A Bible Study Plan, Part 2: John 18:18-21

 B.    The Eighteenth Chapter 

        Let’s take a look at what comes before and after our passage in the 18^th chapter:

1.      The conversation with the rich young ruler follows:

a.       The Parable of the Widow and the Unjust Judge (Luke 18:1-8) – a widow persistently nags a judge – the judge grants her what she wants just so she will leave him alone.

b.      The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector (Luke 18:9-14) – a pharisee and a tax collector are in the temple to pray. The Pharisee is grateful he is not like “those other people,” and the tax collector asks God for mercy.

c.       Jesus interacting with children (Luke 18:15-17). – “let the children come to me – you must receive the kingdom as a child does.”

 

2.      Following the conversation with the rich ruler:

a.       Jesus tells of his death and resurrection (Luke 18:31-34),

b.      Jesus heals a blind beggar (Luke 18:35-43). Jesus is approaching Jericho, and a man yells at the Son of David to heal him. Jesus heals him, and says, “Your faith has made you well.”

 

Q: Do you see a common thread running through Chapter 18?

 

To various degrees, all of these passages describe a reversal of status.  “What may appear to be little more than a string of unrelated episodes in this narrative section is actually a series of scenes held together by the common theme of division between those who have faith and act faithfully, on the one hand, and those who are self-possessed and position themselves over against the active beneficence of God, on the other.” (Green 2003, 1888).