The Life of Christ in the Synoptic Gospels
BLIND BARTIMAEUS
The Life of Christ in the Synoptic Gospels
BLIND BARTIMAEUS
Lesson Plan:
1. Blind Bartimaeus (v 46)
2. Jesus of Nazareth Passeth By (vs 47-51)
3. The Complete Cure (v 52)
4. Opening the Eyes of the Spiritually Blind
Lesson Setting:
Time: The last of March, A.D. 30; not long after the last lesson
Place: Jericho, 15 or 20 miles northeast of Jerusalem, in the valley of the Jordan, 5 miles west of
the river.
Research and Discussion: Reconcile Mark and Luke as to the number of blind men cured at this time. The cures of blind men by Jesus. Character sketch of Bartimaeus. The perseverance of Bartimaeus. Why did he call Jesus the son of David? How faith made him whole. Why Jesus required faith of those He cured. Spiritual blindness. How cured.
Scripture Reading: Mark 10:46
1. Blind Bartimaeus
“And they came to Jericho” (v 46). A very ancient city, the first city conquered by the Israelites entering Palestine. In the days of our Lord, Jericho was an important city embellished by Herod the Great. It was a city of great wealth and remarkable beauty, with many merchants, priests, palm and fruit trees. “Beautiful country stretches around the city, sprinkled thickly over with palm trees, which flourish so luxuriantly that they have gained for the town the name of ‘the city of palm trees’” (Josephus, Wars of the Jews).
v 46 ... “As He went out of Jericho.” Luke says, “as He came nigh unto Jericho,” meaning “while He was in the vicinity of Jericho.”
v 46 ... “Blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging,” while the crowds, including Jesus and His disciples, passed by. Matthew says that there were two blind men. But there is no contradiction between the two accounts. Mark and Luke select the most prominent one for their story, and simply say nothing about the others. “Why, whenever you enter any city or any village in the East, you are likely to find one blind man on one side of the way, and two blind men on the other side of the way, and all three of them are sure to call on you for help” (Henry C. Trumbull, Studies in Oriental Life).
Illustration: In 1824, Lafayette visited the United States. He was welcomed with honors and pageants. A few historians described the visit as “a noble incident in his life.” Others related the same visit by mentioning that his son came with him. Does this represent a contradiction? Are not both recording truth?
Scripture Reading: Mark 10:47-51
2. Jesus of Nazareth Passeth By
Persistence of faith against obstacles: “And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth” (v 47). He first heard the tramping and the voices of the great throng pressing forward in the narrow streets, and then he inquired what it all meant (Luke), and they told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. He knew about Jesus, and His wonderful cures. Other blind men had received sight, others in trouble had been helped. The Son of David represented his only hope. Imagine the possible situation: a shrill cry rises above the noise and bustle of the crowd. Again and again the earnest, “Son of David, have mercy upon me!” interrupts people. The eager, surging crowd, desiring only to press onwards, with the tyranny of mob rule, and the impatience of selfishness, try to stop the importunate man. Shall a poor old blind beggar obstruct this crowd of eager men?
v 48 ... “And many rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried out the more a great deal. Thou Son of David have mercy on me.” It was life or death with him.
v 49 ... “And Jesus stood still.” The crowd stood still. “Call ye him.” They say to the blind man “Be of good cheer: rise, He calleth thee.”
v 50 ... “And He, casting away His garment” (that might have delayed him) “sprang up and came to Jesus.”
v 51 ... “What wilt thou that I should do unto thee,” must have sounded to the blind man like a voice from God.
v 51 ... “Rabboni,” the highest title of courtesy and honor he knew ... “that I might receive my sight.”
Scripture Reading: Mark 10:52
3. The Complete Cure
(A) “Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole” (v 52), that is, a complete physical man, having all his faculties in use; for “immediately he received his sight.” But he received more than this, for he was made whole in spirit, in the completeness of both body and soul. Blind Bartimaeus at the gates Of Jericho, in darkness waits; He hears the crowd; – he hears a breath Say, ‘It is Christ of Nazareth!’ And calls in tones of agony, ‘Jesus, mercy have on me!’
“The thronging multitudes increase; Blind Bartimaeus hold thy peace! But still, above the noisy crowd, The beggar’s cry is shrill and loud; Until they say, ‘He calleth thee!’ Courage, rise, he calleth thee! Then saith the Christ, as silent stands The crowd, ‘What wilt thou at my hands?’ And he replied, ‘Oh, give me light! Rabbi, restore the blind man’s sight!’ And Jesus answers, ‘Go! and see! This faith of thine hath saved thee!’ Ye that have eyes, yet cannot see, In darkness and in misery, Recall those mighty voices three: ‘Jesus, mercy have on me!’ Courage, rise, he calleth thee! ‘This faith of thine hath saved thee!” (Longfellow).
