Blind Bartimaeus Healed

20 May 2018 Michael Cloete Malelane Baptist Church Blind Bartimaeus Healed Reading: Mark 10:46-52 “Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (that is, the Son of Timaeus), 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 to 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 along the road.” (Mark 10:46–52, NIV84) Introduction We come this morning to the final healing miracle of Jesus that is recorded for us in the book of Mark. This is the healing once again of a blind man, this man with the name Bartimaeus. You will recall the previous account of the healing of a blind man in Mark 8:22-26, where Christ healed the man that was brought to him by a group of people, and he was healed in two stages by Jesus. Here we find another account of the healing of a blind man, as this blind beggar sits on the side of the road, and longs for the healing touch of the Saviour. As we begin our look at this text this morning, let us begin by remembering that the disciples are going along with Jesus up to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. This is a long journey on foot, and all the Jews would make the effort to go up to Jerusalem – it was a regularly celebrated feast that had been commanded by God to be kept. But on this occasion, there is a good deal of concern and fear on the part of the disciples and others who were following Jesus, because they knew that the Sanhedrin (Jewish ruling council) were based in Jerusalem, and they would be looking out for Jesus, because they wanted to put him to death. There was thus fear. But Christ, as we saw in Mark 10:32, had set his face towards Jerusalem, and He was leading the way there, not in any way deterred or concerned. He had come to do the Father’s will, and the Father’s will was that He would go to Jerusalem, and that He would be crucified. And so upwards they go towards Jerusalem. In verse 46 of our text, we read firstly that… “… they came to Jericho.” Jericho lay some 25-30km to the East of Jerusalem, and at an elevation of approximately 260m below sea level in the Jordan Valley – the lowest city in the world. Jerusalem on the other hand was at an elevation of about 750m above sea level. And so Jesus and his disciples are now in this low valley, and about to make the 1000m ascent over the 30km journey on foot (something completely foreign to our minds!!). 1. His Wretched Condition (v.46-47) We then read in verse 46… “As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (that is, the Son of Timaeus), was sitting by the roadside begging.” This large is now moving out of Jericho. Jesus is there, and his disciples are following. Along with them is this large crowd other Jews (some who were perhaps followers of Christ, others who were not) who are also going up to Jerusalem in order to celebrate the Passover as God had commanded them. And so, they were all together making their way up on this pilgrimage. This was one of those exciting times in the Jewish calendar. You can imagine the excitement of the children as they make their way on this journey. This was an annual celebration time! It was a time of song and fellowship, and a time of great rejoicing together as a people, the Jews! Even for Jesus, in his history as a child, he would have enjoyed taking these long journeys to Jerusalem. This is something that he had done often as a child himself. In Luke 2:41, we read… “Every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover.” (Luke 2:41, NIV84) Jesus knew this journey well. And you will recall that in that account in Luke 2, on one occasion when Jesus was 12 years old, they left Jerusalem to travel home, and there was a great travelling group, and they thought that Jesus was part of that group, and he thus got left behind in Jerusalem. That just gives you a sense of the size of the crowd that would journey along together on this pilgrimages to Jerusalem. And yet, while Jesus knew these journeys very well, on this occasion in particular, his frame of mind, his perspective on the journey would have been completely different to those years as a child. He knew that this journey was different. He knew that all of those animal sacrifices, year after year, that he had witnessed with his own eyes in all those years in Jerusalem would now be culminated with a human sacrifice – that of his own body! He knew the suffering that lay ahead. We must not think that this journey was some easy and comfortable thing for him to do. He knew the price that He would pay. He knew that he would suffer. And as they now travelled on this road, he knew that the time was drawing closer! EXAMPLE – if you are getting ready for court… going to be convicted… know you’ve done something wrong… how do you feel as you get up in the morning and get yourself ready… Heaviness of heart… tension in your chest… thoughts racing through your mind… As we enter this story, we must have just a slight sense of the weight and burden Jesus