The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1889-03-23
BLIND BARTIM
LESSON XII. FIRST QUARTER. INTER
NATIONAL. SERIES, MARCH pa.

Text, Mark Z. 4S-COm mentary by the
Rev. ID. NJ. stearns.
compiled from Lesson Helper Quarterly by
permission OF IL S Hoffman, publisher. Phila
delphia
A. And they came to Jericho ,Jesus Is
drawing near to Jerusalem, there to accom-.
plish that decease or exodus of which Moses
and Elijah talked on the mount OF transfig-
uration and of which He Himself had SO
often spoken John ii, 1921, Matt xii, 50. 40.
Mark viii, 81, TX, 81; K, 81, 81 40, the death
pretigurel in all the sacrifices since the Lord
God first clothed Adam and Eve with the
coats of skins Gen. iii, 2lj, tho atonement
which provides the only salvation for sin
ners, sufficient for the sins of the whole
world, eflirient for all who receive it.
How many interesting incidents are con-
nected with the history of Jericho since We
first hear OF 1t in connection with the en-
camping of Israel "in the plains of Moab, on
this side Jordan by Jericho mum. xxi. II;
The three fold parting Of the waters of Jor-
dan, the new captain of the Lords host I'M
der whom Joshua SO meekly took his posi-
tion and the miraculous falling of the walls
of Jericho the salvation of Rahab and her
kindred, tue translation of Elijah and the
healing OF the waters by Elisha The name
jericho" according TO Young) signifies
fragrant" and surely these incidents in its
history give forth the fragrance of Him who
Is the Captain of our salvation, the all power
full healer and deliverer Four times is it
called "the city of palm trees" lDeut xxxiv,
3, Judg. i, lG; iii, ID, ii Chron xviii, l5)
and the associations of the palm tree in the
Scriptures form most interesting. profit
able and practical Bible study. reaching from
the palm trees Of Elm eek XIV, 21 to the
palms of the redeemed in glory REV. vii, o.
LAS lie went out of Jericho" Luke saws
that He healed n blind man as He came nigh
/ to Jericho, and that lie then entered and
passed through duke xviii, 81, xix, y Mat
thew says that as they departed from Jcri-
cho there were two bi nd men sitting 10y the
wayside and that He healed them both
Matt. Xxx, 293iI; these accounts read in the
simplest way seem to indicate that there
were three blind men healed at this time,
one as He entered Jericho and two as He
left it, Bartmaus being one of the two
There is no need to attempt to reconcile these
accounts SO as to try and make out that
Jesus healed ut this time only one or two
blind men, there is nothing here to reconcile
except our hearts to the Saviour, and that
we become as little children, believing what
lie saws.
Blind Bartimnus the son of Timnus."
The one name explains the other, Bar signi-
flying son as i'll Matt. xvi, Il; Acts ~, IS.
We are BOT often told the names of those
who were healed, and just why we should be
told tho Eanie Of this blind man is somewhat
Of a mystery. What an honor to have his
name recorded in this Book of Books and
handed down to all generations as one whom
Jesus healed, but think of the greater honor
Of having our names written in Heaven.
u-u K, 20)
Sat by the highway side begging Only
n poor blind beggar, picture OF utter help
lessness having nothing and unable to do
anything but piteousy ask aims OF those
who were passing by; what picture of the
sinner, wretched and miserable, and poor
and blind and naked REV. iii, n, but if sin
ners were only as sensible of their blindness
and poverty Bartimaus, how good it
would be for them.
IL. HE heard that it was Jesus Of Naza-
reth" He had Otter heard of Him, for His
fame had spread over all the land, and as he
listened 80 the reports OF His wondrous
works, making the deaf to hear, the dumb to
speak, the blind to see, the lame to walk, the
SEX to be whole, and even the dead to live
again, he became convinced that this was
none other than the one of whom tho
prophets had spoken and foretold that He
would 10 these very things lisa. xxxv, 5, 81,
longing, no doubt, III his heart that some day
Jesus might pass that way SO that lie might
scry unto Him and be healed, for he had
heard that it was written i'll the Scriptures
He shall deliver the needy when he crieth;
the poor also and him that hath no helper
FPS. Xxi, l2l
HE began to cry out, and say, Jesus, Son
of David, have mercy on me" Would it be
L.
ing, he inwardly felt that the day of his de-
hverance had come, and neryously asked,
Who is i'll What is comingi Then as they
told him that it was Jesus, with what earn
estnesS he must have cried out Here was
the opportunity he had longed for, the
Mighty Ono of Israel was at hand, and he
must cry unto Him, to do otherwise would
indicate either indifference or unbelief
IS MANY charged him that he should hold
bis peace" As well tell a man who is drown
ing, or in the third or fourth story of a burning
building with no apparent means of escape,
to hold his peace; as well tell this man that
he is not blind, and poor, and needy, or that
Jesus can't stop to attend to beggars. He
knows better, he has long realized his sad
condition and he believes that Jesus Of
Nazareth, the Son of David is do
lievercr for just such as he, and there
fore they cannot shut him up, but
their efforts to 90 so only make him
cry the more a great deal that the Son
of David would have mercy on him.
40. Jesus stood still and commanded him
to be called" Blessed Jesus, nearer Of the
cry of the needy, Thou dost not respect the
rich because of his riches, nor despise the
poor because Of his poverty The poor mans
importantly has prevailed and the Lord Of
Heaven and earth stops.
so. "He, casting away his garment, rose
and came to Jesus" The Revised Version
says that he ''sprang up" he lost no time,
and that ho might not be hindered, he casts
aside his outer garment and quickly came to
Jesus.
81. What wilt thou that | should do unto
tbeef They ara now face to face, the helper
and the helpless, tie Almighty and the I'M
done, and these are the words of Jesus to the
beseeching and expectant heart of the poor
blind beggar. 1t is written that Ahasuerus
said to the queen, "WEat wilt thou, Queen
Estherl and what is thy requeSJf 1t Shall he
even given thee to the half of the Kingdom"
(Esth V, 81 !; and slso that Solomon gave to
the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatsoever
she asked Ill Chron. TX, l2l; but a greater
than either of these kings is here, even tho
same who said to Solomon that night at
Gideon, ASK what | shall give thee" Ill
Chron- l, ~ lie same WHO says 10 US, III
We abide in Ne, and My words abide i'll you,
ye shall ask what ye will and it shall be done
unto YOU John XIV, ~
The blind man said unto Him, Lord, that
/ might receive my SIGHT" He did not say
am slow CT speech, | cannot speak before
this multitude, | cannot find words to tell
my need, but simply, definitely and il few
words he tells his need The most helpfCl
PRAYER meetings ever attended were those
where the prayers consisted of but two or
three sentences right from the heart, telling
oat tie real felt need of the soul, and many
such prayers il quick succession.