Jesus required faith because the healing cures thus acquired a manifold value. Physical healing was a small blessing compared to spiritual healing. What a man sees gives value to sight. The blind man became a new being, with new experiences, wider visions, larger opportunities. Also the difficulties in the blind man’s way were essential forces, giving value to his cure. Every cause needs opposition, difficulties, to give it its fullest success. It awakens every faculty to new life and new zeal. Resistance made the church, bound it together, developed its power and resources, inspired heroism and faith. Bartimaeus had to overcome difficulties inherent in his blindness, i.e., inability to see Jesus, opposition of the multitude, Jesus’ delay, poverty and rags, and inactivity induced by his life. He even threw out his outer garment as a hindrance. Overcoming all this increased his faith.
(B) When Bartimaeus was cured, he immediately followed Jesus. He believed in Him. He wanted to learn the Master’s truths and methods of service, the best way to express grateful love and appreciation to our Lord. Illustration: A young doctor by the name of Brown with the brightest prospects for a successful career as a physician, without warning was stricken with blindness. But he rose triumphant over his disappointment, and prayed; ‘O God, I consecrate my talent of blindness to Thee.’ The gift was received. He, through his limitation of blindness, worked out the alphabet for the blind. This is one way of changing blindness into a blessing. It is wonderful what great things have been accomplished by blind men and women.
(C) Bartimaeus glorified God (Luke).
(D) The effect on the people? They gave praise to God (Luke). “Praising God ...” is twice repeated in this single verse; and, as these are the inspired author’s words, it is clear that Luke intended to identify Jesus as one with Almighty God. This is one of the theological overtones of the passage that justifies the comment that ‘such overtones were more commonly associated with John’s gospel.’ Thus, as A.T. Robertson affirmed, “The Christ of Paul and John is in the synoptic gospels. In all essentials, the picture is the same in Luke as in John.”
4. Opening the Eyes of the Spiritually Blind
We are all blind in some ways to what we should see. Each of us needs to follow the example of Bartimaeus. Jesus Christ is passing by. The Light of the World is within our reach. There are so many good and true spiritual things we have never seen in their fullness of blessing. If we truly understood that truth, we would be crying out with all our might, “Thou Son of David, have mercy on me: Lord that I may receive my sight!” There is almost no limit to the spiritual applications of the story of Bartimaeus. There is much blindness today to spiritual realities and experience. No doubt many do not desire Christianity simply because they cannot see the beauty, blessedness, and privilege of the Christian life.
Illustration: A little boy was born blind. At last an operation was performed. Day after day, his eyes were slowly offered light. One day, for the first time he clearly saw the sky and earth, “O! Mother!” he cried, “Why didn’t you tell me it was so beautiful?” She burst into tears and said, “I tried to tell you, dear, but you could not understand me.” This is the experience of some Christians who try to tell others the blessings of the Christian life.
People are sometimes so absorbed in pleasure, business, making money, that they do not see the value or the need of the higher life of service of God and man. We need to open our eyes to the attractions of God’s Holy Word, the Bible. Years ago, Senator Albert J. Beveridge wrote an inspiring book, ‘The Bible as Good Reading.’ It begins in a camp in the woods: “I wish I had something to read,” he said. “Well, what’s the matter with the magazines?” promptly replied the other one. “I have read them all.” “Well, let me read you something out of the Bible.” “The Bible?” was the reply. “No! No! I want some good reading.” But there was no other reading, so they read the Bible that evening. “Why, I never knew those things were in the Bible. How did you ever get on to them?” The man answered, “Many years ago in a logging camp there happened to be nothing to read, and I just had to read. I had read everything – that is to say, I had read everything but the Bible. And I did not want to read that. I had read it over and over again in church and in my own home, and always with that monotonous non-intelligence, that utter lack of human understanding that makes all the men and women of the Bible, as ordinarily interpreted to us, putty-like characters, without any human attribute. But there was nothing else to read. So I was forced to read the Bible, and I instantly became fascinated with it.” If as students of God’s Holy Word we thoroughly study our lessons; if we read and dwell on choice passages; let good help shine on them, we will find the Bible wonderfully attractive and our eyes will be opened to see what we never saw before. We need our eyes opened: to see the signs of the times; to see the consequences of our conduct; to see opportunities of doing good and helping others; to see God Himself; to see ourselves as others see us; to see truth as it really is.
Illustration: Missionaries occasionally point out how Christian tourists visit mission areas seeing neither the missionaries nor their work, because they do not look in the right places at the right time. A person can look at a schoolhouse after school hours and easily declare from observation that while there are plenty of schoolhouses, no one goes to school. To see things as Jesus taught we first must open our eyes.