was carrying…!!! But they continue on this road, and as they are leaving the city, a blind man, named Bartimaeus was sitting by the roadside begging! This man Bartimaeus was not only blind, but he was also poor. Charles Spurgeon, in preaching on this passage said this: This poor man was beset with two great evils—blindness and poverty. It is sad enough to be blind, but if a man that is blind is in possession of riches, there are ten thousand comforts which may help to cheer the darkness of his eye and alleviate the sadness of his heart. But to be both blind and poor, these were a combination of the sternest evils.1 Indeed, there can scarce be a sadder predicament in which to find oneself! We are not told how long this man was in this condition, or what the cause of his condition was. We’re not told why his family was failing to care for him. In all likelihood he had been in this condition for a very long time. What we are told is that he was sitting along the roadside, and in this case was looking to get sympathy and support from these large crowds of people who would be passing through on their way to Jerusalem. But as this large crowd of people moves along the way, heading towards Jerusalem, Bartimaeus receives word, perhaps through the buzz of the crowds around him, that Jesus of Nazareth is passing by and is in the crowd. These crowds were abuzz with the fact that Jesus was a part of those going up. Why? Because they were afraid of what may happen… Mark 10:32… “Those who followed were fearful…” And so the word is going around – Jesus is part of this group. And Bartimaeus hears of this! Suddenly, what to him would have been like any other ordinary day of begging for money, became a day of great expectation and hope. Suddenly, this man Bartimaeus, normally subdued and quiet, simply asking for money from passersby, had a blazing sense of urgency aroused within his soul at the news that Jesus was passing by. We read in verse 47… When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”” (Mark 10:46–47, NIV84) Here is Bartimaeus shouting at the top of this voice to Jesus!! It is little wonder that he is shouting! There is a massive crowd of people – and they weren’t all walking along in silence – they were doing what people do. They were talking, chatting. Babies crying. Siblings shouting and screaming at one another. This was the noise of a great crowd of people. And Bartimaeus must be heard by Jesus, and thus he shouts out!! But what is of great significance to note, is the name with which Bartimaeus addresses Jesus. Firstly, he hears that this is Jesus of Nazareth walking along the road. Not just any Jesus (which was a common name) but Jesus of Nazareth!! The little, unknown town of Nazareth, had become a place of great significance, because a Great Prophet and healer had come out of Nazareth. And Bartimaeus knew this! The word had spread even to him. Perhaps this man Bartimaeus had dreamed of one day seeing this Messiah that had come out of Nazareth. Most likely, he had heard that Jesus was the one who performed miracles. He was the one who healed people. He was the one that had power to do these works. But whereas other people who had infirmities were carried by their friends and loved ones to where Jesus was so that He could bring healing to them, Bartimaeus had no one to take him to Jesus, and he remained in his misery, probably longing for, and wishing that He could get into the presence of Jesus. It is no wonder then that when he hears that this is Jesus of Nazareth coming by, he cries out!! And so, he cries out to Jesus, and the top of his lungs: “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me…” The name which he attributes to Jesus is of great significance. He called Jesus by the Messianic title: Son of David. Through this title, Jesus is linked to the Old Testament promise by God given in the book of 2 Samuel, that he would send a mighty deliverer who would sit on the throne of David forever… In 2 Samuel 7:11-14, God sends Nathan the prophet to speak these words to David: “… The LORD also declares to you that the LORD will make a house for you. “When your days are complete and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come forth from you, and I will establish his kingdom. “He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. “I will be a father to him and he will be a son to Me; …” (2 Samuel 7:11–14, NASB95) Ever since the promise of 2 Sam 7:11–14 that God would raise up an offspring to David and “establish the throne of his kingdom forever,” pious Israelites had awaited a Davidic descendant as Messiah.2 While Bartimaeus may have been blind, he certainly didn’t lack insight into who precisely this man Jesus of Nazareth was! Bartimaeus recognised that here was not only the healer from Nazareth, but the Son of David – the one who would be a deliverer once and for all – his throne would be established forever. 