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Mercy — A Children’s Sermon on Mark 10:46-52

October 21, 2021 by Gary Neal Hansen 12 Comments

children's sermon on Mark 10:46-52

Blind People Sign, Belfast (CC by Albert Bridge-SA 2.0)

Sitting down to write a children’s sermon on Mark 10:46-52, I have to say it’s just the kind of text I find easiest to work with: a single story that makes a solid central point. It’s kind of a relief after so many twisty-turny texts patched together from disconnected parts.

(You can find my regular Monday Meditation on this text here.)

It’s also conveniently timed: these weeks have been full and complicated for me, and if the Sunday Gospel texts were hard I might have been in trouble. Even with an easy text, it’s taking me till Thursday to hit “publish” on this children’s sermon on Mark 10:46-52.

The story hinges on a blind man who wants Jesus to heal him. (A typo in my draft had him as “Blond Bartimaeus.” I don’t know his hair color. The issue was his visual impairment.)

There are a number of odd and interesting details, however. Those are always the most fun to focus on.

I may not be able to highlight all the interesting bits. That’s okay: ideally a children’s sermon on Mark 10:46-52 (or any passage) should try to focus attention on just one point.

I think I’ve avoided last week’s pitfall. Last week I ended up building a long narrative context that would, eventually, make some sense of the text’s point. It was not a home run children’s sermon.

But then, many a ball game is won by bunts and base hits. Even simple walks move the players around the bases. Same goes for preaching.

A Children’s Sermon on Mark 10:46-52

Good morning, kids! I’m so glad you’re here today. Thanks for coming up to hear the children’s sermon.

Asking for Mercy

One day Jesus and his friends were traveling. They were just leaving the city of Jericho. (Maybe you remember the song about how Joshua fought a battle in Jericho, and the walls came tumbling down. Well that was a long, long, long time before Jesus and his friends came by.)

When they were heading down the road out of the city they heard a voice calling out.

“Jesus! Have mercy! Jesus! Have mercy!”

Let’s all pretend we are that person from Jericho who was calling out for help, okay? Lets’ say it together. One, two, three:

“Jesus! Have mercy! Jesus! Have mercy!”

Okay, pretty good, but you’re inside the city and Jesus is walking away, leaving town. Let’s make sure he hears us. One, two, three:

“Jesus! Have mercy! Jesus! Have mercy!”

Oh no! He’s walking farther away! We better try even louder. One, two, three:

“Jesus! Have Mercy! Jesus! Have Mercy!”

Grumpy Neighbors

Well, I’m not sure if Jesus heard the man’s voice yet but the people around the man who was calling out were getting really annoyed.

“Hey Bart!” somebody said. (The man’s name was Bartimaeus. Most people called him “Blind Bartimaeus,” but some called him Bart for short.) “Why don’t you stop shouting and do something useful for a change? All you ever do is sit here and beg.”

“Oh come on!” said Bart. “I’m blind. Nobody will give me a job, so I have to beg for food. I heard Jesus was in town and I think maybe he can help me.”

“But you’re bothering us with all your shouting!” someone else said. Bart didn’t know who it was because, of course, he couldn’t see.

“I don’t care,” Bart said. “I’m asking Jesus to help me.”

So he yelled even louder. Ready? One, two, three:

“Jesus! Have mercy! Jesus! Have mercy!”

A Conversation with Jesus

Well, at that point Jesus definitely heard Bart calling.

“Someone’s calling for help,” said Jesus.

“Oh, it’s just some beggar,” said Peter. “Let’s keep going.”

“Everybody needs help sometimes,” said Jesus. “And when you need help, the best thing to do is to ask someone. Go get him please.”

So, they went and found Bart, and they brought him to Jesus.

“Hello!” said Jesus. “I heard you calling. How can I be of help?”

“Oh Jesus!” said Bart, “Won’t you please have mercy on me!”

Different Kinds of Mercy

“I’m happy to,” said Jesus, smiling. (Jesus knew Bart couldn’t see, so he put his smile into his voice.) “But what kind of mercy do you need?”

“What do you mean?” asked Bart.

“Well,” said Jesus, “every time someone helps someone else, that’s mercy.

  • Some people are hungry. They need someone to have mercy and feed them.
  • Some people are lonely. They need someone to have mercy and love them.
  • Some people have done bad things. They need someone to have mercy and forgive them.

It’s all mercy. What kind of mercy do you need?”

A Healing

“I’m blind,” said Bart. “I want to be able to see!”

Then Jesus gave him exactly that. Suddenly “Blind Bartimaeus” could see!

