Blind Faith
Notes
Transcript
Bartimaeus
Harmony of the Gospels
Matthew mentions two blind men sitting by the road. Mark focuses on one, Bartimaeus. He may have been more vocal than the other
Mark and Luke show that they were blind beggars. This must have been common, if you were blind in those days they did not accommodate so you begged
Mark 10
Location
Mark 8:27 - villages of Caesarea Philipi
Mark 9:2 - Mount of Transfiguration (high mountain)
Mark 9:9 - Jesus, James and John came down from the high mountain and told them not to tell anyone what they saw until the Son of Man rose from the dead
Mark 9:14 - when they came back to the disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and some scribes were arguing with them
9:30 - after Jesus healed the demon-possessed boy they secretly went through Galilee (north of Caesarea)
9:33 - they came to Capernaum, Galilee
10:1 - He went from there to the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan. Travelling south to Judea, beyond the Jordan could mean to the east? Dessert?
10:17 - “as He was setting out on a journey” this woud have been a long journey (94 miles, 34 hour walk)
10:32 - they were on the road going up to Jerusalem (south of Jericho in Judea)
10:46- then they came to Jericho, back up north and a bit east toward Jordan and the Dead Sea
17 mile northeast of Jerusalem, after its destruction by Joshua it was rebuilt in the days of Ahab (Harmony of the Gospels)
By this time they had a large crowd following and they met Bartimaeus and the other in Jericho as they were leaving. He was sitting by the road.
V46
Jesus was walking with His disciples and a large crowd. How large was the crowd?
The crowd was large because people wanted to be healed and hear his teaching “gathered around him again and according to his custom, He once more began to teach them” (10:1)
Large enough for Bartimaeus to hear the crowd going by (Luke 18:36). It says he began to inquire what this was. They told him it was Jesus of Nazareth. Then he started to clal out “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
Who was Bartimaeus?
V47
The 2 blind men cried out, many were telling him to be quiet
Matt 20:31 “The crowd sternly told them to be quiet, but they cried out all the more.”
These men were persistent, they wouldn’t let Jesus go by without noticing them
V48
Why were people telling the blind beggar to be quiet?
They cared about their needs over his
He was annoying
He was persistent
Bartimaeus is a great example of prayer “he kept crying out all the more”
Bartimeaus knew who Jesus was
How?
He knew He was the Son of David
A title that possibly revealed he thought Jesus was the Messiah
Vs 49
Jesus stopped walking and called for him.
When Jesus calls, you answer
Who can resist His call?
The crowd suddenly became compassionate and encouraging
He is calling for you!
Bartimaeus wasn’t the only person Jesus was calling on that road. He was calling for everyone in the crowd. He is calling for you.
Vs 50
The blind man threw aside his cloak, he had no need of it. He was eager, in a hurry. He was coming to Jesus just as he was.
What would he have been wearing, what would he have looked like?
It seems he had no one to care for him since he was begging beside the road
Jesus does not care about the outside but rather looks at the heart
He came to Jesus. Should we too not come to Jesus?
Vs 51
Jesus asked B a question. He knew the answer, but hte question was for Bartimaeus and the onlooking crowd
What do you want me to do for you?
Just ask!
The blind man called Him Rabboni “teacher”, a respectful but ignorant greeting. He was talking to the teacher of all teachers.
“I want to regain my sight”
Regain? This may mean he had once had his sight and lost it. How tragic! His blind friend was in the same boat (Matt 20:34)
Vs 52
Matt 20:33 said Jesus was “moved with compassion”
He cares for the weak! He is a good and kind Father
Matt 20:33 says He touched their eyes and immediately they regained their sight
Did He have to touch their eyes? Gen 1 says He spoke and the earth was created. Other miracles show that He can speak and make things happen, but here He touched their eyes showing that power was coming from His hands
Mark 10:52 He began following Him on the road
Not later. He didn’t go home and burry his father
The blind man followed Jesus right then and there.
Mark 10:46–52 (NASB95)
The Blind Beggar
46 Then they *came to Jericho. And as He was leaving Jericho with His disciples and a large crowd, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the road.
The Desperate Plea
47 When he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
48 Many were sternly telling him to be quiet, but he kept crying out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
The Merciful Reply
49 And Jesus stopped and said, “Call him here.” So they *called the blind man, saying to him, “Take courage, stand up! He is calling for you.”
50 Throwing aside his cloak, he jumped up and came to Jesus.
The Faithful Request
51 And answering him, Jesus said, “What do you want Me to do for you?” And the blind man said to Him, “Rabboni, I want to regain my sight!”
The Miraculous Answer
52 And Jesus said to him, “Go; your faith has made you well.” Immediately he regained his sight and began following Him on the road.