2. His Added Difficulty, but Commendable Persistence With Bartimaeus having cried out to Jesus, we must notice further his added difficulty, and yet his commendable persistence. In verse 48, we read these words: “Many were sternly telling him to be quiet, but he kept crying out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”” (Mark 10:48, NASB95) For the first time in Mark the crowd (rather than Jesus) tries to silence someone. But the motive of the crowd is quite different from Jesus’ injunctions to silence: Jesus wants to prevent people from premature and false confessions, whereas the crowd wants to prevent people from coming to Jesus3 Out of the large crowd of people all around him, there are a great number who are in essence rebuking him because he dares to cry out. The man is seen as a nuisance – making a lot of noise. There is no care or compassion on the side of the crowds. They simply see this man as a distraction and an annoyance as they proceed along the road. Remember that this is a beggar! This is not a well-to-do member of society. This is a person who by his very position invited scorn from the average person in society. Now he was not only begging, but he was making a nuisance of himself. But as he’s faced with this criticism and opposition from the crowds around, when he is faced with confrontation, how is it that he responds? Does he simply give up? Does he resign himself to the pressures around him? Not at all! And the reason that he doesn’t do that is because he truly is desperate, and he truly has no hope outside of this man Christ. His heart and trust are fully placed in Christ. Thus he must persist. He recognises that! And so it is for the sinner who must cry out to Christ for mercy in sin. It doesn’t matter what the friend says in mockery of the sinner. It doesn’t matter if his family is opposed to him coming to faith in Christ. It doesn’t matter if all is lost. The recognition is there that Christ is the only hope! I must have Christ! Let people around me rage, my eyes must remain fixed on Him! For those who are believers in Christ, there is an ongoing need to keep this kind of trust in God. When we recognise that there are sinful patterns in our lives, and that there are areas of our lives that don’t measure up to the standard that God has for us, are we persistent in our pursuit of Christ? How do we deal with confrontation when seeking Christ’s working in our lives? When the pressures of life come, do we give up on our crying out, or do we cry out all the more? When we have this conflict of the two natures warring within us – the sinful nature of the flesh, sold into bondage to sin, and the spiritual nature, redeemed by Christ (Romans 7:14ff), how much effort to we put into the war against even our own sinful nature in our pursuit of loving Christ and living for Him?! “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6, NIV84) 4. His Great Blessing (v.49-52) As we continue this morning in our text, notice the Great Blessing that this man receives due to his persistent cries to Jesus. In verse 49, we read: “Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” While to us this may seem like something quite normal, especially coming from Christ, we shouldn’t rush too quickly over this. It’s easy to focus on someone else when you’re standing around bored, looking for something to do. It’s easy to focus on someone else when life is going well, and you’re upbeat and surrounded by good. But for Christ, this is anything but the case, as we’ve already considered. As Christ carries this burden of his impending suffering, and looks towards Jerusalem, it would have been easy, and even understandable, if Jesus merely continued on the road, undistracted. But Christ stops, continues to show the compassion and love that we’ve become so familiar with as we’ve worked through Mark’s Gospel. So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up [Take Courage]! On your feet! He’s calling you.”” (Mark 10:49, NIV84) Here are words of great comfort for the man. Be encouraged, dear Bartimaeus, Jesus is calling to you to come. “Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.” (Mark 10:50, NIV84) In a burst of excitement, this man who has precious little in life, throws aside his cloak which was used for the collection of money from those passing by, and he approaches Jesus in great anticipation. As he does this, he is met with a question from Jesus, which question may seem strange to us! Jesus asks him: “What do you want Me to do for you?” Why would Jesus ask the man this question? Doesn’t it seem rather obvious? Of course, in one sense it was obvious – the man is blind and would like to see. And besides that, Jesus would have known his needs without the man needing to state them. But Christ would have the man make his request known, that the man may himself consider and concentrate on that which he desired, so that he would be truly content and satisfied when the desire was met. Even for us, does God not