In this week’s Gospel passage Jesus heals a beggar of his blindness because of his faith in Jesus and willingness to “take courage” and stand out from the crowd. In this lesson, students will reflect on sacred art and consider ways in which they too can be courageous in the world around them.
Read the Gospel passage aloud to your students as they follow along.
Discuss the focus and reflection questions with them as a class.
Focus Questions Answer Key
What did the blind man, Bartimaeus, do to get Jesus’ attention? He called out to Jesus “Son of David, have pity on me.”
Why do you think the crowd rebuked, or scolded, the blind man? They thought he was causing a disturbance, or they might have been annoyed with him. Also, maybe some thought that Jesus was too important to be bothered with the needs of a blind beggar man.
How did Jesus respond to the blind man? Jesus asked the blind beggar “What do you want me to do for you?”
What miracle did Jesus perform and how did it occur? Jesus healed the bling beggar of his blindness by telling him that his faith had saved him.
What does Jesus invite the blind man to do at the end of this story? What does he actually do? Jesus tells the blind man to “go your way.” From the moment he was healed, the blind man followed Jesus. This teaches us that Jesus never forces anyone to follow Him. He may give signs and miracles, but even then, His love is freely given and not forced upon us. We must, therefore, “take courage” and choose to respond to His invitation to follow Him.
Activity II
Have students complete the Healing of the Blind Man Spot the Differences activity.
Tell your students to compare the two versions of the painting Healing of the Blind Man by Carl Bloch and find 10 differences between the two images.
Have them circle the differences.
Activity I
Have students read the Gospel passage, or read it aloud to your students, and then answer the focus questions.
You may have students answer them on their own or you may discuss them together as a class.
Review and discuss the answers to the focus questions.
Focus Questions Answer Key
What did the blind man, Bartimaeus, do to get Jesus’ attention? He called out to Jesus “Son of David, have pity on me.”
Why do you think the crowd rebuked the blind man? They thought he was causing a disturbance, or they might have been annoyed with him. Also, maybe some thought that Jesus was too important to be bothered with the needs of a blind beggar man.
How did Jesus respond to the blind man? Jesus asked the blind beggar, “What do you want me to do for you?”
What miracle did Jesus perform and how did it occur? Jesus healed the bling beggar of his blindness by telling him that his faith had saved him.
What does Jesus invite the blind man to do at the end of this story? What does he actually do? Jesus tells the blind man, “go your way.” From the moment he was healed, the blind man followed Jesus. This teaches us that Jesus never forces anyone to follow Him. He may give signs and miracles, but even then, His love is freely given and not forced upon us. We must, therefore, “take courage” and choose to respond to His invitation to follow Him.
Activity II
Arrange your students into groups of three or four and have discuss the questions about the painting The Healing of the Blind Manby Carl Bloch.
Healing of the Blind Man by Carl Bloch Discussion Questions and Answer Key
What do you first notice about this work of art? Accept reasoned answers.
What do you like about this work of art? Accept reasoned answers.
How does this work of art make you feel? Accept reasoned answers.
How does this painting illustrate the Gospel story of Jesus healing the blind beggar Bartimaeus? This painting depicts the healing of the blind beggar, Bartimaeus, from this Sunday’s Gospel. Jesus and the blind beggar are in the center of the painting and Jesus is reaching his hand towards the blind beggar, whose arms open to receive the miraculous gift of healing from Jesus in faith. The crowd is concerned and taken aback by the scene.
What parts of the scene look dark? Which look bright? What does the artist’s use of dark and light in the painting suggest about this miracle? The blind beggar had lived in darkness because of his blindness. Jesus healed him and brought him into the light. In the painting, the light is overtaking the darkness and, one could imagine, in the next few seconds, the light will have moved onto the blind beggar himself, indicating that he has been healed.
Notice the man and child near the center of the painting. Then re-read the Gospel from October 7th: Mark 10:2-16.
What did Jesus teach about children?
What does the posture of the child in the painting suggest about what he wants to do?
How is the father responding to his child’s desire?
What do the man and child suggest about the people’s response to Jesus’ teaching?
How is the faith of the blind beggar in contrast to this response?
In the Gospel reading from October 7th, Jesus told the people to let the children come to him because the Kingdom of God belonged to ones such as them. He teaches that we must have a childlike faith to enter the Kingdom, trusting in God as a child trusts his or her parents. The man in the painting is holding the child back from Jesus, in complete contrast to Jesus’ teaching. It is clear that for many, they may hear Jesus’ words and teachings, but have not been affected by them. Sometimes it takes a different sort of encounter with Jesus to see the light. The blind man, on the other hand, had a simple faith. He believed that Jesus could heal him, and Jesus did.
7. Imagine that this painting were a movie. What do you think would happen in the next moment? Accept reasoned answers.
Activity III
Conclude by having students respond to the reflection question on the Take Courage handout.
