The Blind Man and Three More

THE BLIND MAN

 

            Then it happened, as He was coming near Jericho, that a certain blind man sat by the road begging. And hearing a multitude passing by, he asked what it meant. So they told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. And he cried out, saying, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Then those who went before warned him that he should be quiet, but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be brought to Him. And when he had come near, He asked him, saying, “What do you want Me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, that I may receive my sight.” Then Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he received his sight, and followed Him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.

Luke 18:35-43

Possible Discussion Questions:

  1. Why may the blind man have called Jesus “Son of David”? 
  2. What was the importance of Jesus being the Son of David to the Jewish people? In the prophecies of the Messiah? In Jesus being fully man as well as fully God?
  3. Who are “those who went before” and why did they want the man to be quiet?
  4. How would you answer Jesus’s question of the blind man?

 

THE POSSESSED MAN

            Now there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, saying, “Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are – the Holy One of God!” But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” And when the unclean spirit had convulsed him and cried out with a loud voice, he came out of him.

Mark 1: 23-26

Possible Discussion Questions:

  1. Why is the spirit called unclean?
  2. Why did Jesus want the demon kept quiet?
  3. How did the demon know who Jesus was?

 

PETER’S MOTHER-IN-LAW

            Now as soon as they had come out of the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. But Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick with a fever, and they told Him about her at once. So He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and immediately the fever left her. And she served them.

Mark 1:29-31

Possible Discussion Questions:

  1. Why might Jesus have taken her hand instead of just saying, “You are healed.”?
  2. Do we have any obligation after healing?

 

THE CLEANSING OF A LEPER

            Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.” Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.” As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed. And He strictly warned him and sent him away at once, and said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing those things which Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” However, he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the matter, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter the city, but was outside in deserted places; and they came to Him from every direction.                                                         Mark 1: 40-45

 

Possible Discussion Questions:

What is the significance of Jesus’s touching a leper? As compared to the mother-in-law?

What is the difference between “can” and “will”?

Why did the leper show himself to the priest?

Why reasons might the man have had to proclaim Jesus’s healing to the public?

Compare and contrast with the miracle of the ten lepers.