News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1889-03-21

INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
MARCH 81
Lesson Text: Blind Bartimgeus,"
Mark Y, 1852 - Golden
Text: Mark X, 4S-


=.
Lesson Text: Blind Bartim,eus,"
Mark Y, 1852 - Golden
Text: Mark K, 4S-
Cor..n,-,I,t
&C. ''And they camo to Jericho.n Jesus is
drawing near to Jerusalem, there to accom-
plish that deceaso or exodus of which Moses
and Ell ah talked on the mount of transfc-
uration and of which lie Himself had SO
often spoken John ii 1921; Matt. xii. SO, 40:
Mark viii, 81; tx, 81; K. 50, 81 49,; the death
prefgured in all the sacrifices since the Lord
God first clothed Adam and Eve with the
coats of skins Gen. iii, 2U; the atonement
which provides the only salvation for sin
ners, sufficient for the sins of the whole
world, efficient for all who receive it.
las He went out of Jericho,n Luke says
that lie healed a blind man as He came nigh
to Jericho, and that He then entered and
passed through luke xviii, IS; xix, y;
Matthew says that as they departed from
Jericho there were two blind men sitting by
the wayside and that He healed them both
(Eiatt Xxx, 2l-;}4): 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, Bartimaus being one of the two
There is no need TO attempt to reconcile these
accounts so as to try ard 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
lie says.
Blind BertimT US, the son of TimRus."
The one name explains the other, Bar sigui-
tying a as in Matt xvi, II: Acts iv., IS
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.
tI4u. K. 20
Sat by the highway side begging" Only
q 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, wretehed and miserable, and poor
and blind and naked REV. iii, n, but il
sinners We're only as sensible of their blind
LESS and poverty as Bartima US how good it
would be for them.
AZ. "He heard that it was Jesus of Naza-
reth." He bad 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
agaln, he became convinced that this was
none other than the one OF whom the
prophets had spoken and foretod that He
would do these very things lisa. xxxv., ), g.
longing, no doubt, in his heart that some day
Jesus might pass that way that he M ght
cry unto Him and be healed, for he had
heard that it was written i'll the Scriptures.
lie shall deliver the needy when he crieth
the poor also, and him that hath no helper"
(Ps lxxii., 12)
He began to cry ont, and say: Jesus, Son
OF David, have mercy ON me-" Would it be
strange if he heard the crowd approach
ing, he inwardly felt that the day of his de-
nxerance had come, and nervously asked
Who is it, What is coming! Then as they
told him that it was Jesus, with what earn.
estnesS he must have cried ont 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 Here
Is poverty and helplessness crying unto the
source OF all riches and blessing and the only
plea is the manifest and realized need, That
is the way to come and such pleading always
brings the answer.
a.. 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 a burn
ing building with no apparent means of eS-
cape, 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
lie knows better, he has long realized his sad
condition and he believes that Jesus of
Nazareth, the Son of David is "a de
ilverer 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 great deal that the Son of
DAVID would have mercy on him
AZ. Jesus stood still and commanded him
to be Called Blessed Jesus, nearer of the
cry OF the needy, Thou dost not respect the
rlch because of his riches, nor despise the
Poor because OF bis poverty. The poor mans
opportunity has preva led and the Lord of
Heaven and earth stops to grant him his de
SIRE: Think of the result if ne let his oppor-
tnnlty go by, for Jesus never passed that
away again. it was his last chance
be OF good comfort; rise, He calleth thee
nas word that was for the poor bin
man; how his heart must have leaped within
hlln. This word BE of good Cheer the
Saviour used to the paraiy tic, the woman
with the issue, the disciples in the storm
ehd also to the eleven on the last night be-
lore lie was cructiet Matt TX. =, %, xiv n;
John xvi, So. And to-day He is saying the
same words to every afflicted, tempest tossed
troubled soul who comes to Him.
~. lie, casting away his garment rose
and came to Jesus" The Revised Versiou
avs that he ''spraug uD;" he lost no time,
Till mat he might not be hiadered, he casts
hside MS outer garment and quickly cIme to
Jesus. He did not say to any one, please
orange my cloak, fix my turban, make me
pfesentabie, tell re how RI comp hefo-a Hinr /
out simply knowing his need, and that
Je US could heal him and was now calling
him, he comes to Jesus just as he is Oh for
such a sense of our need as he had of his
Mt to wear" ''the weather is too stormy, or
too hot or too cold" but sinners and saints
would nil the places of public worship with
ina CRY: I'VE would sac jesus "Tel us
about Jesus
81. What wilt thou that [ should do
unto thee.' They are now face to face. the
helper and the helpless the Almighty and
the undone, and these are the words of jesus
to the beseeching and expectant heart of the
poor blind beggar. lt is written that
To ba
thou, Queen Esther! and what is thy
request! it shall DO even given thee
to the half of the kingdom lEsth.
v, b; also that Solomon gave tc
the Queen OF Sheha all her desire, whatsoever
she asked III Chron. tx, l2; but greater
than either of these Kings is here even the
same who said to Solomon that night at
Gideon: TASK what | shall give thee" n
Chron. l., q. The same who says to us: al
We abide in Me, AMI NV words abide in you,
We shall ask what We will and it shall be done
unto YOU" John XIV, n.
1.-THE blind man said unto Him. Lord that
might receive my sight He did not say
am slow of speech, | cannot speak before
my need, but simply, definitely and in a few
words he tells his need. The most helpful
prayer meetings | ever attended were those
where the prayers consisted of but two or
three sentences right from the heart, telling
out the real felt need of the soul, and from
cession.
50. 'Lesus said unto him, 60 thy way
thy faith had male thee whole The same
word that went forth at creation goes forth,
as He speaks. on b,half OF this poor mau, and
is ever going forth as free AMI readily ON
behalf Of all who look up coniidngly to Him.
for 1.-The eyes of the Lord run to and fro
throughout the whole earth, TO show Himself
strong in the behalf of them whose heart is
perfect toward Him. III Chron. xvi, 81
Immediately he received his sight" 1t
could not be otherwise, for all sickness,
blindness and death fees before Him who is
the Life and the Light. The entrance of
His word giveth Iight-Only believe, receive
His word. "And followed Jesus in the
way" Another trophy OF Grace, another
victory over the prince of darkness, another
earnest of the 1eiiverance of the whole
creation from its bondage and grooming,
when He shall come in power and
glory. Let the reader say as i'll His sight;
Has He opened my eyes, whereas once was
blind do ] now sect And if so, what do L
see! Have l eyes and heart only and all for
Him who opened my eyes, and do seven
days in the week follow Jesus in the way!
Let US aim to BE- people wholly devoted to
Jesus, clean and empty vessels entirely at
d