Week 2 (Jesus cares for the sick)

Today we are going to learn about how Jesus was a healer and cared for the sick.

From the very beginning of Jesus’ ministry, he was concerned with the sick and needy. He never turned anyone away even when he was tired and weary. In Jesus’ day, there were many sick people and they often had to survive by begging at the roadside.

Read this scripture from the Gospel of Luke:

As Jesus was coming near Jericho, there was a blind man sitting by the road, begging. When he heard the crowd passing by, he asked, ‘What is this?’

‘Jesus of Nazareth is passing by’, they told him.

He cried out, ‘Jesus! Son of David! Have mercy on me!’ The people in front scolded him and told him to be quiet. But he shouted even more loudly, ‘Son of David! Have mercy on me!’

So, Jesus stopped and ordered the blind man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’

‘Sir’, he answered, ‘I want to see again.’

Jesus said to him, ‘Then see! Your faith has made you well.’ At once he was able to see, and he followed Jesus, giving thanks to God. When the crowd saw it, they all praised God.

Luke 18: 35-43

You might want to write down the answers to the questions because it might help you with the learning task.

Questions to think about:

Why do you think Jesus was so concerned with the sick and needy?

Why do you think the people scolded the blind man?

How do you think the blind man felt?

What do you think was the significance of the title the blind man gave to Jesus, ‘Jesus! Son of David!’ What did it show about his faith?

What was Jesus’ attitude to the blind man?

What do you think Jesus meant when he said, ‘Your faith has made you well’?

What do you think of the attitude of the people once they saw Jesus’ healing power?

How do you think the blind man felt when he could see?

Learning Task

Write a newspaper report for the Jericho Times about the incident and explain who people believe Jesus is and what ideas and experiences people have of him. Link it to other scriptural texts and include quotes from bystanders about how it has affected their faith.

(Remember the features of a newspaper report from our World War 2 writing project. Use pictures, captions, quotes and keep to the facts.)