Blind Persistence

This was the Bible study page for the Thursday Night Bible Study Group meeting October 27 to study Luke 18:31-43.  But now this is the Bible study page for Thursday, November 3.  This has a prediction of Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection, and then the healing of a blind man as Jesus enters Jericho.

Read the passages in multiple translations, especially the prediction in verses 31-34.  Look for word and grammar choices in translations.  Notice the similarities, over the differences.  That will actually tell you a lot about this passage.  Jot down notes and questions.  Be sure to walk through the healing account as if you were there noting what you see, smell, and hear.

After you have made your own study, look through commentaries you have at hand.  Revise questions and notes, and then go back through with the questions below:

•  Jesus calls the Twelve together.  This is the select group He has called, and not the troop of camp-followers.  To these He relates what will happen.  Why do you think Jesus would limit this just to them?  Why not the larger group to whom He appears after His resurrection?
• Everything will be completed as predicted about the Son of Man by the Prophets.  How do you think the disciples (and therefore Judaism) taught in that day about the "Messiah"?  They don't get this so it had to diverge significantly.
• Jesus goes on to describe the treatment He will receive, and it's not all beatings and crucifixion.  Why do you think Jesus makes a point of including both here?
• In Matthew 20:17-19 and Mark 10:32-34 this prediction is mirrored to an extent.  In all three Jesus takes the Twelve aside, and in each account He includes His humiliation.  But why do you think that Luke would leave out the chief priests and scribes which Matthew and Mark include?  Luke has "Gentiles" instead, which matches the majority of his audience.
• The disciples are not able to "bring these things together" (i.e. "understand") but they can't, not because they're unintelligent, but because it was "hidden".  Who do you think hid it from them, and why hide it?
• The blind beggar "hears" the commotion, and learns it's "Jesus the Nazarene".  What do you think it means for the beggar that he is able to connect "the Nazarene" to "Son of David"?  Why call Jesus the "Son of David"?
• The crowd, having told the blind beggar Jesus is coming, then tells him to be quiet.  Why do you think they were upset about the beggar crying out to Jesus?  Later they love the healing, and it was known that Jesus heals, so why prevent this man in need of it from crying out?
• Jesus stops and orders the beggar to be brought to Him.  Why do you think the crowd is now engaged on the bind man's behalf? What changed?
• Jesus asks what the mans wants Him to do for him.  Why ask a blind man what he wants?
• Literally the man wants to "look up".  There is a Greek verb for "see", but it's not used here.  What do you think might be inferred by "to look up" over "to see"?
• Look at the variety of ways the word "to look up" is used.  Sometimes it's for "look up" as into heaven.  But also notice the Gospel writers use it a as a "pun" in some healing accounts.  How does this usage help you understand why it might be used here instead of "to see"?
• Jesus says his faith has "saved" or "made him well" ("given life" in one translation).  The word is normally "saved" elsewhere (93 times).  Why do you think this applies here?  What do you think this healing was about?
• What role do you think what the man cried out to Jesus played in his "faith" about Jesus?
• The man could see immediately and "praises God".  The people see it and "glorify God". What do you think is the difference, if any, between "praising" and "glorifying" God?

That will keep us busy I'm sure.  Be thinking of how you are or are not like the disciples as you read Scripture, and are and are not like the blind beggar and his faith.  These are the best points of application.  Jot down some thoughts about that.

This Generation Needs Help

This is the Bible study page for the Thursday Night Bible Study Group meeting May 19 to study Luke 11:29-54 (the end of the chapter).  This is a collection of passages bristling with bristling, insults, condemnation, flagrant offense, and an uncomfortable meal.  Just bristling!  Say the word out loud, you know it's fun.

Reading through these passages, it might be easier to break them up into the smallest cohesive pieces.  Then you perhaps group the pieces.  It's up to you where you think the breaks should be, but breaking them up might make them easier to understand.  If you look at the passages in various translations, you'll see that translators don't even know where to break them up.  The two biggest elements are the condemnation of the ones looking for a sign and the dinner with the Pharisee.  But beyond that, you may find it easier to break into smaller pieces.  It's up to you, you may not find that easier at all.  If not, don't do it.

Once you have the passage grouped in a way that makes sense, focus on the relationships between each element (even if it's only two).  Then look at the elements within each, like the woes on Pharisees versus lawyers.  How do those relate?  And so on, it's like assembling a quilt sort of.  Stepping back gives you the sense of how the whole works together.  Zooming in helps get a sense of how Jesus addresses what problems He sees.  On that note, what problems does He see?  What problems seem to draw most of His attention?

Jot down questions and insights you gain from your own study.  Then look at commentaries or notes, or whatever you have at hand.  Revise your notes and questions.  Bring those to the group, Thursday.  After you have all that, then go back through with the questions below:

