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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: BLIND (06/03/21)
The account of Jesus healing a blind beggar outside the city of Jericho comes at the end of Luke 18. However, the whole chapter provides several examples of “blindness” in some form or another if we open our eyes to see them.

The 18th chapter of Luke begins with the parable of the persistent widow. At first, the local judge is blind to faith in God and to respect for his fellow man, thus making him blind to justice as he refuses to listen to the widow’s case. Nevertheless, the woman’s persistence eventually wears down the worldly judge. Jesus uses this almost comical scenario to remind us not to give up when bringing our requests for justice to our Heavenly Father, who desires to do good for His children and not simply shut them up. It is reminiscent of Jesus’s teaching earlier in Luke 11 which includes a neighbor’s midnight request for bread and imperfect fathers’ good gifts to their children.

Luke then continues with another parable about a praying Pharisee who is blind to his actual condition before God. Following this, the disciples demonstrate their blindness to the place and importance of children in the Kingdom. Much like the Pharisee in the parable, they fail to see that humility and simple faith are more pleasing to God than what human wisdom often views as necessary for approaching the Heavenly Father.

Next in the chapter, a wealthy ruler betrays his blindness to what God really desires from him beyond mere outward obedience to the commandments. Then once again the disciples come up empty-sighted – this time to the Son of Man’s true being and purpose. Jesus spells out pretty plainly what is about to take place in Jerusalem at the end of their current journey, even referring to the writings of the prophets that the twelve should have already been familiar with. Yet Luke tells us that “they understood none of these things.”

Up to this point, the examples of blindness have been of the heart and mind; the last portion of the chapter deals with a physically blind man. As he is sitting alongside the road begging, this man hears a crowd passing by and asks the occasion. When he discovers it involves Jesus of Nazareth, he immediately starts calling out for mercy from the Son of David. Despite others rebuking him and telling him to be silent, he continues imploring Jesus to have mercy on him. As he did with the children before, Jesus calls for the man to be brought to him. Jesus then asks what at first seems the obvious question: “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man doesn’t waste this opportunity merely begging for something of such transitory earthly value as money as he did before, but instead, he petitions Jesus to let him recover his sight, after which Jesus recognizes and rewards the man’s faith. The regained sight results in the man following Jesus and glorifying God, with other people giving praise to God when they see what has happened.

May we see ourselves clearly and be willing to ask Jesus to heal us of our blindness in whatever form it is taking in our lives so that God may be glorified!
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Member Comments
Member
Date
Arlene Baker
06/10/21
Here are my few suggestions:
1. Don't tell the reader what Luke tells us. Build a scene so full of emotion, the reader will reach for their Bible to read the whole chapter themselves. Make the reader hungry.
2. Start with a strong hook. Get the reader right into the story. You could use the blind person's POV and build on the emotion of helplessness and anticipation.
3. you could use someone in the crowd for the POV and delve into the emotion of their impatience, incredulity, repentance and joy. Involve the reader by showing the story, not telling it.
4. Wrap the story up with the challenge at the end.
God bless and keep writing!
Avigail David
06/16/21
Thank you for the teaching on Luke 18. I appreciate the message you have conveyed.
Blessings to you.
Bea Edwards 
06/16/21
Excellent synopsis of Luke's chapter.

Again, I defer to Arlene's great suggestions to show and not tell, thereby bringing your story to life.

Rewriting it according to her advice might be fun and informative practice.