Mercy for a blind beggar
Children's sermon
Object:
a tin cup or a small bell
Good morning, boys and girls. Have you ever heard of the word "beggar"? (let them answer) Maybe you have seen beggars with signs asking for food or work, but there are not many people doing things like that today.
A long time ago beggars used to sit in front of churches or on very busy corners and they would have a tin cup, something like this one, and they would ask people to put money in their cups. Some beggars would ring a bell and hold out their cup. At the end of the day if everything went well, the beggar would have enough money to buy food or pay for a place to stay. It was and is a very hard way to live.
When Jesus lived on earth, many of the beggars would be people who were blind or had something wrong with their hands or feet. They could not work and there was no one to take care of them. Lots of people tried to avoid them. They would walk on the other side of the road or pretend that they did not see them.
But not Jesus! He would look for these kinds of people and stop and talk with them. Today in our lesson we meet one of those beggars. His name was Bartimaeus and he was blind. On this day, Jesus was leaving the city of Jericho when he heard a voice in the crowd. It was Bartimaeus. The poor beggar kept yelling at the top of his voice, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" People kept telling him to be quiet because he was only a beggar. But Jesus heard the voice and he asked his disciples to call him out of the crowd that had gathered and come and see him. Bartimaeus was thrilled that Jesus would call his name and he jumped up and threw off his coat and began stumbling and walking toward Jesus. Jesus asked the beggar, "What do you want me to do for you?"
Bartimaeus didn't want money or gold or jewels. He didn't want a brand new house or a pair of fine donkeys. He didn't ask for a great farm or a wonderful business. He asked Jesus to give him sight. He wanted to see again. Jesus healed him on the spot and told him to go because he believed. Bartimaeus was so grateful that he immediately began to be a follower of Jesus.
This is one of the great stories of Jesus and his care for the poor. He healed a beggar and gave him back his sight. Bartimaeus was so happy that he gave his life to Jesus.
A long time ago beggars used to sit in front of churches or on very busy corners and they would have a tin cup, something like this one, and they would ask people to put money in their cups. Some beggars would ring a bell and hold out their cup. At the end of the day if everything went well, the beggar would have enough money to buy food or pay for a place to stay. It was and is a very hard way to live.
When Jesus lived on earth, many of the beggars would be people who were blind or had something wrong with their hands or feet. They could not work and there was no one to take care of them. Lots of people tried to avoid them. They would walk on the other side of the road or pretend that they did not see them.
But not Jesus! He would look for these kinds of people and stop and talk with them. Today in our lesson we meet one of those beggars. His name was Bartimaeus and he was blind. On this day, Jesus was leaving the city of Jericho when he heard a voice in the crowd. It was Bartimaeus. The poor beggar kept yelling at the top of his voice, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" People kept telling him to be quiet because he was only a beggar. But Jesus heard the voice and he asked his disciples to call him out of the crowd that had gathered and come and see him. Bartimaeus was thrilled that Jesus would call his name and he jumped up and threw off his coat and began stumbling and walking toward Jesus. Jesus asked the beggar, "What do you want me to do for you?"
Bartimaeus didn't want money or gold or jewels. He didn't want a brand new house or a pair of fine donkeys. He didn't ask for a great farm or a wonderful business. He asked Jesus to give him sight. He wanted to see again. Jesus healed him on the spot and told him to go because he believed. Bartimaeus was so grateful that he immediately began to be a follower of Jesus.
This is one of the great stories of Jesus and his care for the poor. He healed a beggar and gave him back his sight. Bartimaeus was so happy that he gave his life to Jesus.
