Jesus' Relationships with People Disregarded by Society (AQA GCSE Religious Studies A): Flashcards
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- FrontThe Man with Leprosy
Why were people with leprosy treated as outcasts in the first century?
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Cards in this collection (73)
Why were people with leprosy treated as outcasts in the first century?
Illness was believed to be caused by sin, and touching a leper was thought to make you spiritually 'unclean' — lepers had to live apart in colonies.
What does the Book of Leviticus instruct about lepers?
'They must live alone' (Leviticus 13:46) — keeping 50 paces from others and unable to participate in worship.
How did the man with leprosy show his faith?
He knelt before Jesus (careful not to touch him) and said, 'If you choose, you can make me clean.'
What was shocking about how Jesus healed the man?
He touched the leper — making himself ritually 'unclean' — saying 'I do choose. Be made clean!', showing compassion over ritual law.
What did Jesus tell the healed man to do?
Go and show himself to the priest and make the offering Moses commanded — only a priest could declare someone free of leprosy — and to keep it secret (the Messianic Secret).
What did the man do instead of keeping quiet?
He told everyone about the healing, so that Jesus could no longer enter towns openly and people came to him 'from every quarter'.
What commitment did Jesus make early in his ministry through this healing?
To combat misconceptions, reach out to the sick, and show love and compassion, setting an example that outcasts could be treated with love.
What message does this healing hold for Christians today?
That God loves them and will reach out in times of need, and that they should follow Jesus's example and reach out to the sick and in need.
Which Christian organisation supports people with leprosy today?
The Leprosy Mission — providing healthcare, education, sanitation, water and housing, and working to change attitudes and remove stigma.
Jesus was 'moved with ______' when he stretched out his hand and touched the leper.
Jesus was 'moved with pity' when he stretched out his hand and touched the leper.
Give a more recent example of people cast out from society due to illness.
The treatment of HIV/AIDS patients in the 1980s and 90s, who faced discrimination — organisations like Christian Aid worked to tackle prejudice and support them.
How quickly was the man healed?
Immediately — 'the leprosy left him, and he was made clean'.
True or False?
Jesus agreed with the law that separated lepers from society as 'unclean'.
False.
Jesus did not like that the law separated someone from society because they were 'unclean', and reached out to them.
Why were tax collectors hated in Palestine at the time of Jesus?
They collected unpopular Roman taxes, were renowned for being dishonest and greedy (taking extra for themselves), and were regarded as unclean.
What two types of tax did Jews pay?
Temple tax (upkeep of the Temple) and Roman taxes (collected by the tax collectors).
How did Jesus call Levi, and how did Levi respond?
Jesus said 'Follow me'; Levi immediately got up from his tax booth and followed him.
Why was Jesus eating at Levi's house significant?
It was a sign of approval — Jesus was happy to associate and socialise with Levi and his friends, including other tax collectors.
Why were the Pharisees unhappy with Jesus?
They were teachers concerned with keeping every detail of the law, and were unhappy he was eating with 'tax collectors and sinners'.
How did Jesus reply to the Pharisees' criticism?
'Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I have come to call not the righteous but sinners' (Mark 2:17).
What example did Jesus set by calling Levi?
Compassion and help over judgement — reaching out to outcasts so they could hear his message, become disciples and enter the Kingdom of God.
How do Christians today follow the example of the call of Levi?
By working with people on the fringes of society — e.g. churches and The Salvation Army helping the homeless and those in food poverty.
Jesus called Levi with the words '______ ______' — the same call he gave the first disciples.
Jesus called Levi with the words 'Follow me' — the same call he gave the first disciples.
What was Levi's job when Jesus called him?
He was a tax collector, sitting at the tax booth (Levi son of Alphaeus).
What does the call of Levi teach Christians about who can be a disciple?
That discipleship is open to all — even those others reject; Christians should welcome and include people others might reject.
True or False?
People would have expected a tax collector to become a disciple of Jesus.
False.
No one would have expected a hated tax collector to become a disciple — which is why Jesus's call was so striking.
Who was the Greek woman, and what did she ask Jesus?
A non-Jewish (Gentile) woman of Syrophoenician origin — she begged Jesus to cast the demon out of her daughter.
What did Jesus mean by 'the children' and 'the dogs' in his reply?
'The children' meant the Jews (fed first with his teaching); 'the dogs' meant the Gentiles — reflecting his first mission being to the Jews.
What was the woman's witty reply?
'Sir, even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs' — accepting his point but insisting she was still entitled to help.
Why did Jesus heal the woman's daughter?
For her quick-witted response and her faith in his power — he told her the demon had left her daughter.
Define distance healing.
Jesus healing the woman's daughter instantly and completely without ever meeting her — the only example of distance healing in Mark's Gospel.
What does the healing of a Gentile show?
The authority of Jesus and that the Kingdom of God is open to everyone, not just Jews — people should not be discriminated against for race or religion.
Define discrimination.
Treating people differently, and often negatively, because of prejudices about their characteristics (e.g. race, religion, gender, sexual orientation).
What is the message of this healing for Christians today?
To follow Jesus's example and avoid and challenge all forms of discrimination in society.
How did the early Church follow Jesus's example here?
It spread the good news to all people, both Jews and Gentiles — St Paul wrote 'there is no longer Jew or Greek... for all of you are one in Christ Jesus' (Galatians 3:28).