know what we need before we even ask? In the account where Jesus tells his disciples to not be like the Pharisees who use meaningless repetition in their prayers, he makes the statement: “Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” (Matthew 6:8, NIV84) But he doesn’t end it there, and say therefore that there is no need to ask!! In fact, Christ goes on to explain to them how they should pray, and teaches them what we know today as the Lord’s Prayer, wherein requests are made. We too, when we have need, must bring those needs before our Father in heaven. But there’s another important aspect that we should consider from this question from Christ. The request that would proceed from Bartimaeus would demonstrate what is in this man’s heart. What was his desire? Was it riches? Was it wealth? Was it power or prestige? Recall that just last week we saw the disciples, James and John, asking Jesus for those positions on his right and his left hand in his kingdom. When we go to Jesus it should be for that which we have need of. “You have not because you ask not.” “You have not because you ask amiss.” The reply then comes from Bartimaeus: “Rabboni, I want to regain my sight!.” His greatest desire was that he might see. This man needed many things, but he felt his greatest need was sight. And the beautiful words from Jesus, to a man who just moments before was a blind beggar sitting on the side of the road, as he had done for years and years: “Go; your faith has made you well.” Immediately he regained his sight The cure was immediate. Stop and think a moment here. In an instant, a radical transformation takes place in the man’s life. Suddenly, all around him, what just seconds previously was just the noise of scores of people is filled with colour and shape and detail. This man’s life was forever transformed. As we who were spiritually blind came to Jesus, seeking forgiveness of our sins, pleading that our blind eyes would be open, is this the kind of transformation we experienced? 2 Corinthians 5:17… “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17, NASB95) Have your spiritual eyes been opened to the wonderful grace of God? Bartimaeus had his eyes opened by Jesus, and the transformation was radical, but notice what it is which expresses his gratitude towards Christ for the word done in him. Jesus had said after healing him, “Go thy way.” But instead of going any place else, the Scriptures tell us that he followed Jesus. The man could have gone anywhere, but he chose instead to follow after Jesus Christ. His gratitude led to following Christ. Those in whom God has done a work of grace will desire to follow Jesus. One of the proofs of salvation is that we follow our Lord. Those who truly believe he has taken our place beneath the judgment of God and suffered for us on Calvary’s tree, how can we turn away and not follow him? But the man Bartimaeus didn’t merely follow Jesus, but he followed Jesus, glorifying God. Luke 18:43 And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God. Salvation should and does produce within the individual a desire (and indeed an overflowing sense of the need) to praise and worship God. When we realize the almighty creator was willing to suffer and die in our place can we walk away without expressing our gratitude? “I shall give thanks to You, for You have answered me, And You have become my salvation.” (Psalm 118:21, NASB95) “Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden, The God who is our salvation. Selah.” (Psalm 68:19, NASB95) “O come, let us sing for joy to the Lord, Let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation.” (Psalm 95:1, NASB95) “Sing to the Lord, bless His name; Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day.” (Psalm 96:2, NASB95) But note also that Bartimaeus was an influence to others: He not only glorified God but those that knew him gave glory to God. No man is an island, our lives touch others, our children, our friends, and relatives. Things that happen in each of our lives will make an impression on those around us. What kind of impact is your life having on those around you? Does your life speak volumes to others of your conversion, of the salvation that has been brought to you by Christ? Is your life so overflowing with thanksgiving and joy, that those around you see that you have been delivered from darkness, and that you can now see? Applications As we begin to draw to a close, I’d like us to draw some points of application. I have already brought in some of this through our study this morning, but let us take this a step further. 