be silenced. This was too important! They shouted even louder, determined to be heard by Jesus. Their faith was stronger than their fear of the crowd's disapproval. They believed Jesus could help them, and they weren't going to miss their chance!

Chapter 4: Jesus Stops and Listens

Something amazing happened next. In the midst of the bustling crowd, with all the noise and commotion, Jesus stopped. He heard the desperate cries of the blind men above all the other sounds. Their faith-filled voices caught His attention, and He stood still on the road.

Matthew 20:32 says: "Jesus stopped and called them. 'What do you want me to do for you?' he asked."

Can you imagine that moment? The crowd suddenly going quiet. Jesus turning toward the sound of their voices. The blind men realizing that Jesus – the famous teacher and healer – was actually speaking directly to them! What an incredible moment this must have been for these two men who were used to being ignored.

Jesus' question seems simple: "What do you want me to do for you?" But it shows His compassion and respect. He didn't assume He knew what they needed, even though their blindness was obvious. He gave them the dignity of expressing their own desire. Jesus always treats people with honor and listens to their specific needs.

The crowd that had just been telling them to be quiet now fell silent. All attention turned to these two blind men who had been persistent enough to catch Jesus' attention. No longer were they invisible beggars by the roadside – they were the focus of Jesus' care and concern.

Chapter 5: A Simple Request

When Jesus asked what they wanted, the blind men didn't hesitate. They knew exactly what they wanted more than anything else in the world.

"'Lord,' they answered, 'we want our sight'" (Matthew 20:33).

Their request was direct and full of faith. They didn't ask for money or food, which were their immediate daily needs as beggars. They asked for something that seemed impossible – to have their sight restored. In that moment, they showed tremendous faith in Jesus' power to perform a miracle that would completely transform their lives.

I can imagine the hope in their voices as they made this bold request. Perhaps their hands trembled with anticipation. Maybe tears streamed down their faces at the possibility that their lifelong darkness might finally end. They believed Jesus could do what no doctor, no medicine, and no amount of money could do – give them the gift of sight.

Notice how they addressed Jesus as "Lord" again, showing their deep respect and recognition of His authority. Throughout their encounter, they demonstrated unwavering faith in who Jesus was and what He could do. They didn't doubt or qualify their request – they simply stated their greatest need with confidence that Jesus could meet it.

The crowd must have waited in hushed anticipation. Would Jesus really heal these blind beggars? What would happen next?

Chapter 6: The Touch of Compassion

What Jesus did next reveals His heart of compassion. Matthew 20:34 tells us: "Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes."

Jesus wasn't just powerful – He was moved with deep feeling for these men and their suffering. Compassion means being touched by someone else's pain and wanting to help. Jesus' heart was stirred by their blindness and their faith. He didn't heal them from a distance or with a mere command. Instead, He reached out and personally touched their eyes.

Can you imagine how that felt? Perhaps it was the gentlest touch they had ever experienced – the fingers of the Son of God resting on their eyelids, bringing healing power. For men who lived by touch and sound, this personal contact would have been especially meaningful. Jesus didn't keep His distance from those society rejected – He came close and touched them with love.

This beautiful moment teaches us something important about Jesus. He doesn't just have the power to help us – He has the heart to help us. He feels our pain and responds with loving action. The touch of Jesus brought not only physical healing but also dignity and worth to these men who had been overlooked by so many others.

Chapter 7: Immediately They Could See!

The miracle happened in an instant! Matthew 20:34 continues: "Immediately they received their sight and followed him."

One moment, these men were in complete darkness, as they had been their entire lives. The next moment, their eyes were opened and they could see! Colors, shapes, faces, the sky – all the things they had only heard about before were suddenly visible to them. Can you imagine the overwhelming joy they must have felt in that moment? Their first sight was the face of Jesus – the one who had just changed their lives forever!

The Bible says this happened "immediately." There was no gradual healing, no partial restoration. Jesus' power was complete and instant. The same Jesus who spoke the universe into existence spoke light into their darkness with just a touch.

What did they do with their new gift of sight? They didn't run to see all the things they'd been missing. They didn't go to marvel at their own appearances for the first time. Instead, they "followed him." Their first action with their healed eyes was to become followers of Jesus. Their gratitude led to devotion. Their miracle led to discipleship. They joined the crowd following Jesus, but not as mere spectators – as true believers whose lives had been transformed.

What began with desperate cries by the roadside ended with joyful following on the road. Jesus had not only opened their physical eyes but also their spiritual eyes to recognize Him as Lord.

What Can We Learn from This Story?

1. Jesus hears our cries - Even when others try to silence us or when it seems like our voices are lost in the crowd, Jesus hears when we call out to Him in faith.
2. Persistence in prayer matters - The blind men refused to be quiet when told to stop calling for Jesus. Their persistence demonstrates how we should keep praying even when facing discouragement.
3. Jesus has compassion for those in need - Jesus doesn't just heal because He can; He heals because He cares deeply about people's suffering.
4. Faith opens the door to miracles - The blind men believed Jesus could heal them even before they received their sight. Their faith was an essential part of their healing story.
5. Jesus notices those whom others ignore - While the crowd saw only nuisance beggars, Jesus saw two men of faith who needed His help.
6. Gratitude leads to following Jesus - The healed men didn't just receive their sight and go their own way; they followed Jesus out of gratitude.
7. Jesus treats everyone with dignity - By asking what they wanted rather than assuming, Jesus showed respect for the blind men as individuals with their own voices.

Fun Activities for Kids

1. Blind Trust Walk
   Pair up children and have one wear a blindfold while the other leads them safely around a simple obstacle course. Then switch roles. Talk about how the blind men had to trust Jesus to help them, and how we need to trust Him too, even when we can't see the way forward.
2. "Lord, Have Mercy" Shoebox Megaphones
   Decorate paper towel tubes or make megaphones from construction paper. Have children practice shouting "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!" through their megaphones. Discuss how the blind men weren't afraid to call out to Jesus loudly and how we can boldly pray to Jesus too.
3. Five Senses Gratitude Game
   Have children list things they're thankful for that they can see, hear, touch, taste, and smell. Talk about how the blind men couldn't see until Jesus healed them, and how we should be grateful for all our senses and abilities.
4. Draw the Story Sequence
   Give children paper divided into four sections to draw the story sequence: 1) Blind men by the road, 2) Jesus stopping to listen, 3) Jesus touching their eyes, 4) The men seeing and following Jesus.
5. Compassion Hearts Craft
   Cut out paper hearts and write "Jesus has compassion" on them. Let children decorate the hearts while discussing ways we can show compassion to others just as Jesus showed compassion to the blind men.
6. Follow the Leader Game
   Play "Follow the Leader" and talk about how the blind men followed Jesus after being healed. Discuss ways we can follow Jesus in our own lives today.
7. "Now I See" Binoculars
   As mywonderstudio.com suggests, crafts that help children understand sight are perfect for this story. Create binoculars from toilet paper rolls. Write "Jesus helps me see!" on them. Talk about both physical sight and how Jesus helps us "see" spiritually too.

Remember, my friends, just as Jesus stopped to help these blind men when they called out, He always hears us when we call to Him. No matter what you need, Jesus cares about you personally and has the power to help you. Never be afraid to call out to Him with faith and persistence!

If you enjoy this story, be sure to check out "Blind Bartimaeus Receives His Sight" from Mark 10:46-52! It's another amazing account of Jesus healing blindness that will inspire your faith.