The healing of a Gentile shows the Kingdom of God is open to ______, not just Jews.
The healing of a Gentile shows the Kingdom of God is open to everyone, not just Jews.
What was the result of the early Church spreading the message to all people?
Christianity became a truly worldwide religion.
True or False?
Jesus met the woman's daughter in person before healing her.
False.
He healed her at a distance, without ever meeting her — the only such example in Mark's Gospel.
What was believed to be wrong with the boy, and how is it understood today?
He was thought to be possessed by a demon/evil spirit; with modern knowledge, most think the boy had epilepsy.
What had the disciples failed to do?
They had tried and failed to heal the boy by casting out the spirit.
What did Jesus call the people, and what did he say the cure required?
A 'faithless generation' — telling the father his son could be cured if he showed faith.
What did the boy's father say, and what did it mean?
'I believe; help my unbelief' — admitting he had faith but needed help to overcome his moments of doubt.
What did Jesus tell the disciples about why they had failed?
'This kind can come out only through prayer' — prayer was an essential part of the healing.
Define prayer.
Communication with God — essential to Jews, to Jesus (e.g. in Gethsemane), and central to the healing of the boy.
How is the link between prayer and healing seen in churches today?
Through 'healing services', the 'laying on of hands', and pilgrimage sites such as Lourdes in France associated with healing.
What did this miracle teach Christians about prayer and faith?
That prayer is necessary for spiritual strength and can strengthen faith — helping people overcome doubt and increase trust in God.
What did Jesus say to the father who doubted his ability?
'If you are able! — All things can be done for the one who believes.'
Jesus told the disciples that this kind of spirit can come out only through ______.
Jesus told the disciples that this kind of spirit can come out only through prayer.
What did Jesus do to heal the boy?
He rebuked the unclean spirit, commanding it to come out and never return; after convulsions it left, and Jesus lifted the boy up.
True or False?
The boy's father claimed to have complete, unwavering faith.
False.
He admitted he had faith but also doubt — 'I believe; help my unbelief'.
Why was the Temple in Jerusalem so important to Jews?
It was the centre of Jewish worship and the most important building in the world; built by King Solomon to house the Ark of the Covenant, Jews believed God resided there.
What did Jesus observe at the Temple treasury?
Many rich people put in large sums, then a poor widow put in two small copper coins, worth a penny.
What did Jesus teach about the widow's gift?
That she had put in more than all the others — they gave 'out of their abundance', but 'she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on'.
Why did Jesus praise the widow rather than the rich?
For her faith and commitment — she gave all she had out of love for God, not to be noticed.
How does the widow contrast with the rich young man?
The widow gave everything, while the rich young man went away sad because he could not give up his wealth.
What is the message of this event for Christians today?
To be generous and go beyond spare change — to make sacrifices to help others; what matters is not how much you give but how much sacrifice it takes.
How does the widow's sacrifice parallel Jesus?
Just as she sacrificed all she had to live on, Jesus was prepared to sacrifice his life to save humanity from sin.
The poor widow put in ______ small copper coins, worth a penny.
The poor widow put in two small copper coins, worth a penny.
Whose faith and commitment does the widow's giving resemble?
That of the disciples, who gave up everything to follow Jesus.
What was it customary for visitors to the Temple to do?
To make an offering when they visited — the Temple was a place of great wealth from such gifts.
What example does Jesus set by singling out the widow?
Reaching out to those disregarded by society — praising the poor widow rather than the noticeable rich donors.
True or False?
Jesus said the widow gave less than the rich because her coins were worth so little.
False.
Jesus said she gave more than all of them — because she gave everything she had to live on.
Where was Jesus, and what did the woman do?
At Simon the leper's house in Bethany — a woman anointed Jesus with an expensive alabaster jar of nard (perfumed oil), pouring it on his head.
Why was anointing with oil so symbolic?
Kings were anointed at coronation, it was a sign of blessing at religious ceremonies, part of burial rites, and the Messiah was the 'anointed one'.
Why did some people criticise the woman?
They said the oil was wasted — it could have been sold for over 300 denarii and given to the poor — and criticised her for touching Jesus.
How did Jesus defend the woman?
He said she had done a 'good service', anointing his body beforehand for its burial — the critics had focused on the oil's worldly value, not the symbolism.
What did Jesus say would happen because of the woman's act?
'wherever the good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her'.
Define universalism.
The belief that the message of the gospel is for everyone and the Kingdom of God is open to all — no one should be excluded.
What is the key message of the anointing at Bethany for Christians today?
To 'do what they can' to meet the needs of others, whatever their situation — the gospel is for everyone.
Which disregarded groups did Jesus show universalism towards?
People with leprosy, tax collectors, Gentiles, people with evil spirits (epilepsy), widows, the poor and women.
Jesus praised the woman because 'she has done what she ______'.
Jesus praised the woman because 'she has done what she could'.
What had the woman understood that the critics had not?
That Jesus was going to die — she had anointed him in preparation for his death, grasping the deeper symbolism.
What did Jesus say about the poor in his defence of the woman?
'you always have the poor with you, and you can show kindness to them whenever you wish; but you will not always have me'.
True or False?
Jesus agreed that the woman had wasted the expensive oil.
False.
Jesus defended her, praising her insight in anointing him for burial — the critics had missed the symbolism.
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