What can you remember? Leper Woman with haemorrhage Greek woman with possessed daughter Man with withered hand on Sabbath Jairus’ daughter Take turns to tell your partner one piece of dialogue from each story

Outcast for Sin: Blind Bartimaeus To describe the healing of Bartimaeus To explain Bartimaeus’ outcast status To reflect on Bartimaeus’ faith in Jesus This healing of a blind beggar takes place as Jesus is about to enter Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. A crowd is already following him. Being blind, he cannot find work. His blindness makes him outcast from Jewish society – Jews believed his blindness was a sign of SIN. Look at some of the things they might have believed about him. “God has punished him for his sins or his parents’ sins. Do not mix with him.” “He lives in the dark. This is like living in sin. He must be avoided.” “God has cursed him so he is not fit to be allowed to worship at the Temple, so he cannot be part of the Jewish community.” 1.Why was a blind person outcast in Jewish society? 2.Explain 2 things people believed about blindness. **Do you think God does punish people with illness for their sins, or their families’ sins? (like a bad karma?)

Read the story p.114. The Healing 1.Summarise the story, including Jesus and Bartimaeus’ dialogue. 2.IN what 2 ways was Bartimaeus healed? Explain. 3.How did the healing change Bartimaeus’ life as an outcast? **What is Mark symbolising when he says that Bartimaeus followed Jesus along “the Way”? Bartimaeus’s cry: 1.What title did Bartimaeus use to address Jesus? Why was it a dangerous title to use? 2.How did the crowd react? **Why do you think Jesus didn’t tell him to “be quiet”, even though up to now he had been trying to keep the Messianic secret? Key Points: Curing blindness is symbol for curing sin, and spiritual healing – the whole point of Jesus’ mission (about to end). B now has the eyes to see & follow Jesus. Jesus is addressed by a Messianic title, which he accepts

Can miracles happen? YES Yes, because miracles show God’s freedom and power and goodness: laws of science can’t prevent Him from acting Yes, because suffering is linked to sin. Jesus came to forgive sin & destroy the power of evil. Miracles prove this is true. Yes because Jesus was God’s son and could prove this by loving, healing miracles. NO Contradicts how science says the world works – so can’t be true Contradicts God’s creation – why would God want to change the way He created things to be in the first place? That can’t be possible. Causes disappointment – people hope for miracles that don’t happen, only to a lucky few. A fair or loving God would not raise people’s expectations falsely. Give your own point of view on whether miracles can happen, by using 2 or 3 of these arguments.

Homework Complete the revision table for this unit.