Faith moves mountains. True or false? Have you ever seen a mountain move? We continue to see how Jesus performs many miracles and yet, it was their faith that made them clean or whole. Where’s your mountain? Faith knows no limits.
The Lord and his three disciples are descending from Mt. Hermon and the Transfiguration. What do you think must be going through their minds? (Note: the Bible doesn’t say what they were thinking)
We are now at the close of the “year of opposition.” Jesus and His disciples have completed their ministry in Galilee. They move quickly through Capernaum into Samaria and onto Jerusalem and His last months.
Jesus heals boy with an evil spirit (Mark 9:14-32)
- Describe the scene outlined in the first few verses of this section.
- The disciples were powerless in their attempt to heal this young man of his evil spirit. We have been told that Jesus had sent out His disciples earlier to heal and they were successful. Why not now?
- One of the most powerful “faith-like” verses is found in this section. Reread verses 23-24. Completed the verses below. How do these verses speak to you and me about our faith and its power?
- Jesus said, “everything is possible for _________________________________
- The boy’s father replied, “I do believe _________________________________
- When did the disciples receive power to do Jesus’ ministry? Go to Acts 1:8
- Jesus reminded His disciples of His imminent death and resurrection. What was the disciples’ reaction? Go to Luke’s version of this story (Luke 9:43ff). How does Luke describe their lack of understanding?
Jesus and His disciples pass through Galilee
Their ministry was completed there, at least for now. Matthew’s account tells us that they did stop in Capernaum. (Matthew 17:24ff) What lesson did Jesus teach His disciples about the temple tax?
Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem was important. Most of the gospel writers tell us many lessons that Jesus used as “object lessons.” Why do you suppose Jesus used so many object lessons in His teaching style?
Jesus and the Ten Lepers (Luke 17:11-19)
- The story of the “Ten Lepers” is very a important lesson for us today. Let’s examine some of the key elements:
- Location _______________________________
- Diseased men’s question ______________________________
- Thankfulness, how many returned? ____________And his country?______________________
- In addition to his leprosy healing, what other disease did he obtain healing ________________and through _________________.
Jesus heals a blind man (John 9:1-41)
- Jesus’ journey through Samaria to Jerusalem includes a story of a blind man and his healing. Only John’s gospel records this event. This story is divided into three sections:
- The healing event, verses 1-12
- The healed man’s appearance before the Pharisees (13-34)
- Jesus’ dialogue with the healed man and the Pharisees about blindness (35-41)
- What question did Jesus’ disciples ask Him about the blind man? What does their question imply as to the cause of the man’s blindness?
- This section is often referred to as “Light of the World.” Find the verse in this section that provides this title.
- The blind man’s neighbors had a difficult time believing that this was the former beggar/blind man. What testimony did this question elicit? And why is that important here?
- Verses 13-34 contain the second section of this story. The blind man’s neighbors brought him to the Pharisees. What was their reasoning?
- Read verse sixteen. The house is divided. How?
- The former blind man repeats his testimony to the Pharisees. What did he call Jesus?
- The Pharisees’ unbelief continued until they could talk to the man’s parents. Describe the parents’ fear? How did they avoid confrontation?
- The former blind man continued to be the source of insults from the Pharisees. How did he react to their insults in verses 30-33? What lesson can we learn from his great testimony?
- Verses 35-41 contain the final section in this event. Jesus heard about the man’s story and found him. Appropriately entitled, “spiritual blindness,” Jesus teaches the Pharisees a lesson about sight. Using verse forty-one, connect this explanation to faith and forgiveness.
- Sin causes blindness from ____________________________?
- Faith provides _____________________________(Hebrews 11:1)
- Guilt is damning without ___________________________.
How do we provide “sight healing” to those around us?
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Mustard Seed:
Mustard seeds are one of the smallest known to man yet produce a shrubby tree about ten feet in height. (Palestine, black mustard, Eerdmann’s Bible Dictionary) Using the space below, describe a “mountain in your life” that was moved by a “mustard seed.”
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