In the Gospel for this fourth week of Lent, Jesus gives sight to a man who had been born blind. Despite this great gift from Jesus, the man experiences ridicule and persecution from the people he knows. In this lesson, students will contemplate the role of suffering and persecution in Christian life.
The Man Born Blind – Fourth Sunday of Lent | Year A
Lesson Overview
Upper Elementary Lesson Materials
Download all PDFsGospel Reflection
- Have students read the Gospel passage, or read it aloud to your students, and then answer the focus questions. You may have students answer them on their own or you may discuss them together as a class.
- Review and discuss the correct answers when finished
Activity
Have your students complete the Handout B: Persecution reflection activity. When they are finished, call on students to share some of their responses.
Answer Key
Handout A: Gospel Reading
- Jesus gave sight to a man who was born blind. He did so by spitting on the ground and making clay with His saliva and spreading it on the blind man’s eyes. Then He told him to wash in the pool of Siloam.
- Whose sin caused him to be blind, his or his parents? (Note: the people of Jesus’ time believed that illness and physical deformity were caused directly by one’s sins.) Jesus answered the question saying that it was no one’s sin that caused his blindness, rather, he was blind so that the works of God could be made visible through him.
- They were confused and disbelieving, even suggesting that he wasn’t the man they knew. The Pharisees questioned him, accused him of untruth and sinfulness, and ridiculed him.
- He professed his belief and worshipped Him.
- He accused them of being sinners.
Handout B: Persecution
Accept reasoned answers for all questions.
Lower Elementary Lesson Materials
Download all PDFsGospel Reflection
Read the Gospel passage aloud to your students as they follow along. Then discuss the focus and reflection questions with them as a class.
Activity
Have students complete the Handout B: Christ Healing the Blind Man Spot the Differences activity. Tell your students to compare the two versions of the painting Christ Healing the Blind by El Greco and find 8 differences between the two images. Have them circle the differences.
Answer Key
Handout A: Gospel Reading
- Jesus gave sight to a man who was born blind. He did so by spitting on the ground and making clay with His saliva and spreading it on the man’s eyes. Then He told him to wash in the pool of Siloam.
- They were confused and disbelieving. They even thought he might not be the same man they knew.
- The Pharisees questioned him, then accused him of lying and sinfulness. They mocked him and threw him out of the Temple.
- He professed his belief and worshipped Him.
Handout B: Christ Healing the Blind Man Spot the Differences
The answers to Handout B: Christ Healing the Blind Man Spot the Differences activity is in the Answer Key: Fourth Sunday of Lent resource.
