Blind Bartimaeus Sees Preschool Lesson
Preschool lesson (ages 3–6, 20 minutes)
1. Welcome (3 min)
Sit in a circle, greet every child by name and show one thing from the story to touch.
2. The little story (5 min)
Teach the refrain first: “Jesus stood still and called him.”
Bartimaeus was a blind man. His name means “son of Timaeus.” Timaeus was his father.
Bartimaeus could not see. He sat by the road outside the city of Jericho. Jericho was a city with many palm trees. Bartimaeus sat there and begged. Begging means asking people for money or food.
Bartimaeus could not see the sun or the sky. But he could hear. Close your eyes for a moment. Listen. What can you hear? Bartimaeus listened like that, every day.
One day Jesus came to Jericho with his friends. Jesus was on his way to the big city of Jerusalem. A great crowd walked with him. Then Jesus went out of Jericho again, down the road. Tramp, tramp, tramp! So many, many feet!
Bartimaeus heard all the feet and all the voices. He heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth. Nazareth was the town where Jesus grew up. Jesus was coming down his road!
Bartimaeus began to shout, “Jesus, you son of David, have mercy on me!” David was a great king who lived long before. God had promised that a new King would come from David’s family. So “son of David” was a name for that King. Mercy means kindness and help.
Many people told him, “Be quiet!” But he shouted even louder, “You son of David, have mercy on me!” Can you call it out too? Have mercy on me!
The crowd was noisy. But Jesus heard one voice. Jesus did not walk past. He stopped. He stood very still on the road. Jesus said, “Call him.” Jesus stood still and called him.
So the people called the blind man. “Cheer up! Get up. He is calling you!”
Bartimaeus had a coat. A coat was very important for a poor man. It kept him warm at night. But Bartimaeus threw off his coat! He jumped up. Can you jump up like Bartimaeus? Hop! Bartimaeus did not need his coat now. He was going to Jesus! Jesus stood still and called him.
Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” What do you think Bartimaeus said?
Bartimaeus knew just what he wanted. He said, “Rabboni, that I may see again.” Rabboni means my teacher.
Jesus said to him, “Go your way. Your faith has made you well.” Faith means trusting Jesus.
And right away Bartimaeus could see! His eyes were open! He could see the road. He could see the crowd. He could see the sun and the sky. And he could see Jesus, standing right there. Jesus stood still and called him.
Jesus had said, “Go your way.” And what way did Bartimaeus go? He followed Jesus on the road, with the big crowd.
Step, step, step. Now Bartimaeus walked with Jesus. He did not sit by the road anymore. No more begging! Together they walked on toward Jerusalem.
Jesus heard Bartimaeus when he called. Jesus stopped for him. Jesus hears us too, when we call to him. Jesus stood still and called him.
3. Talk together (3 min)
- Why do you think Bartimaeus kept shouting when people said “Be quiet”?
- What do you think Bartimaeus wanted to see first?
4. Move (3 min)
Refrain Freeze: move around the room; when you say the refrain, everyone freezes and says it together.
5. Make (4 min)
Draw a line to who said it.
6. Verse and prayer (2 min)
“Jesus, you son of David, have mercy on me!” — Mark 10:47 (Jesus → hands around your mouth, like calling; have mercy on me → hold your hands together)
Dear Jesus, thank you that you stopped for Bartimaeus. Thank you that you hear me when I call to you. Amen.
Lesson for older kids (ages 6–10)
Big idea: Never Stop Calling on Jesus
Memory verse: “Jesus said to him, "Go your way. Your faith has made you well." Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the way.” — Mark 10:52 · WEB
The Bible story
A blind beggar sits by a dusty road when Jesus walks by, and one brave, hopeful shout changes everything for Bartimaeus forever.
Talk about it
- Where was Bartimaeus sitting when Jesus passed by? — By the roadside near Jericho
- What could Bartimaeus NOT do? — He could not see
- Who was walking by on the road that day? — Jesus
- What did Bartimaeus do when he heard Jesus was near? — He shouted out loud
- What did the crowd tell Bartimaeus to do at first? — To be quiet
- What did Bartimaeus do when people told him to stop? — He shouted even louder
Where is Jesus in this story?
Bartimaeus shouted “Son of David,” the title for the King God had promised to raise up from David's family (2 Samuel 7:12–13). A blind man saw what many others missed. In His first sermon, Jesus said He came to bring “recovery of sight for the blind” (Luke 4:18). Soon after this, Jesus rode into Jerusalem as that promised King (Mark 11:1–10).
What God wants to tell us
Bartimaeus teaches us that Jesus always hears us, even when we feel small or forgotten. Other people told Bartimaeus to be quiet, but he kept believing and kept calling out, and Jesus stopped just for him. God cares about every single one of us, no matter how big or little our need is. When we bring our worries to Him with trust in our hearts, He listens with love. You never have to be too shy or too quiet to talk to God, because you are always precious to Him.
Prayer
Dear God, thank You that You always hear me when I call, just like You heard Bartimaeus by the road. Please help me to trust You and to be brave enough to talk to You about anything. Thank You for loving me and never leaving me alone. I love You. Amen.
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