Scripture Readings Week Two: Signs of The Kingdom
Isaiah 35:5-6 - Joy in the Kingdom
5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; 6 then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy.
Mark 1:40-45 – A Victim of Leprosy
40 A leper came to him begging him, and kneeling he said to him, ‘If you choose, you can make me clean.’ 41Moved with pity, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, ‘I do choose. Be made clean!’ 42Immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. 43After sternly warning him he sent him away at once, 44saying to him, ‘See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.’ 45But he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the word, so that Jesus could no longer go into a town openly, but stayed out in the country; and people came to him from every quarter.
Mark 7:32-37 – A Deaf Man
32They brought to him a deaf man who had an impediment in his speech; and they begged him to lay his hand on him. 33He took him aside in private, away from the crowd, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue. 34Then looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, ‘Ephphatha’, that is, ‘Be opened.’ 35And immediately his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. 36Then Jesus ordered them to tell no one; but the more he ordered them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. 37They were astounded beyond measure, saying, ‘He has done everything well; he even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.’
Mark 8:22-30 - - A Blind Man
22 They came to Bethsaida. Some people brought a blind man to him and begged him to touch him. 23He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village; and when he had put saliva on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, ‘Can you see anything?’ 24And the man looked up and said, ‘I can see people, but they look like trees, walking.’ 25Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he looked intently and his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. 26Then he sent him away to his home, saying, ‘Do not even go into the village.’
“Who am I?”
27 Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say that I am?’ 28And they answered him, ‘John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.’ 29He asked them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Peter answered him, ‘You are the Messiah.’ 30And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about him.
Questions for Careful Reading of the Scripture Texts
How do the leper, the blind man, & the deaf man (or their friends) approach Jesus? What does this say about their attitude toward Jesus?
What does the leper know Jesus can do? What is he less sure about?
Why does Jesus touch people as part of the healing process? (NB There may be quite a few reasons…)
In these readings we see Jesus’ power over illness – at his command, the illness leaves. What command of his is consistently disobeyed? What is the result?
How do you think Peter knows Jesus’ true identity? Think back to the first session for some ideas.
Questions for Personal Reflection & Application
Imagine you are living in Galilee 2000 years ago. You have heard stories about a young carpenter who can heal people. You know he isn’t a doctor or a priest. What do you think? What will you do? What would make you believe he is from God?
Have you ever begged Jesus for anything? What happened?
The leper says to Jesus: “If you choose, you can make me clean” (Mk 1:40). Do you believe Jesus can heal the sick today? Do you believe he chooses to? How do your beliefs affect your prayers?
People bring the deaf man & the blind man to Jesus; the leper comes on his own. Are you comfortable going to Jesus on your own? If not, who can bring you? Is there someone you should bring? How is this done today?
Not all healing is instantaneous. The blind man is healed in stages. Is God in the process of healing something in your life? When did the process begin? Where is it now?
There are lots of books & films about Jesus today, each with a different idea of who he is. Who do you say he is? Why?
Prayer
Spend a few moments silently thinking of loved ones who are in need of healing.
Then pray: “Lord, if you choose, you can make us whole. I/We bring you these people I/we love, knowing that you love them more than I/we do.”
Name loved ones or friends, relatives or people you know, & after each name pray: Lord, have mercy.
End with a Glory be to the Father….
Another suggestion:
Read Psalm 145, a poem of praise about God’s wonderful kingdom.