The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1889-03-22

NIT to Memory Verses 81, 52-Goldcn
Text. Mark <. Recommending by tho
Rev. ID. NJ. Stearns.
Compiled from Lesson Helper Quarterly by
permission of Fl. S. Hoffman, publisher Phila
depha.I
46. "And they came to Jerichon 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, 30, 40;
Mark viii, 81; tx, 81; X, 49, 81, 45); the death
pretigurel 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 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 "in tho plains of Moab OH
this side Jordan, by Jericho (Num xii, D:
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
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 deliyerer. Four times is it
called "the city Of palm trees" Deut. xxxiv,
3; Judg. i, 1G; iii, 13; II Chron. xviii, 10y
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 lex. XIV, 20 to the
palms of the redeemed in glory Q2ev. vii, 9).
'As He went out of Jericho" Luke says
that He healed 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
tN1att Xxx, 20-S4); 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, Bartimeus 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 Bartimnus, the son Of Tim@us."
The one name explains the other Bar signi-
flying a son as in Matt xvi, II; Acts, iv, &C.
We arc 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
,1flf IL,
Jesus healed; but think of the greater honor
| of having or names written in Heaven
ti4u. X, 2O)
Sat by the highway side begging" Only
= 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, 10, but il sin
ners were only as sensible of their blindness
and poverty as Bartimnus, how good it
would be for them
a. "Ie heard that it was Jesus Of Naza-
reth." He had otter heard of Him, for Ills
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
SCI: TO tic whole, and even the dead to live
again, lie became convinced that this was
none other than the one of whom the
prophets had spoken and forctold that He
would 10 these very things lisa. XIV, S, G),
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 wes written in the Scriptures.
"He shall deliver the needy when he crieth;
the poor also, and him that hath no helper,D
] FPS. laxii l2.)
''He began to cry out, and say, Jesus, Son
| of David, have mercy on me-" Would it be
strange if, Us lie heard the crowd approach
ing, he inwjardly felt that the day Of his de-
| Everance had come. and nervously asked,
| Who is its What is coming! Then as they
| told him that it was Jesus, with what earn
c;tness lie 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
4S. "Many charged him that he should hold
his pcace.' As well tell man who is drown
| ing, i'll the third OF fourth story of a burning
building with no apparent means of escape,
to hold his peace; as we'll tell this man that
he is not blind, and poor, and needy, or that
Jesus can't stop to attend to begsars. He
knows BETTER he has long realized his sad
condition and he believes that Jesus of
Nazareth, the Son of David is a de-
levercr for just such as he, and there
fore they cannot shut him up. hut
ti.eir efforts to do SO only make him
cry the i!ore great deal that the Son
of Davit! would have mercy on him.
| 40. Jesus stood still and commanded him
to be called" Blessed Jesus, hearer of the
cry Of t.Is, needy Iou ,lost NOT ra,,,ant 4 i,,
rich because of his riches, Ior despise the
poor because of his poverty The poor mans
inlportunity t;.s prevailed and the Lord OF
Eeaven ad earth stops.
SO. "He, casting away his garment, rose
ard came to Jesus" The Revised Version
SAYS that lie "sprans up;" no lost 10 time,
AID that lie might not be hindered, he casts
aside ms oGter garment and quickly came to
Jesus.
81. 'WLat wilt thou that should do unto
theep They ara now face to face, the helper
and the helpless, the Almighty and the un-
done, and these are the words OF Jesus to the
heseeching and expectant heart of the poor
blind beggar 1t is written that Ahasuerus
said to the queen, "What wilt thou, Queen
Esther! and what is thy request. it shall be
even given thee to the half Of the ilingdom'
(Esth. V, -; and also that Solomon gave to
the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatsoever
she asked ~ Chron, tx, 70; but a greater
than either of these kings is here, even the
same who said to Solomon that night at
Gibeon,. "Ask what | shall give thee" III
Chron. i, ~ The same who says to US, "It
ye abide in Me, and My words abide in YOU
ye shall ask what ye will and it shall be done
uEto you." John XIV, ~
1.-The blind man said unto Him, Lord, that
! might receive my sight" He did not say
| Of r IL, L.