1. Healing Doesn’t Come Easily Firstly, let us recognize that healing does not always come easily for those whom Jesus heals. Before Bartimaeus receives healing from Jesus, he must overcome the crowd’s determination to throttle his cries for help. He persists in calling out Jesus’ name until he hears Jesus call out his own name. We have seen this dogged determination in the stories of other healings in the Gospel. The Syrophoenician woman will not give up hope that Jesus will heal her daughter even though she is not a Jew and Jesus initially rebuffs her (7:24–30). Jairus must ignore the mockery of the mourners that Jesus can do nothing for his dead child (5:35–43). Friends must force their way through a crowd and a roof to bring their paralyzed companion to Jesus (2:1–12). The leper and the woman with the flow of blood must disregard laws that forbid them from having contact with Jesus to receive his help (1:40–45; 5:25–34). A desperate father must overcome his doubt that Jesus can do anything to help his tormented son when the disciples have already failed (9:14–29). Healing comes to those who are persistent and are not quickly discouraged by whatever hurdles others may place in their way. How many want to see so desperately that they will ignore the put-downs of the crowd to secure that vision? How many here this morning want so desperately to know Jesus, that you will not rest until you have come to truly experience and drink deeply of his grace. When Jacob was going to cross over the Jabbok river in Genesis 32, he wrestled with God, and sought God’s blessing. Are you persisiting in your pursuit of knowing God? Or has it all become a little too overwhelming? Or perhaps just not worth the effort? All this pursuing God, pursuing a righteous life, it’s just so much hard work! Do not tire dear friends! Do not grow weary! Pursue God and Christ, and seek to work out your faith day by day, seeking him. The rewards are far greater than you could ever imagine!!! 2. Asking for Right Things Secondly, let us recognize that we must ask for the right things! One must be intentional in coming to Jesus for relief. Bartimaeus does not simply want to meet the famous prophet from Nazareth in some misty-eyed emotionalism. He cries out specifically to Jesus because he believes that he will have mercy on him and can give him his sight. Jesus’ question, “What do you want me to do for you?” might seem dense since the plight of this blind man is obvious. But this query makes perfect sense in the context of Mark 10, where what other characters wanted provides a marked contrast. The Pharisees wanted to outsmart him and trap him (10:2). The rich man wanted eternal security at minimum cost (10:17). James and John wanted to be the top officials in the kingdom bureaucracy (10:35–36). A blind beggar might want only money, but Bartimaeus wants to see again. “What do you want me to do for you?” is the most important question God ever asks us, and the one to which we most frequently give the wrong answer. We ask for all the wrong things in life. One can think of many examples, but Mark provides two notable ones. Herod asks his dancing step-daughter essentially the same question, “Ask me for anything you want” (6:22). Her answer: “The head of John the Baptist.” Pilate asks the crowd the same question (15:9, 12). Their answer: “Barabbas” and “Crucify him!” Our answer to this question will reveal whether we want death or life, whether we want to be healed from our blindness or selfishly want to use God to do our bidding and fulfill our own desires. 3. His Gratitude Thirdly and finally, faith in Christ must lead us to action. After being healed, Bartimaeus moves into action. Mark initially describes the blind man as “sitting by the roadside [way].” But after he is called to Jesus, he jumps up and comes to Christ, and once healed, he follows Christ along the way. As Christians, we cannot allow ourselves or be content to sit on the sidelines as spectators while others lay their lives on the line. If Christ has called you to be a disciple, then he has called you to make disciples. If he has called you to be a disciple, then he has called you to encourage other disciples along the way. Friends, if you have been called by Christ, then you have work to do!! That work involves engaging with and serving other disciples. Perhaps you don’t like to hear those words. We’re living in a very individualistic and autonomous society, where we like to do whatever we feel like doing, not what someone else is going to tell us to do. That is idolatry – worshipping the god of self. We are not called to do what we feel like doing. We’re called to do what God has commanded us to do. “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:19–20, NASB95) Are you glorifying God in your body? Have you offered your life in service to the Lord? This is the calling of discipleship, to serve one another in the body so that this body, the church may be built up. In this light, I close by reading the words of Paul to the Romans in Romans 15:1-7… “Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves. Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his edification. For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me.” For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God.” (Romans 15:1–7, NASB95)