Then it happened, as He was coming near Jericho, that a certain blind man [*blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, one of *two blind men] sat by the road begging. And hearing a multitude passing by, he asked what it meant. So they told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. And he cried out, saying, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” (Luke 18:35-38; *Mark 10:46-47; *Matthew 20:29-30)
Luke and Mark write specifically about one of the two blind men, Bartimeaus, maybe because they knew him personally, since they also identify him as the son of Timaeus. Not that the other person wasn't worth referencing, but we also usually give more detail about who or what we know, which is probably the case here. (read "Did Jesus heal two blind men or one blind man?") We will focus on Bartimeaus also. He had a need, and just like so many of the people Jesus had healed before, this man believed based on what he had heard about Jesus, that Jesus could help him, so he cried out. Then those who went before warned him that he should be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be brought to Him. (Luke 18:39-40; Mark 10:48-49; Matthew 20:31) Then they called the blind man, saying to him, “Be of good cheer. Rise, He is calling you.” And throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus. (Mark 10:49-50)
Two things we need to learn and immitate from Bartimeaus:
1. He didn't give up but kept calling on Jesus until He answered. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. (James 4:2) "So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. ...how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” (Luke 11:9-10, 13) Understand, in order to get what we ask for, we have to ask according to God's Will, not ours, and therefore be willing to accept whatever His answer is. Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. (I John 5:14)
2. Bartimeaus threw aside what he had and came to Jesus. We have to be the same way, ...forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:13-14) As Jesus promised the disciples and us also, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life. (Mark 10:29-30) We don't have to "leave" relationships and possessions, but we have to put God first, before everyone and everything else in our lives.
Bartimeaus asked for something better and turned away from what was familiar. And when he had come near, He asked him, saying, “What do you want Me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, that I may receive my sight.” (Luke 18:40-41; Mark 10:51; Matthew 20:32-33) Commit your works to the Lord, And your thoughts will be established. (Proverbs 16:3) Once we commit ourselves to God, through faith in Christ Jesus, we will be ...transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (Romans 12:2) So Jesus had compassion and touched their eyes. And immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him. (Matthew 20:34)
Matthew records that Jesus healed both of the blind men. Why? Because Jesus had compassion, but not only for that reason. Previously, when Jesus had healed another blind man, one of the disciples asked, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him."(John 9:2-3) It is good for me that I have been afflicted, That I may learn Your statutes. (Psalm 119:71) Mark and Luke record specifically what Jesus said to Bartimeaus; Then Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he received his sight, and followed Him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God. (Luke 18:42-43; Mark 10:52)
Several times prior to this, when Jesus has healed someone, he concludes by saying your faith has made you well. Remember, Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1; see HEBREWS: Parable of the Mustard Seed & Leaven; THE GOSPEL: Faith in God Worth the Wait) Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:29) We are just like blind Bartimeaus, whether we are physically blind or not, we have not seen Christ Jesus, but we have heard more than enough about Him; and based on what we've heard, there is more than enough evidence to put our faith in Him, and cryout, saying, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me! But you are..., His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy. (I Peter 2:9-10) AMEN
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