8. BLIND HEALED Mark 10:46-52 (Matthew 20:29-34; Luke 18:35 to Luke 9:1) 46 And they come to Jericho:--Jericho, where Bartimeus was healed, has passed through an eventful history, having been thrown down and rebuilt a number of times, and having now been a complete ruin for many centuries. The real site of ancient Jericho is about two miles northwest of this village at the foot of the mountains which there rise abruptly from the plain. This is known both by the ruins in that place and by the presence of the large spring now called "Elisha's fountain," near which the city stood when Elisha healed the waters of the spring. (2 Kings 2:18-22.) Mounds of rubbish, made up of broken pottery, ashes and the dust of unburnt bricks, the chief building material of the ancient city, mark the site. In the days of our Lord, Jericho was an important city, having been embellished by Herod the Great. and as he went out from Jericho, with his disciples and a great multitude, the son of Timaeus, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the way side.--Matthew (Matthew 20:30) says "Two blind men." Both pleaded for mercy and were healed. Only one name is given, probably the most noted. There is no contradiction here since Mark selects the most prominent one for his history, and simply says nothing about the other. Luke (Luke 19:35-43) mentions the healing of a blind man as Jesus entered Jericho which Matthew and Mark omit. Here are two separate and distinct cases of healing the blind--one as Jesus enters the city, the other as he leaves. He was "sitting by the way side." That is, the road that leads from Jericho to Jerusalem. The previous clause tells what he was doing--"begging." 47 And when he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out,--He had heard about Jesus, and his wonderful cures. Other blind men had been made to see, other men in trouble had been helped. Here in the Son of David was his only hope. A shrill cry rises on the air above the noise and bustle of the crowd. and say, Jesus, thou son of David,--He addressed him not as Jesus the Nazarene. His faith takes hold of something higher and deeper. He recognized him as a royal descendant of David and successor to his throne, the Messiah. (Chron. 12:35.) The angel of the Lord had once applied this title to Joseph. (Matthew 1:20.) It was a popular designation of the Messiah, and by the use of it Bartimeus acknowledged the Messiahship of Jesus. have mercy on me.--The poor man expressed both a confession of misery, unworthiness and helplessness, and an expression of confidence in the ability and willingness of Jesus to help him. 48 And many rebuked him, that he should hold his peace --They tried to stop his piercing noise. They feared that the Master might be disturbed by this unseemly noise, and did not like it themselves. but he cried out the more a great deal,--The rebuke of the multitude served only to arouse his earnestness, for he believed in the ability and willingness of Jesus to heal him. It was a trial of faith, but his faith was not to be overcome--opposition only encouraged him to press his claims the more. Thou son of David, have mercy on me.--In this cry he bore testimony to the widely-scattered stimulus given to the Redeemer's cause, since the beginning of the festal journey, amongst the masses. When the soul is awakened there are plenty to cry, "Hold your peace," and sometimes of those who profess to be in the triumphal procession. 49 And Jesus stood still, and said, Call ye him.--Luke (Luke 18:40) says Jesus "commanded him to be brought unto him," which is the same in substance. The whole attitude and tone of the people now change. They who had tried to silence are now all anxious to help him, such a change does Jesus' interest make. And they call the blind man,--Probably the same ones who had just tried to stop his cries for help. This was perfectly natural with such a crowd. Popular feelings often swing from one extreme to the other as in this case. saying unto him, Be of good cheer: rise, he calleth thee.--Yes, when Jesus calls for him, he has the key that will unlock the avenue to all hopes. There is no hesitation with him. 50 And he, casting away his garment, sprang up, and came to Jesus.--His outer garment, a large piece of cloth which was folded around the body, covered the more tightly-fitting garments, and might impede his movements. He wanted to get to Jesus as quickly as possible. This act of Bartimeus denoted haste, and earnestness upon his part, in order to come to Jesus. Directed by his voice, or led by the hands, now willing, around him. He leaped up in haste, with the least possible delay, and came to Jesus. If you would come to Jesus you must "cast away" all your sins. They must be left behind. Hearty repentance is essential to seeing Jesus' face as a Savior. Then, having forsaken these, you must "come to Jesus," in his appointments and ordinances. There is where he "stands still," and waits for you. There he will meet you with the word of salvation. 51 And Jesus answered him, and said, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee?--This poor afflicted man had only made a general petition for mercy. Jesus now calls forth his particular and special request. What mercy dost thou desire? And the blind man said unto him, Rabboni,--There were three titles used by the Jews to their teachers, Rab, master, as the lowest degree of honor Rabbi, my master, of higher dignity; Rabboni, my great master, the most honorable of all. that I may receive my sight.--Surely an object worth seeking, worth the most persistent crying to the Lord. And yet spiritual sight is infinitely greater than this boon; but how few, comparatively, cry out for it. The soul coming to Jesus must know and state clearly what it wants. Remember that spiritual sight will bring spiritual responsibility. 52 And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole.--Or saved thee in respect to physical blindness. Mark intimates the dignity of the crisis in which the Lord now stands, by the circumstances that he heals the blind man simply by words. "Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole." Mark brings out the most important point, that so necessary was faith in the recipient to this healing that Jesus could even say his faith had made him whole. So with all healing physical or spiritual. His faith saved him by leading him to use the means necessary to arrest the attention of Jesus and to secure the blessing desired. In the same way does faith of a sinner save him. Faith alone, or faith without action, could not have opened the blind man's eyes, nor can it save a sinner from his sins. "Ye see that by works a man is justified, and not only by faith." (James 2:24.) And straightway he received his sight,--Mark's characteristic "straightway" comes in with large significance. Even while the gracious words are being uttered, the optic nerve is thrilling and the retina clearing, and the eyes that were turned towards Jesus under guidance of the sense of hearing, light up with rapture as they see the lips that are speaking their enfranchisement, and the eyes in whose liquid depths shines the soul that felt for him in his misery. He is now complete physically, having all his faculties in use. and followed him in the way.--Luke (Luke 18:43) says: "Glorifying God." He joins in the glad songs of the festal procession. Luke adds, "And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God." Faith does not literally heal, but faith is essential to healing. Faith here was perfected (James 2:22); he believed that Jesus was the Messiah, he confessed it, he cast away all hindrances, he came to Jesus, he told his need, he was healed. There are other cases of blindness healed recorded in the New Testament, and each was somewhat peculiar to itself. One occurred in or near Capernaum. (Matthew 9:27.) In that case Jesus healed two instantaneously by a touch, and made their faith the condition of healing. Another was at Bethsaida. In that case (Mark 8:22) the restoration was gradual. He anointed the man's eyes with spittle, then laid his hands upon him, and he saw men as trees, walking. Then again Jesus' hands were laid on his eyes, and he saw all things clearly. In both these instances Jesus forbade publication. The next was in Jerusalem. (John 9:1.) The man had been blind from birth, and was well known. In this case Jesus spat on the ground at his feet, and made an ointment with which he anointed the blind man's eyes. He then told him to go to the pool of Siloam and wash, which the man obeyed and returned restored to sight. The account of Bartimeus proves again the power of Jesus to heal. It also reflects additional credibility on the history of his previous miracles. Being blind this man could not have seen the previous miracles, hence he could have known of them only from the reports of those who saw them. This was sufficient evidence to produce his faith.