Reel Luke

Jesus Heals a Blind Beggar

Luke 18:35-43

Helpful Stuff to Know

In the ancient world, blindness (and any other type of physical illness or disability) was often viewed as a result of someone’s sin.

Son of David was a Messianic title. The Old Testament prophets said that the Messiah would descend from King David (his story is in 1 and 2 Samuel and 1 Chronicles). David wrote many of the Psalms, including the familiar Psalm 23.

Be Sure Not to Miss

Jesus was approaching Jericho on his way to Jerusalem for the most important week of his life — the crucifixion and resurrection. He could have been so focused that he ignored everyone he met, but instead he still stopped, listened, and helped anyone who asked.

The blind man must have heard about Jesus before this.

By calling Jesus the “Son of David,” the blind man was acknowledging Jesus’ true identity as the promised Messiah and Savior.

Jesus first asked the man what he wanted. He gave the man a chance to speak for himself.

The man’s first response to being healed was to follow Jesus and praise God. Those who saw praised God too.

Right after the story about a poor beggar who couldn’t see comes the story of a very rich man who wanted to see who Jesus was. Pay attention to the different interactions in the two stories.

Be Careful About

This story doesn’t promise that if someone has enough faith, Jesus will heal them. That is what happened in this particular story.

Reel Questions

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Reel Setting (place)

  • Where did this story happen? (Describe the setting — in a house, on a road, by a lake, in a city, etc.)
  • What do you think that place looked like? smelled like? sounded like?
  • Do you think it matters that this story happened in that specific place? Why?
  • What about the place in this story feels familiar? What feels strange?

 

Reel People (characters)

  • Make a list of all the people in this story and give a one-word description of each (include “crowd” if there is one). Why did you choose that word?
  • What does Jesus say and do in this story? List all the things. Does anything surprise you? Why?
  • Which person (besides Jesus) is most interesting to you? Why?
  • What details about the characters do you wish were included or explained in the story? Why?
  • Why do you think [choose a specific character or the crowd] spoke or acted the way they did?
  • What are some different things that [the person from previous question] could have said or done? How would that have changed the story?
  • What do you think the onlookers were thinking and feeling as things were happening in this story? Why?
  • How do you think the main characters might have changed after this story? Why? (Sometimes it tells us, like with Zacchaeus, but other times it doesn’t.)
  • How do you think the crowd or onlookers might have changed after this story? Why?
  • If you’d been there, where would you have been standing or sitting? What would you have been thinking or feeling? Why?

 

Reel Events (plot)

  • List all the events in the story.
  • List some details that aren't included but are assumed in the story.
  • What do you think are the two or three most important moments in this story? Why?
  • If this story were a film, when would the music be scary or tense? When would it be joyful or upbeat? Why?
  • What do you think maybe happened right before this story? What do you think maybe happened right after this story?
  • Does the biblical story before or after this one matter to this story? How? Why do you think that?
  • What are some different ways things could have happened or ended in this story?
  • If this story were happening today in your school or town, what are ways Jesus might have acted or explained things for your context?
  • What would you call this story if it were a full-length book or movie? Why?

 

Real Faith

  • What’s a way people could misunderstand or misuse this story?
  • Why do you think this story is in the Bible? Why would God want us to read and learn from it?
  • What are you learning about Jesus (or his Father or the Spirit) from this story?
  • What are you learning about following Jesus (living for Jesus and living like Jesus) from this story?
  • After reading this story, what are some questions you have about Jesus and following him?

 

Story-Specific Questions

Jesus would have been able to tell the man was blind. Why do you think he first asked him what he wanted instead of just healing him right away?

What do you think the blind beggar meant when he said, “Have mercy on me,” to Jesus?

How do you think the blind beggar knew that Jesus of Nazareth was Jesus the Son of David?

How do you think the man praised God? When and how do you praise God?