• Verse 29 seems to address those mentioned in verse 16 who were demanding a sign.  Jesus says it's wicked to want a sign.  What do you think Jesus and the people mean by "sign"? Sign of or for what?
• In Matthew 12:38-42, we have a parallel to verse 29 through 32, but there Matthew explains how Jonah is a sign to the Ninevites.  So, how do you think Luke understands Jonah as a "sign" to the people of Nineveh?  Is it the time in the fish, or his preaching, or what?  
• The "Queen of the South" came to hear Solomon, and Jonah went to Nineveh.  She desired to hear Solomon's wisdom and the Ninevites needed to hear from God.  How are these two things related to each other?  I think it relates to what the people around Jesus are not doing.  If that is true, what do you think they are not doing?  Do we do these things or are we not doing them either?
• Starting at verse 33, I think we have another separate element that, for Luke, is related to what precedes it.  From 33 to 36, Jesus is referring to "light", but what do you think that "light" is a metaphor for here?  In other places it refers to other things, but what does Jesus use it for here?
• Jesus says that light is meant to be displayed.  How do you think the people around Jesus have been hiding theirs?
• Jesus says that the eye enlightens the body.  How do you think the people around Jesus have been "darkening" their vision?
• From the two elements, about signs and about light, what is Jesus trying to get across to the people around Him?  What do you think is the unifying truth behind both?
• Next, a Pharisee invites Jesus to a meal.  As I've told you in the past, this is always dangerous.  Right away, the Pharisee is surprised Jesus doesn't wash.  The word used is "baptize".  What does that tell you about "baptism"?  So why do you think the King James would not, nor does any other translation, use the word "baptize" for this?
• The Pharisee is "astonished" or "surprised" that Jesus doesn't wash.  There's nothing inherently negative in this word, so what do you think might have been going on in the Pharisee's mind?
• Jesus launches into a condemnation of the Pharisees.  The first condemnation is appearing clean but not being clean on the outside.  But what do you think Jesus means when He says, "But give that which is within as charity, and then all things are clean for you."?  How are all things "clean"?  In what way?
• Jesus then goes into tithing every little thing, but not behaving in just and loving ways.  How do you think this is like or unlike us today?
• The Pharisees have come to love the "trappings" of their station.  What do you think is the alternative?  Luke really doesn't say, so what do you think Luke and his hearers have in mind?
• What do you think is the problem depicted in "hidden tombs"?  Why do you think it is a problem to walk over a grave?
• Now a lawyer stands up...again.  And this genius claims that Jesus is also insulting them, as if by accident.  Why do you think the lawyer would exclude his group from the Pharisees?  
• He clearly seems to see some of Jesus' criticisms as applying to lawyers also.  What or which ones of Jesus' woes do you think the lawyer thought applied to him and the other lawyers?
• Jesus takes up the challenge to be more direct toward the lawyers, and so begins His woes on them.  What do you think are these burdens these lawyers are laying on the people they do not lift themselves?  Do you think the lawyers would agree with Jesus assessment of them that they don't lift them either?
• How do you think building the tomb for a prophet makes a person in agreement with those who killed him?
• Literally, the wording of verse 49 says, "Through this also the wisdom of God said..."  The NIV reads "God in His wisdom", the NASB has "the wisdom of God", and the ESV has "the Wisdom of God".  So, which do you think makes more sense here?  Who do you think Jesus thinks said this?
• Why would the blood of Abel be charged to the generation to whom Jesus spoke?
• Why would the blood of Zechariah (2 Chronicles 24:20-22) be charged to them?
• Lawyers were supposed to be making the law clear to people.  So in what way do you think they kept the "key" to it from people?
• Understandably, the lawyers and Pharisees began to plot against Jesus, but what do you think of their "plan"?  Considering how much fun everyone had at the meal, does this sound like a great idea to you?  Why do you think they wanted this approach?

This should be plenty to keep us busy.  See you all Thursday!

Some Home Town Hero?

This is the Bible study page for the Thursday Night Bible Study Group meeting August 27 to study Luke 4:14-30.  This begins Jesus' ministry, and only Luke starts Jesus out in Nazareth.  There are some really peculiar elements and curious behaviors on both sides.

Read through the passage a few times, jot down notes and questions. After you have a few notes of your own, go through some commentaries looking for different perspectives.  Lastly go back through with the questions below:

• Jesus goes to Galilee in the power of the Holy Spirit. Why do you think it made sense to get some experience under Him before he went back home?
• Jesus returns to the place where He was raised.  He follows His custom of going to the synagogue.  How do you imagine the scene in the synagogue in Nazareth?  How does the scene progress?
• Readings are specific, and the passage Jesus chooses isn't on the list (so some say).  Why do you think Jesus would deviate from the prescribed readings?  What do you think the people in the synagogue thought about that?
• Jesus sits and declares that this prophecy is fulfilled in their hearing.  Why do you think the people respond as they do?  What is their point?
• How do you think their response affirms or denies Jesus' declaration that He fulfills the prophecy?  Or what do you think of their response?
• Jesus' response supposes their request that He do the things in Nazareth that He's done elsewhere.  Why do you think this is a criticism of the people of Nazareth?
• Jesus also supposes that He is not welcome there (v.24).  What do you think it was in what they said or how they responded to Him in the synagogue that gave Jesus that impression?
• He then sites examples from Elijah and Elisha.  In Sidon, Elijah was hiding from Ahab.  Why do you think this fits this situation?  With Elisha, Naaman goes to the king of Israel, not Elisha, so how does that fit this situation?  How sure can we be that neither prophet did anything in Israel for widows or lepers?
• Jesus' point obviously isn't in the details of the lives of these prophets.  So what do you think His point is?  Why do you think it was meaningful to site these particular two prophets?
• The people are full of wrath.  They take Jesus to the 'brow of the hill' except Nazareth doesn't seem to have a 'cliff' or some such.  So what do you think they meant? 
• Jesus simply passes through them and leaves.  How do you imagine that happening?

That should keep us busy for a while.  Remember to bring your questions and notes to the group.