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?


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Meeting a ghost?

 Last week our group followed Mary and Cleopas (or possibly some other unknowns) on the road to Emmaus and met a rather familiar stranger. They rush back to tell the disciples who they've seen, and, of course, no one quite believes them. The same old story. Until suddenly... (112) Meeting the Risen Lord The risen Jesus appears to the others as well. 1.       Read Luke 24:36-37 Does it surprise you that Jesus’ disciples believe in ghosts? a.       Are wrong beliefs evil, or simply incorrect? 2.       Read Luke 24:38 Why were the disciples afraid? Why might they have been doubtful or unwilling to believe? a.       When something good happens, do we sometimes doubt? b.       What about when something bad happens? 3.       Read Luke 24:39-40, John 20:19-20   What’s so important about Jesus’ wounds? a.       What’s so important about Jesus saying “Peace”? b.       Do we have peace? What does peace enable us to do? 4.       Read Luke 24:40-43 What’s so special about Jesus’ eating? a.   
Read more

What happens when that stranger turns out to be a friend?

 It's been a "long and winding" year, but we're getting back to those Gospel Bible studies at last, and here's the next in the series: (111) Some Very Important Meetings Last time (yes, I know, a long long time ago) we read Mark’s cryptic comment that the risen Lord had appeared to “two of them.” This time we’ll join those two, travelling from Jerusalem after the crushing of all their hopes – having heard rumors of resurrection, but clearly not believing them. 1.       Read Luke 24:13-18, John 19:25 Who is traveling, where and why? a.       Some traditions say Clopas was the brother of Joseph, making Mary the “sister” of Jesus’ mother Mary.   Clopas’ son Simeon becomes Bishop of Jerusalem after the destruction of the city in 70 AD, which might make him Jesus' cousin. But what difference does all this make to how we view the story? b.       Was Jesus’ face hidden by supernatural means, or natural? How easily would you recognize someone if you knew they
Read more

A Prayer for Open Hearts and Doors

  O Lord May all your people be Transparent witnesses; may we, Instead of closing, open doors That all around us, evermore May see Our God is love not hate; Our God is watching, ever waits To mend our hearts and bodies heal And souls replenish, futures seal To Him To hope, to love, to more Than any dream; Lord we implore That you would free our hearts to sing Till lives with holy mercy ring Restored.
Read more