Irmela

7. Which shepherd role does Jesus comment on in this passage? (19:10) In what ways can his disciples be involved in this role? He came to seek and save that which was lost. Firstly we need to live as Christ would have us live. (actions speak louder than words) Then we can share the Gospel msg when they are ready to receive it.

6. How does our cynicism about people keep us from presenting Christ to them? Can we be open and loving without being vulnerable and overly trusting? What's the balance? How do we achieve this? One needs to be very careful not to offend the people you want to present Christ to. If you are not at ease around a person, that is felt and they will easily be on the defensive. Jesus showed love and acceptance to Zacchaeus and that prompted the rest of what happened. I guess if under the leading of the Holy Spirit, one too shows love to the 'unloved/outcast' it too can have a successful ending. I guess achieving this is through prayer and wisdom from the Lord. (It is no good attempting something like this in one's own steam)

5. Which aspects of Jesus' ministry to Zacchaeus seem to motivate him the most? (1) Jesus' love and acceptance? (2) Jesus' reputation? (3) Zacchaeus' consciousness of his sinfulness? Others? The love and acceptance by Jesus, of Zacchaeus, started the ball rolling. From this he realized Jesus' reputation was at stake because of His association with him, so Zacchaeus declared openly his repentant state. He did more than what was required of him. His whole focus on life changed.

4. Why do you think Jesus said that he MUST stay at Zacchaeus' house that very day? What risk did Jesus take in doing this? What were the implications of this action to the bystanders? To Zacchaeus? Zacchaeus had a desire to see Jesus. He went out of his way (even degrading himself, by climbing a tree) to see Jesus. Not even to talk to. Only to view Him. Jesus recognized this and determined by His actions to meet his need. Not only would Zacchaeus get to see Him but he would get a chance to meet Him good and proper. Because of this Jesus' popularity could dwindle. He was sharing time/a meal with a sinner/an outcast by Jewish standards. The bystanders were shocked, to say the least, and jealous that Jesus chose Zacchaeus as His host for that day. They looked at Jesus with contempt. Zacchaeus was starving spiritually as he was forbidden entrance to a synagogue because of his job. Jesus altered all this. Zacchaeus saw what Jesus gave up to be with him. He, in gratefulness repented. He promised to give half of his possessions to the poor. Also he promised to give back 4 times what he had cheated people from. Jesus declared Zacchaeus a true son of Abraham. It was as if his past bad reputation was all being washed away and he was given a new lease on life.

3. How do you think Jesus knew Zacchaeus' name? By divine knowledge? From the bystanders? Even though He was truly Man Jesus was also truly God. In other passages we read that Jesus knew what the Pharisees were thinking. So in this instance too, He knew Zacchaeus by name. He knew his character. He knew all about him. He called Zacchaeus by name before the bystanders could have told Him his name. Zacchaeus was in the tree, out of the way. He comes into view and gains publicity when Jesus calls him down and invites Himself to his home.

2. Why do the townspeople despise Zacchaeus so much? Zacchaeus is despised and hated by the townspeople because he was working for the Romans and in the process was getting himself rich by exacting more money out of the people than was required. (That was the general trend of tax collectors). A chief tax collector was also responsible for exacting tolls on goods coming in from Perea to Judea. So Zacchaeus had ample chance to cheat the system.

1. What do we learn about Zacchaeus in verses 1-4? Limiting yourself to these verses, what do you know about Zacchaeus? About his life, his hopes, his desires? Zacchaeus (the name derived from Zachariah, meaning, the righteous one) lived in Jericho. He was a chief tax collector. That means he was an outcast as far as his fellow Isrelites were concerned. Seen as a traitor, as he worked for the Roman government. Tax collectors were known to cheat on the public to make themselves rich. We read he was rich. Zacchaeus was short in stature. He didn't care anymore what people thought of him, as he had no problem to fulfill his desire to see Jesus, by climbing a tree. (He was curious) One didn't do that, especially not a grown man. It was really humbling.

8. What area in your life needs a dose of Bartimaeus' unstoppable faith? What's stopping you from asking God for that quality of faith right now? I easily get intimidated and end up not doing what initially I had felt was what I needed to do. This makes me not want to share and rather just do. It is a very lonely road/existence. My prayer is: Lord help me when I know You have laid something on my heart, to go through with it, no matter the consequence. Take away stubbornness and replace it with real faith, dear Lord.

