Memorial Day, remembering 2,000 years ago...

(81) How Clearly do we See?

Jesus is heading from Ephraim to Jerusalem, approaching his final Festival there. He’s just reminded his disciples that he will die, though they probably haven’t understood (Read Luke 18:31-34), and now he reaches the city of Jericho. Read Luke 18:35-43, Mark 10:46-52, Matthew 20:29-34.

1.       What is the same in these three versions, and what is different?

2.       What proves the blind man (or men) knew (and believed) who Jesus was?

3.       Why might people have wanted them to keep quiet?

a.       Is it ever right to keep quiet?

b.      How can we tell when we should keep quiet about who Jesus is, and when we should speak out? What made it clear the blind man was meant to speak?

4.       Why would Jesus ask what the blind man wants?

a.       What else might be the blind man’s reason for shouting, besides getting healed?

b.      What else might the blind man want, besides healing?

c.       What does the blind man prove when he asks for healing?

5.       In Mark and Luke, Jesus says “Your faith has made you well.” Was anyone ever healed who didn’t have faith?

a.       Do people need to have faith before we pray for them?

b.      If someone’s not healed, does it mean they didn’t have faith?

6.       Does it take more faith to be healed or to follow Jesus … to Jerusalem?

In Luke’s version of the story, they’re still walking through Jericho, and a rather short tax-collector is just as eager to see Jesus as the blind man was. Read Luke 19:1-9

1.       Did you remember this story’s only told in Luke? Why might that be?

2.       The blind man shouted. Zacchaeus hid. Which do you relate to more?

3.       The blind man knew he needed healing. Zachaeus thought he was okay. Which do you relate to more?

4.       The people brought the blind man to Jesus. They complained about Jesus going to the tax-collector’s house. Which do you relate to more?

a.      Have you ever felt unwelcome among believers?

b.      Have you ever felt unwelcome among unbelievers?

5.       What kind of blindness is Zacchaeus healed from?

a.       What kind of blindness might we need healing from? Has God ever healed you from something you didn’t know was a problem?

b.      Did Zacchaeus ask to be healed? Does God always wait to be asked / never wait to be asked?

c.       Did his “faith” make him well? Do we have to have faith first, or can it come later?

d.      Did his obedience make him well? Do we have to obey first, or does God know we will obey?

6.       Read verse 9. Do you suppose Zacchaeus was a Jew? What might “he also is a son of Abraham” mean?

7.       Are we lost, saved or both?

a.       Are we blind, seeing or both?