The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1889-03-22
BLIND BARTIM Aus.
LESSON XII, FIRST QUARTER. INTER-
NATIONAL SERIES, MARCH "a.

Compiled from Lesson Helper Quarterly BY
permission Of II 9 Hoffman publisher, Fhila
delphia
10. sand they came to Jericho" Jesus Il
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 SC
often spoken John ii, 1921, Matt, xii, 80, 40
Mark viii, 81 TX, 81; <, 33, "a, 49,; the death
preHgured in all the sacrifices since the Lord
God first clothed Adam and Eve with the
coats Of skins Gen. iii, 2D the atonement
which provides the only salvation for sin.
ners, sufficient for the sins of the whole
world, efficient Tor 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 en-
camping Of Israel ''in the plains of Moab, on
this side Jordan, by Jericho Mum. xxi, ~:
The three fold parting of the waters of Jor-
dan, the new captain Of the Lords host un.
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. l, l6; iii, 10; II Chron. xviii, 15
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 Eek XIV, 20 to the
palms of the redeemed in glory Rev. vii, o..
las He went out of Jericho" Luke says
that He healed a blind man as He came nigh
to Jericho, and that He then entered and
passed through duke xviii, 35, xix, ~; Mat
thew says that as they departed from Jeri-
cho there were two blind men sitting by the
wayside, and that He healed them both
(Makt. Xxx, 1874; 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, BartimBus 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 Bartim9us, the son of TimRus"
The one name explains the other, Bar signi-
flying 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
Of 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
Lu. x, 2O)
Sat by the highway side begging" Only
a 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, wretched and miserable and poor |
and blind and naked Rev. iii, IN, but if sin
ners were only as sensible of their blindness
and poverty as Bartim@us, how good it
would be for them.
A. 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 to the reports of His wondrous |
works, making the deaf to hear, the dumb to |
speak, the blind to see, the lame to walk, the
sick to be whole, and even the dead to live
again, he became convinced that this was |
none other than the one of whom the
prophets had spoken and foretold that He
would do these very things lisa. xxxv, 5, O,
longing no doubt, in his heart that some day
Jesus might pass that way SO that he might
cry unto Him and be healed, for he had
heard that it was written in the Scriptures.
HE shall deliver the needy when he crieth;
the poor Also and him that hath no helper"
FPS. lxxii, l2.)
she began to cry out, and say, Jesus Son
of David, have mercy on me-" Would it be
- H. Il
ing, he inwardly felt that the day of his de-
liverance had come, and nervously asked,
Who is t2 What is coming9 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 One of Israel was at hand, and he
must cry unto Him; to do otherwise would
indicate either Indifference or unbelief
48. MANY charged him that he should hold
his peace As well tell man who is drown
ing or 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-
lloNcIcl JuoU ouCn % uC, duu tutIo- |
fore they cannot shut him up, but
their efforts to do SO only make him
cry the more great deal that the Son
of David would have mercy on him.
49, "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
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 he might not be hindered, he casts
aside his outer garment and quickly came to
Jesus
81 What wilt thou that should do unto
theer They are now face to face, the helper
and the helpless, the Almighty and the un-
done, and these are the words of Jesus to the
and .expectant heart of the poor
blind beggar. 1t is written that Ahasuerus
said to the queen, What wilt thou, Queen
Estherl and what is thy requesta it shall be
even given thee to the half of the kingdom"
Esth. v, 81; and also that Solomon gave to
the queen Of Sheba all her DESIRE whatsoever
she asked I'll Chron. tx, 12); but a greater
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