7. What was the blind man's response after being healed? In what ways is this a good model for us? In v43 we read 'Instantly he received his sight and began to follow Jesus RECOGNIZING GOD PRAISING GOD HONORING GOD It shows who we are to give honor and glory to. Ultimately it is God Who is the Healer. The other point is not giving up. In spite of others trying to intimidate you, remain strong in your faith.

6. In what sense did the blind man's own faith heal him? If he had faith, why hadn't he been healed before? Bartimaeus' faith was the conduit through which God could work to initiate the healing. If he had not believed, he would not have called out all the more to Jesus, for mercy, when those in the crowd tried to stop him. This commotion caught Jesus attention and made Him stop in His tracks and initiate the whole process of getting Bartimaeus to Him and him being healed and Jesus acknowledging that Bartimaeus ' faith in God had brought about his healing.

5. In what ways is the question, "What do you want Jesus to do for you?" a good question for disciples today to ask? By voicing what they want one can ascertain if it is healing or just a blessing to be prayed over them. Sometimes the "malady" enables them to get a social grant or even a 'helper' to assist them. They could be comfortable with this arrangement and don't rally want to step out in faith back to 'normal' as we term it and find work to get an income etc. Praying for and receiving healing could thwart a comfortable lifestyle (the rut) that they have gotten into. Others again would truly want total healing in body, mind and spirit. They are ready for God to take over and lead them on the journey fwd into paths untrod by them because of the malady. From the above it is seen that it is better to ask first instead of to assume that healing in the body is what is wanted/desired. A blind man was asked if he would like to receive his sight. His response was that he is fine if it be not so because the first One he will set his eyes on will be his LORD AND SAVIOUR, JESUS CHRIST.

4. Why did Jesus ask the blind man, "What do you want me to do for you?" What was Jesus' purpose in asking the question? It was asked so faith could be vocalized and heard by all. In this way Bartimaeus' request from Jesus was clearly put, from his own lips. There was no doubt in anyone's mind what he wanted. He did not make a noise with shouting and calling out just for the sake of it. There was no doubt in his own mind that this was the chance he'd been waiting for. Surely the Messiah would be able to heal him also. He truly believed Jesus to be the Messiah. There was no doubt in his mind at all.

3. What were the political and spiritual implications of the phrase "Son of David"? The implication was that Spiritually the long awaited MESSIAH had come. Politically to the Jew it meant that the long awaited "Son of David" would sit on the Throne of Israel. (Ultimately, it was believed that the Roman oppression would come to an end, when the Messiah came. That is what they looked fwd to.)

2. What can we learn about Bartimaeus' faith by the evidence of his actions and his words? In spite of the crowds' negative reaction to Bartimaeus calling out to Jesus as the Son of David, viz., the Messiah, he continues calling out. Because of his faith that his request will be granted, he does not stop. We need to be truthful in acknowledging Jesus as Lord and Healer in our lives in spite of outward reactions. Cling to our Faith and do not let go. Mean what we say and say what we mean.

1. What motivates Blind Bartimaeus to call out to Jesus? What motivates the bystanders to try to stop him? Bartimaeus can sense that there is a bigger crowd going past. I guess Jesus' deeds etc have been spoken about and he too has heard about them. So when Bartimaeus asked what was going on and the reply was that Jesus was going by. Imagine his excitement. So his need and desire for sight drove him to call out to Jesus for healing. Bartimaeus is acknowledging Jesus as Messiah, when he calls Him Son of David. The bystanders try to stop him from calling out. His calling is loud and insistant and really causing a commotion.

4. How do Jesus' sacrifices to follow the Father's will parallel our own sacrifices to follow Jesus? What are the points of comparison? What are the points of contrast? (18:31-34) Jesus gave up all to follow the Father's will. It was His Home in glory. His being with the Father etc. It was absolutely everything. Then He lay aside ALL and became a man and lived as man and finally bore man's sins on Himself on the cross. He spellt out some of the things He would have to endure, viz., be made sport of, be jeered at, be scoffed, be insulted, be spat upon, be flogged, and finally killed. (He gave Himself as the perfect sacrifice for our sins). On the 3rd day He rose again having conquered death. Because of what He gave up we can have Eternal Life. We give up what isn't really ours in the first place (only leant to us while on earth) to gain what He has paid for for us. Everything a GIFT from Him. Thank You. Thank You, my God.