“Wow!” said Bart. “How did that happen?”

“It was your faith, actually,” said Jesus. And this time, Bart could see Jesus smiling.

“Faith?” said Bart. “How do you know I had faith?”

“Easy,” said Jesus. “Because you asked for mercy. You wouldn’t have asked if you didn’t believe I would help.”

Wondering

  • I wonder what it felt like to be blind and have to beg for food?
  • I wonder what kept Bartimaeus calling out for mercy when people told him to be quiet?
  • I wonder what it felt like when Jesus asked Bartimaeus exactly what he wanted?
  • I wonder what kinds of mercy you would like to ask Jesus for?
++++++++++++

You are, of course, free to use this children’s sermon, or adapt it as you find most useful. But, if you use it, please do one (or more!) of the following.

  • You can let me know that you are using it, either in the comments below, or using the contact form above.
  • You can put a little notice in your church bulletin that your children’s sermon is adapted from one published on GaryNealHansen.com.
  • You can support my work over on Patreon. (Just $1 per month brings my children’s sermons straight to your inbox about two minutes after they go live. And every little bit keeps me going…)
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Filed Under: Bible, Ministry Tagged With: Children's Sermons, Proper 25(30), RCL Year B

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Comments

  1. Lourdes Olson says

    October 22, 2021 at 3:25 PM

    Thank you for sharing your work. I am a recent seminary graduate awaiting a pastoral call. I preach from time to time. My regular sermons are my own original work, but sometimes I borrow and adapt from more experienced preachers for children’s sermons, because I recognize the need for help to keep from going over their heads. I will be borrowing and adapting from you this weekend. I would put it in the bulletin, but it’s already been printed.

    Reply
    • Gary Neal Hansen says

      October 22, 2021 at 5:05 PM

      Hi Lourdes!

      So glad you have found this children’s sermon useful. Thanks for telling me you’ll be adapting and using it.

      My recommendation? Keep the welcome and the “wondering questions” and shift the storytelling to suit your needs.

      Many preachers fail the children by not warmly telling them how welcome and loved they are.

      Many miss the mark by telling kids what it all means instead of letting them hear and wonder about God’s stories.

      And have fun!

      Blessings,

      Gary

      Reply
  2. Tom Kiely says

    November 17, 2023 at 7:45 AM

    Hello Gary-
    I will be using your children’s sermon.
    Thank you.
    Tom Kiely

    Reply
    • Gary Neal Hansen says

      November 17, 2023 at 7:55 AM

      That’s great Tom! Thanks so much for letting me know, and I hope the kids love it.
      Gary

      Reply
  3. Alex Churchill says

    June 23, 2024 at 5:46 AM

    Thanks so much for this! I gave this talk this morning in the children’s talk slot in our church’s morning service. You can probably watch it 19 minutes into the livestream:
    https://eden-cambridge.org/live
    It went down very well so as a way of saying thanks, I’ve signed up to your Patreon!

    Reply
    • Gary Neal Hansen says

      June 23, 2024 at 6:48 AM

      Alex, thank you so much!

      I was so glad to see you telling the story on YouTube. You are awesome!

      And thanks so much for joining my Patreoneers. It’s a wonderful vote of confidence, and will bring you exert new children’s sermon as soon as they go live.

      Blessings,

      Gary

      Reply
  4. Hannah says

    October 19, 2024 at 2:35 AM

    This looks great, thank you!

    Reply
    • Gary Neal Hansen says

      October 19, 2024 at 6:48 AM

      You are very welcome Hannah!
      Gary

      Reply
  5. Cheryl Tausig says

    October 22, 2024 at 6:56 PM

    I’m actually sharing with you BEFORE I see the children! This will be my 3rd time adapting one of your messages for our children’s message tomorrow! After teaching for 40 yrs., I’m I’m pretty good with my thoughts & words, but being able to include yours just makes the presentation so much better! Im grateful for your words that get me going! I know ‘Bart’ was seated, but tomorrow I’m walking down the aisle blindfolded – with my walker – yelling for Jesus & mercy!

    Reply
    • Gary Neal Hansen says

      October 22, 2024 at 7:10 PM

      That’s great Cheryl!
      Yo be careful using your walker blindfolded!!!
      Blessings,
      Gary

      Reply
  6. Teresa Wright says

    October 26, 2024 at 12:40 PM

    I’ll be using your sermon. I greatly appreciate your words and work.

    Reply
    • Gary Neal Hansen says

      October 26, 2024 at 12:43 PM

      Thanks Teresa!

      I hope it goes really well.

      Come back soon…

      Blessings,

      Gary

      Reply

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