Who is Jesus?
Who is Jesus?
Was Jesus a healer, a teacher, or both? Read the Biblical passage below, following this framework to guide your reading. This framework is an introduction to the practice of Lectio Divina:
- Read more than once
- Read aloud if you can
- What words and/or phrases jump out to you?
- What feelings arise as you read this passage?
Matthew 20.29-34; Luke 18.35-43 (CEV):
46 Jesus and his disciples went to Jericho. And as they were leaving, they were followed by a large crowd. A blind beggar by the name of Bartimaeus son of Timaeus was sitting beside the road. 47 When he heard that it was Jesus from Nazareth, he shouted, “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!” 48 Many people told the man to stop, but he shouted even louder, “Son of David, have pity on me!”
49 Jesus stopped and said, “Call him over!” They called out to the blind man and said, “Don’t be afraid! Come on! He is calling for you.”
50 The man threw off his coat as he jumped up and ran to Jesus.
51 Jesus asked, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man answered, “Master,[j] I want to see!”
52 Jesus told him, “You may go. Your eyes are healed because of your faith.” At once the man could see, and he went down the road with Jesus.
Research
Research some more biblical passages where Jesus could be described as a healer and as a teacher.
When reading the biblical passages, follow this same structure:
• Read more than once
• Read aloud if you can
• What words and/or phrases jump out to you?
• What feelings arise as you read this passage?
You can use the following website at this link to support you with this: https://www.biblegateway.com/
Listen to the talk from Richard Rohr in the video below. Richard Rohr is a Franciscan friar and founder of the Centre for Action and Contemplation, which you can find out more about at the link here:https://cac.org/about/richard-rohr/. In this video, he discusses the emphasis he feels should be placed on Jesus as a healer and transformer:
*Click on the video to play; then click ‘cc’ for captions; The video itself is a little grainy, but the speech is audible.
Reflection
Who is Jesus to you? Healer, teacher, or maybe something different?
Belief in Jesus
Read the Biblical passage below, following the same framework:
- Read more than once
- Read aloud if you can
- What words and/or phrases jump out to you?
- What feelings arise as you read this passage?
Mark 12.28-34; Luke 10.25-28 (CEV):
34 After Jesus had made the Sadducees look foolish, the Pharisees heard about it and got together. 35 One of them was an expert in the Jewish Law. So he tried to test Jesus by asking, 36 “Teacher, what is the most important commandment in the Law?”
37 Jesus answered: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind. 38 This is the first and most important commandment.
39 The second most important commandment is like this one. And it is, “Love others as much as you love yourself.”
40 All the Law of Moses and the Books of the Prophets[c] are based on these two commandments.
Reflection
What feelings arise for you from the second commandment?
What does it mean to you to love your neighbour?
Who is your neighbour?
There are many ways that Christians live their lives following in the footsteps of Jesus. Some may give to charity, work for a charity or choose to become a doctor. Others may become ordained to continue to spread Jesus’ message. Another way some Christians express their belief in Jesus is through the idea of street ministry.
Watch the video below to see Canterbury Street Pastors in Action:
*Click on the video to play; then click ‘cc’ for captions.
Another example of street ministry and community-based ministry can be seen through the work of OneSpirit ordained Minister, Andrew Ramage. You can find out more about the work Andrew and his community church in Brighton do at the link here: https://www.mccbrighton.org.uk/
Here is a video of Andrew talking about Justice and Jesus at his community Church:
*Click on the video to play; then click ‘cc’ for captions.
Reflection
When you think of Jesus, what characteristics do you associate with the figure of Jesus?
Is he a positive figure for you, or not?
Have you heard of street ministry before? What comes to mind when you hear the words street ministry?