Following Jesus

Luke 18:31-34 Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, ‘We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. He will be handed over to the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him and spit on him; they will flog him and kill him. On the third day he will rise again.’ The disciples did not understand any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking about.

Luke 18:31-34 Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, ‘We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. He will be handed over to the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him and spit on him; they will flog him and kill him. On the third day he will rise again.’ The disciples did not understand any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking about.

Luke 18:31-34 Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, ‘We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. He will be handed over to the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him and spit on him; they will flog him and kill him. On the third day he will rise again.’ The disciples did not understand any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking about.

Luke 18:31-34 Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, ‘We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. He will be handed over to the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him and spit on him; they will flog him and kill him. On the third day he will rise again.’ The disciples did not understand any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking about.

Luke 18:31-34 Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, ‘We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. He will be handed over to the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him and spit on him; they will flog him and kill him. On the third day he will rise again.’ The disciples did not understand any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking about.

Luke 18:31-34 Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, ‘We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. He will be handed over to the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him and spit on him; they will flog him and kill him. On the third day he will rise again.’ The disciples did not understand any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking about.

1. Blind Sighted Followers Vs 31-34 Jesus’ disciples were blind to Scriptures’ culminating fulfillment in Jews handing Jesus over to the Gentiles in Jerusalem to be humiliated and killed and subsequently resurrected on the third day.

What could have blinded the disciples from seeing Jesus’ predicted humiliation, death and resurrection as the culminating fulfillment of the Scriptures? Supernatural blinding Ignorance of Scriptures Scriptures inaccurately handled Popular Jewish Messianic expectation Pharisaical good works salvation

1. Blind Sighted Followers Vs 31-34 Jesus’ disciples were blind to Scriptures’ culminating fulfillment in Jews handing Jesus over to the Gentiles in Jerusalem to be humiliated and killed and subsequently resurrected on the third day. People can still blindly follow Jesus, ignorant of the significance of his suffering, death, and vindicating resurrection as the culmination of God’s saving purpose revealed in the Scriptures.

What are some reasons why people start to follow Jesus before they comprehend the true nature of his identity and ministry as revealed by Scriptures? What can we do to help these people begin to follow Jesus for the right reasons? 2 Timothy 2:15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

Reject inaccurate Messianic expectations 1. Blind Sighted Followers Vs 31-34 Reject inaccurate Messianic expectations

Vs 35-43 As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. They told him, ‘Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.’ He called out, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’ Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, ‘Son of David, have mercy on me!’ Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, 41 ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ ‘Lord, I want to see,’ he replied. 42 Jesus said to him, ‘Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.’ 43 Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God.

Vs 35-43 As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. They told him, ‘Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.’ He called out, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’ Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, ‘Son of David, have mercy on me!’ If Messianic expectations of that day had been fulfilled, it would have made no difference to the marginalized blind beggar

Vs 35-43 As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. They told him, ‘Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.’ He called out, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’ Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, ‘Son of David, have mercy on me!’ Luke 1:27; 32-35 angel Gabriel identified Mary’s baby as Scriptures’ promised Son of David/Son of God, of which the blind beggar has surprising insight

Vs 35-43 As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. They told him, ‘Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.’ He called out, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’ Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, ‘Son of David, have mercy on me!’ Fulfillment of Isa. 61:1,2 as quoted by Jesus in Nazareth’s synagogue in 4:18,19

Vs 35- 43 As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. They told him, ‘Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.’ He called out, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’ Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, ‘Son of David, have mercy on me!’ The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour. Fulfillment of Isa. 61:1,2 as quoted by Jesus in Nazareth’s synagogue in 4:18,19

Vs 35-43 As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. They told him, ‘Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.’ He called out, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’ Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, ‘Son of David, have mercy on me!’ Persistent refusal to toe the party line

Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, 41 ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ ‘Lord, I want to see,’ he replied. 42 Jesus said to him, ‘Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.’ 43 Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God.

2. Sighted Blind Follower Vs 35-43 Through insightful persistent faith in Jesus as Scriptures’ Son of David/God (the culmination of God’s saving purpose), the blind beggar overcame erroneous Messianic expectations to be healed and joyfully followed Jesus.

Through insightful persistent faith in Jesus as Scriptures’ Son of God and culmination of God’s saving purposes, people overcome obstacles, including erroneous beliefs, to be saved to joyfully follow Jesus. Experiencing salvation to joyfully follow Jesus requires faith in the Jesus of Scriptures

What Scriptural non-negotiables need to be believed in order to be saved and joyfully follow Jesus?

The blind beggar would not have been interested in a Messiah that fulfilled the Jewish expectations of his day. Such a Messiah’s coming would not have changed his marginalized position in the community as a blind beggar. Who are the marginalized of our day? What specific things from a scripturally correct portrayal of Jesus as the culmination of God’s saving purpose make Jesus a relevant Messiah to modern day marginalized people? What kind of Jesus are we portraying to the world?

Whereas the disciples following Jesus were blind to Jesus’ suffering as fulfillment of God’s Scriptures merciful saving purpose, the blind beggar saw and experienced that fulfillment to immediately follow Jesus.

Is the Jesus you believe in and are trying to follow the Jesus who is the culmination of Scriptures’ revelation of God’s saving purposes, or is he someone less or someone else? Are you inspired to joyfully follow Jesus as a result of your insightful faith in Jesus as the culmination of God’s saving purposes, or is your following the joyless kind? Is the Jesus we portray to others through our lives and conversations an accurate reflection of Scriptures’ portrayal of him, the Messiah that people really need? Joyful following of Jesus is dependent on persistent faith that receives him as Scriptures’ promised Son of God, the culmination of Scriptures’ revelation of God’s saving purpose for humanity.