Luke 18:31-43
Jesus Speaks a Third Time About His Coming Death
Jesus took the 12 disciples to one side. He told them, “We are going up to Jerusalem. Everything that the prophets wrote about the Son of Man will come true. He will be handed over to the Gentiles. They will make fun of him. They will laugh at him and spit on him. They will whip him and kill him. On the third day, he will rise from the dead!”
The disciples did not understand any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them. So they didn’t know what Jesus was talking about.
A Blind Beggar Receives His Sight
Jesus was approaching Jericho. A blind man was sitting by the side of the road begging. The blind man heard the crowd going by. He asked what was happening. They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.”
So the blind man called out, “Jesus! Son of David! Have mercy on me!”
Those who led the way commanded him to stop. They told him to be quiet. But he shouted even louder, “Son of David! Have mercy on me!”
Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When the man came near, Jesus spoke to him. “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked.
“Lord, I want to be able to see,” the blind man replied.
Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight. Your faith has healed you.” Right away he could see. He followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God.
Luke 19:1-10
Zacchaeus the Tax Collector
Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. A man named Zacchaeus lived there. He was a chief tax collector and was very rich. Zacchaeus wanted to see who Jesus was. But he was a short man. He could not see Jesus because of the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree. He wanted to see Jesus, who was coming that way.
Jesus reached the spot where Zacchaeus was. He looked up and said, “Zacchaeus, come down at once. I must stay at your house today.” So Zacchaeus came down at once and welcomed him gladly.
All the people saw this. They began to whisper among themselves. They said, “Jesus has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”
But Zacchaeus stood up. He said, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of what I own to those who are poor. And if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay it back. I will pay back four times the amount I took.”
Jesus said to Zacchaeus, “Today salvation has come to your house. You are a member of Abraham’s family line. The Son of Man came to look for the lost and save them.”
