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Jesus Heals the Man Born Blind: A Bible Story for Kids about Faith and Mercy
John 9
Jesus healed many people during his lifetime. Some of them were sick, but others were paralyzed or blind like the man in this story. Some people thought that a sickness or physical disability was a punishment from God, but Jesus didn’t think so. Jesus was merciful while others avoided those they thought were sinners.
As you read this story, pay attention to the reasons why the people and the Pharisees do not believe in the man’s story about Jesus healing him.
As he walked with his disciples, Jesus saw a blind man walk by.
“Rabbi, did this man’s sin cause him to be born blind or was it his parents’ sin?” the disciples asked.
Jesus replied, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God’s work might be revealed in him. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
Then he spit in the dirt to make mud. He spread the mud on the blind man’s eyes and said, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam.”
The blind man left and washed and came back to Jesus and his disciples. He was able to see!
Some of the people who knew the man saw him and said, “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg for money?”
“It is he,” some said.
“No, but it is someone like him,” said a few others standing there.
The man who was blind told them, “I am the man,” but they didn’t believe him.
“Then how were your eyes opened?” they asked.
“The man called Jesus made mud and spread it on my eyes. He told me to wash in the pool of Siloam. I went and washed away the mud and received my sight.”
“Where is he?” they asked.
“I do not know,” the man replied.
The people didn’t believe him. They took him to the Pharisees, who were their religious leaders.
The man who was blind explained what happened to the Pharisees. This made them very angry because Jesus healed the man on the sabbath, which was a day of rest. They didn’t think Jesus should have healed anyone on the sabbath day. They called Jesus a sinner and asked the man, “What do you say about him?”
“He is a prophet,” he said.
The crowd of people went to find the parents of the man. “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How does he see now?” they asked.
The parents were afraid that the people would think they were followers of Jesus. They replied, “We know that this is our son and that he was born blind. We do not know how he sees now. We do not know who opened his eyes. Ask him. He is old enough to answer and can speak for himself.”
The people called on the man who was blind to explain his story again. “We know that this man was is a sinner!” they said.
“I do not know whether he is a sinner, but I do know that I was blind and now I see,” said the man.”
“What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” they asked.
“I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you ask? Do you want to become one of his disciples?” said the man.
“You are his disciple! We are disciples of Moses,” they said.
“Here is the astonishing thing! You don’t know where he comes from, but he opened my eyes,” said the man. “If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.”
“What? You were born entirely in sin, and you are trying to teach us?” said the crowd angrily. They drove him out of the town.
Jesus found him. “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” he asked.
“Who is he, sir? Tell me, so that I may believe in him,” said the man.
“You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he,” said Jesus.
“Lord, I believe,” said the man.
Reflection Questions
Why didn’t the people believe what the man said about Jesus?
How do you tell others about what Jesus has done for you in your life?
Where do you see Jesus so that you can believe in him?
