Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1889-03-22
BLIND BARTIMEUS,
LESSON XII, FIRST QUARTER, INTER-
NATIONAL SERIES, MARCH "a.
Text of the Lesson, Mark Y, 46-52---Com
NIT Verses 81, 90 Golden Text,
Mark y, 4S-Commentary by
the Rev. u. Nj. ttcarns.

49, 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 translig.
uration and of which He Himself had SO
often spoken John ii, 1921 Matt xii, 80, 40;
Mark viii, 81 tx, 81 X, 50, 3D. 40, the death
prehgurel in all the sacrifices since the Lord
God first clothed Adam and Eve with the
coats of skins Gen. iii, 2p, the atonement
which provides the only salvation for sin
ners, sufficient for the sins of the whole
world, efficient for all who receive it.
How many interesting incidents are con-
nected with the history of Jericho since we
first hear of it in connection with the Ell.
camping Of Israel sin the plains of Moab, on
this side Jordan, by Jericho Mum. xxi, y;
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-
ton, and the miraculous falling of the walls
of Jericho, the salvation of Rahab and her
kindred, the 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" (Deut. xxxiv,
3, Judg. i, lG; Iii, Is, II Chron. xviii, l5)
and the associations of the palm tree in the
Scriptures form a most interesting, profit
able and practical Bible study, reaching from
the palm trees of Elm lex. XIV, 20 to the
palms of the redeemed in glory Rev vii g.
AS He went out of Jericho Luke saws
that He healed a blind man as He came nigh
to Jericho, and that He then entered and
passed through duke xviii, 80. xix y Mat
thew says that as they departed from Jeri-
cho there We're two nd men sitting by the
wayside, and that He healed them both
Olatt Xxx, 1884, these accounts read in the
simplest way seem to indicate that there
were three blind men healed at this tiu.e
one as He entered Jericho and two as He
left it, BartimRus 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 at 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
He says.
"Blind Bartim2us, the sor of TimRus"
The one name explains the other Bar signi-
flying a son as in Matt. xvi, II; Acts, iv, &C.
We are not often told the names of those
who were healed, and just why we should be
told the name of this blind man is somewhat
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
QLu. X, 20l
''Sat by the highway side begging" Only
n poor blind beggar, picture OF utter help
lessness, having nothing and unable to do
anything but piteously ask aims Of those
who were passing by, what picture of the
sinner, wretcucd and miserable, and poor
and blind and naked Rev. III, ~. but if sin
ners were only as sensible of their blindness
and poverty as Barum9us, how good it
would uc for them.
A.. lie heard that it was Jesus of Naza-
rcth.' He had otter heard of Him, for His
fame had spread over all the land and as he
listened to the reports of His wondrous
woras, making the deaf to hear, the dumb to
speak, the blind to see, the lame to walk, the
sch to he whole, and even the dead to live
again, he became convinced that this was
none other than the ono of whom the
prophets had spoken and foretold that He
would do these very things Qsa. xxxv, 5, o.,
longing. no doubt III bus heart That some day
Jesus might pass that way SO that he might
cry unto Him and be healed, for he bad
heard that it was written in the Scriptures
''He shall deliver the needy when lie crieth;
the poor also, and him that hath no helper.n
Us xxi, ~
He began to cry out, and say, Jesus Son
OF David, have mercy on me" Would it he
strange II, as he heard the crowd approach
ing, he inwardly felt that the day of his de-
Aver2uce had come, and nervously asked,
Who is It'll What is comingf Then as they
told him that it was Jesus, with what earn
estness he must have cried out. Here was
the ODDOrtunitV he had l,Yco6 Co., -
Mighty One of Israel was at hand. and he
must cry unto Him; to do otherwise wound
indicate either indifference or unbeief.
4S. Many charged him that he should hold
his peace" As well tell man who is down
ing, in the third or fourth story of 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 de-
Heverer for just such as he, and there
fore they cannot shut him up, but
their efforts to do SO only make him
cry the more a great deal that the Son
Of David would have mercy on him.
30. "Jesus stood still and commanded him
to be called" Blessed Jesus hearer of the
~ VI oho hoSAJi 1iOd uO>J ilOG ItSlecC inc
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.
on. he, casting away his garment, rose
and came to Jesus" The Revised Version
says that he "sprang up" he lost no time,
and that he might not be hindered, he casts
aside his outer garment and quickly came TO
Jesus.
81. "What wilt thou that should do unto
theoT They ara now face to face the helper
and the helpless, the Almighty and the I'm.
done, and these are the words Of Jesus to the
beseeching and expeotant heart Of the poor
blind beggar. 1t is written that Ahasuerus
said to tho queen, "What wilt thou, Queen
Estherl and what Is thy requestf it shall be
even given thee TO the half OF the kingdomn
(Ecsth. v, o; and also that Solomon gave to
the queen OF Sheba all her desire, whatsoever
she asked III Chron. tx, 10; but a greater
than either of these kings is here, even the
same who said TO Solomon that night at
Gideon, ASK what l shall give thee" III
Chron. 1, u The same who says to US, 'If