The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-03-14
SUNDAY MEDITATION.

SUNDAY MEDITATION.
national Sunday school lesson Appointed for
March "a. st. Mark, 10 1852.
Zone reading these notes should first carefully
study the paragraph from the Holy Scriptures rs
Indicated above.l
SUBJECT: BARTIMEUs AND HIS ASSOCIATE
RESTORED TO SIGHT.
l. Data.
The student must read the accounts of st.
Matthew GO: 1884 and st. Luke Us: 35-43)
According to the report of ST. Matthew there
were two blind men. st. Mark gives the name
of one of them, to wit, Bartmeus, which means
the son of Timeus. From the manner in which
st. Mark speaks we would suppose Bartimeus
was well known by name. st. Mark mentions
the cure Of Bartimcus alone, it being his OBJ
ject to state that the well-knoWn blind man
had been enabled to see. St. Matthew was an
eyewitness, and noticed the fact another along
with Bartimeus was restored to sight. st. Luke
mentions only one case, and it is probable he
had in mind specially the recovery of the man
well known either from his name or from the
long continuance of his affection. There is
no contradiction in the three accounts. Two
includes one and one is not proof there were
not two.
2. Time and Place.
The miracle took place on Friday RI March
IL ri, A. d. 90. The scene is connected with
Matthew and Mark it happened when Christ
was leaving the city. st. Luke's account says,
Gas he was come nigh" This should have
been rendered l0hen he aUas nigh; the idea of
motion. going or coming, is not in the Greek.
No difficulty meets US if we so translate.
Christ had been within the city for time.
His fame spread. The blind men heard of
him. Believing he would pass out of the gate
of the city, they located themselves there
Bartimeus was probably the spokesman.
Jericho was six miles from the Jordan River,
Is miles from Jerusalem. It was in the valley
of the Jordan, in the tribe of Benjamin. (Josh
1S:21) Canaanites built it. school of proph-
cts was one time there Thither Joshua sent
spies There Elisha changed bitter water into
sweet. q XII, 2:21.) 1t was known as the
city of palm trees. (Deu., Sd: 81 Herod the
Great died there. A famous publican resided
there, Zaccheus. (St. Luke, 1872
3. The Blind Men.
There were two. One was well known by
name He probably had lived in Jericho
long time and had often been seen at the city
gate Not being able to work, and being with
out wealthy relatives or friends, he was obliged
to beg for living He may have always been
blind. In those days no such charitable pro-
visions were made as now in the interest
of the afflicted The blind must have
clothing, food and shelter, and if poor in
Jericho, must beg. The companion Of Barti-
meus is not known by name. 1t is said
misery loves company. Those afflicted alike
can sympathize with each other 1t is not
wonderful that two blind men should feel akin
and be found together Not being so we'll
known, he is overlooked in the accounts by
SITS. Mark and Luke The Gospels do not pre-
tend to be detailed history of all that Christ
did. As fact for the cheer and faith of the
world, it is not necessary more than one case of
restoration to sight be narrated for if Jesus
70 l.
do so for any number. The object of SITS. Mark
and Luke did not relate to arithmetic, but to
the power to effect miracles.
4. Blindness
greatmany people in the East are blind.
In a large number of cases blindness is consti-
tutional. The organs Of sight do not exist, or
have been destroyed. In such cases there is no
remedy outside of miracle. Science has ad-
vanced, and restoration to sight is now posi-
Bile in hosts of cases. The case of Bartmeus Is
evidently miraculous and this is true whether
he were or were not constitutionally blind. In
cases where sight is given patient by the
mere removal of film which has covered the
organs of sight, much time is required for cure
The patient cannot see at once and if he at
tempt to do so sight is irrecoyerably lost. In
the instance of Bartimeus he could see at once.
From being blind, he was at once able to use
his eyes with all the freedom of one having the
best of eyesight never impaired
3. The Restoration to Sight.
l. The physician. He was Christ, called in
the accounts of the miracle Jesus of Nazareth
Son of David, Lord. He must have been more
than man, for he effected an impossibiIity from
human standpoint. He did the work of his
own strength, appealing to no deity and giving
observers the impression he had power to effect
miracles.
?. The conditions of the cure. a. Prayer
". 40 The afflicted men cried out to Christ
The blind have extraordinary power Of hear
ing. As beggars the afflicted men would listen
to every footstep. Noticing an unusual crowd
was passing by they inferred it was due prob
ably to the presence of Jesus, of whom they had
heard wonderful things 1t may be the names
Christ, Jesus Son of God, reached their ears.
Hence they cried out for mercy. appealed for
cure. b. Faith. (V. 52.) It's plain from their
cry that the blind men expected much. And
Christ plainly said to one of them, Thy faith
hath made thee whole" c. The aid of other
persons who could see. They called the blind
man. (V 49, Doubtless they led him near to
Christ. Compare st. Luke, IS 400 They
brought the blind man to Christ. d. The COM
passion of Jesus That was very necessary
condition. Christ is easily touched by infirm-
ity. He notices our sorrows, and feels sympa-
thy for the afflicted 6. The omnipoteuce of
Christ. Miracles are products of almighty
power alone.
3. The prescription. Christ touched the
blind eyes. (St Matt, 90: 34.) He is light
largely in the fact he can produce light and adj
just organs to the use of light. He made all
things. He can create on the spot organs of
vision Thus he did in the case of the two blind
men at Jericho. The mere touch was accom-
panied by the power of God. Neither the faith
of the man nor the compassion of Christ could
give sight to the blind.
A. Kind of cure. a. Instant. b. Perfect. c.
Public. d Permanent.
5. Witnesses. st. Matthew, who wrote one
of the accounts, was present. If the Gospel of
st. Mark were really that of st. Peter, then an
other writer of the account of the miracle was
also an eyewitness. The multitude also saw
the wonderful deed. (St. Luke, Is: 43)
6. Effects. On patients They gloriied
God. (St. Luke. 10 :43.) They followed Christ
(St Mark, 10: 52.) b. On the crowd. They
praised God. (St. Luke, IS; 49, C. On us. The
incident should inspire in US greater faith in
Christ's power to help us in emergencies and
greater love of him on account of his mercy or
compassion.
6. Suggestions.
l. Pray Notice several hints as to prayer
shown in our study this week. a. Give items
in prayer-state particulars in which you want
aid. ". 51.l b. Be importunate-cry out,
show intent interest and earnestness. (V. AL
C. Be persevering. Do not easily give up. Prove
your sincerity of want by maintaining your