3. Are the rewards Jesus promises in 18:29-30 literal or figurative? I would recon that the rewards can be literal and figurative. Some by giving up everything lose their earthly family at first to regain them much later but also as changed and followers of Christ. Some seem to lose all ties with their own and gain a new family supporting them and standing by them as a 'blood" family would. You gain something you would otherwise not have had. PEACE and ASSURANCE guaranteed and ETERNAL LIFE

2. How is Peter's question in 18:28 similar to Jesus' direction in 18:22? In what sense must disciple give up everything to follow Jesus? How literally should we take this? Peter and the others had in fact done what Jesus required this young man to do. Jesus knew that his possessions were a stumbling block to him. Because of his vast riches it then seems so much but to those of us who don't have as much, to us what we have, is in fact just as much. It is also just as hard for us to give it up if it is tied to us. Giving up everything is making certain that nothing holds you or keeps you from God. Nothing controls you. That you are in fact yielding to God's control.

1. Why is it impossible for rich people to enter the Kingdom of God? Is it really impossible? Is Jesus speaking in hyperbole in order to make a point? Why or why not? (18:24-27) On one's own steam, by one's own doing, it is impossible to enter the Kingdom of God. Rich in money or goods; rich in good deeds etc cannot earn one's way into the Kingdom of God. To get there is by grace and grace alone. It is a Gift of God.

7. Could the man have followed Jesus without divesting himself of what he held dear? Can you? Can anyone? Hanks answer says it well. All hindrances to following Christ, are to be laid down.

6. Why did Jesus designate the poor to be the recipients of the man's wealth, do you think? The poor cannot reciprocate. In this way it was not possible for possessions to get a grip on him again. He would have to rely on God as his source.

5. How are we to generalize about "selling all our possessions"? What application does this have to us? I think possibly it means to not cling to possessions or earthly things. Be willing to let go, i.e. to surrender. (Possessions must not possess or rule us. We must not be controlled by them).

4. Why does Jesus tell him to sell all his possessions? Is this something Jesus requires of everyone? If not, why single out this man? Jesus knew the young man's heart. He knew what was standing between him and loving God. So Jesus was in fact answering his question. Love the Lord your God with all your heart. (you shall have no other gods before me) The young man's possessions were standing in the way of this instruction. They were his gods. That is what he loved, above God. (We cannot buy our way into the Kingdom of God)

3. Why does Jesus challenge the man's seemingly innocent form of address: "Good teacher"? What is Jesus' point? Why does Jesus interrupt answering the man's question to make a big thing about something so small? Hanks answer says it, stamped by Scripture. ? The man wanted satisfaction (an answer) for a deep personal need. By calling Jesus 'good' he was in actual fact (unknowingly) addressing Him as God. If he had meant it with his heart, he would have followed the instructions Jesus gave him. It might seem trivial, but it is actually a big thing to refer to someone as God (unintentionally) in public. I think we are challenged to think our words through carefully before glibly saying them. We can find ourselves implying something we do not really believe.

2. What do we learn about Jesus from this encounter? What does this account tell us about Him? Whenever someone approached Jesus, His actions (or the way He received or dealt with the person) were relevant for that or a similar encounter. Different encounters brought to mind are the woman at the well in Samaria; the woman (not an Israelite) who pleaded for her daughter) ; Zacchaeus; Nicodemus; the Lepers etc. Each one was handled according to the particular need of that encounter. Jesus stopped and listened to the young man. In Mark's account we are told, "Jesus looking upon him loved him." When the young man called Him GOOD. Jesus pointed out that only God was GOOD. So if this was said in any way as flattering Him. Jesus ruled it out. If it was sincerely meant then the man needed to recognize that he was dealing with God. Jesus knew the young man was sincere in what he said, when he said he had kept the Commandments (in the way that the Pharisee's defined them this was so), those pertaining towards relationships with fellow man eg., honor your father and mother, do not give false testimony, do not steal, do not commit adultery, do not murder. These were not necessarily kept as Jesus spellt out in the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus then pointed out what was lacking. (Actually the young man had wealth as a god.) To sell what he had, give to the poor, you will have treasure in heaven. He is offering him wealth in heaven in exchange for wealth on earth (always Jesus speaks about the need and offers a way to meet that need). As Jesus' desciple or follower this young man would learn so much more. Jesus offered this option to him, by inviting the young man to follow Him. Jesus is not pushy. He offered the solution. The young man could accept or reject.