Key Theme: Sanctification by Faith
[Core Gospel Concepts: Sanctification, Nature of Faith, Sin]
Naaman, the commander of the king’s army, was a very great man in Syria. He was a brave soldier and had all that a man could want – power, fame, and riches. But he also had a terrible skin disease for which there was no cure.
On one of their raids into Israel, the Syrian army captured a little Israelite girl who became a servant to Naaman’s wife. When she saw Naaman’s problem, she said to his wife, “If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his disease."
When Naaman told his king what the girl had said, he encouraged him to go to Israel. And the king of Syria sent with him a letter for the king of Israel, along with lots of gold, silver, and fine clothes. When the king of Israel heard Naaman’s request to be healed, he was afraid and didn’t know what to do because he feared the Syrians, and he knew he could not cure his disease. But when Elisha the man of God heard about this, he sent a message saying, “Have the man come to me and he will know that there is a prophet in Israel."
So Naaman went with his horses and chariots and stopped at the door of Elisha's house. Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, "Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan River, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed." But Naaman went away angry. He was insulted because he expected the prophet to come out and perform a dramatic healing with his hand. He said, “We have much cleaner rivers in my own country. Couldn't I wash in them and be cleansed?" So he went off in a rage.
But Naaman's servants went to him and said, "My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? Why not do this simple thing?" So Naaman went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as Elisha had said, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy.
Then Naaman and all his attendants went back to the man of God. He stood before him and said, "Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel.
Optional Memory Verse: Psalm 20:7: “Some trust in chariots, some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.”
As Jesus and his disciples passed along a road outside of Jericho, they were followed by a large crowd. While they were walking, they passed a blind man, Bartimaeus, who was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"
Jesus stopped and said, "Call him." So they called the blind man, "Cheer up! On your feet! He's calling you." Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus. "What do you want me to do for you?" Jesus asked him. The blind man said, "Rabbi, I want to see." "Go," said Jesus, "your faith has healed you." Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God.