The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1889-03-23
BLIND BARTlMEuS.
International Sunday school Lesson f0s
March 20. 1889.

LESSON TExT-Mark 10 1852.
GOLDEN TRxr-Thou son of David, have
mercy on me,-Mark l0.4S.
CENTRAL TRuTH-All who 60 TO Jesus in
faith shall find salvation.
TINE-March, A. d. 60 Soon after the
last lesson, the week before the crucihxion.
PLACE-Jericho. About IS miles from
Jerusalem, and 5 or miles west OF the
Jordan, and or north Of the Dead Sea.
PARALLEL Accommodate. 20:294 Luke
IS: 35-43; 1871.
HARMoNY-u) Matthew speaks OF two
blind men; Mark and Luke Of only one; but
il there were two, there was certainly one.
Mark speaks Of the chief one. (9 Matthew
and Mark speak Of the healing as taking
place when they left Jericho; Luke Is they
drew nigh. Probably the blind man first
called TO Jesus as He was entering the city,
but could not reach Him on account Of the
crowds. But as Jesus went out Of the city,
he tried again and succeeded.
INTRODUCrIoN-Jesus is still on His way TO
Jerusalem to be crucifed, instructing His
disciples on the journey to prepare them
for the great change soon to come in their
circumstances, and for the great respon-
sibilities that will be thrown upon them.
They cross the Jordan from the east to the
west side at the fords opposite Jericho, and
come into the city. The whole way is
thronged with an increasing crowd OF pill
grims, coming up to Jerusalem to celebrate
the passover the following week
HELPS OVER HARD PLACEs-46 Jericho
(see Place.: then q large and tiourishing
city. Great number: Jericho was full OF peo-
Pile, who were going up to Jerusalem to at
tend the passover. Sometimes two million
people came up to Jerusalem. Jericho was
on one of the highways from Galilee. Bdrti-
meus: Bar is an Aramac word for son,
Timeus being the name of the father. A.
Son Of Ddrid: l. G., the expected Messiah.
~. Hold his peace: they did not want him to
intrude on the Master, who was soon to be
proclaimed as the Messiah They imagined
they were pleasing Jesus. 60 Garment: the
loose blanket, or cloak, worn over the tunic,
or shirt. He laid aside whatever hindered
his quick going. 81. Lord: or, as in new YER
sion, Rabbonf, a title of special honor Thy
faith: shown % by percelving Jesus to be
the Messiah, (2) by going to Him, (3) by
lpersevering against opposition, az by casting
aside hindrances, (5) by following Christ.
HATH made thee tphoIs: complete, wanting
nothing that belongs to perfect body The
sinner is never 'whole;" he is incomplete,
imperfect, wanting.
A TYPE OF THE SINNER-O The sinner
is blind. What was true Of the eyes OF his
body is true of the eyes Of the sinners soul.
The former could not see the natural world,
and the latter can not see the spiritual world.
Physical blindness is a great evil, but spirit
ual blindness is a far greater The sinner Is
blind to his own best good, to
the great spiritual realities of Heaven and
hell, to true holiness, to the possibilities
in his soul, to the joys and glorles
Of religious life, to the highest motives, to
eternal life. Thus spiritual blindness mar
rows, and restricts, and darRens the soul.
ca He is poor, because he has nothing that
will endure nothing to feed his starving
soul nothing that will sustain eternal life.
How manyneeds he has for forgiveness,
for noble object, for enduring friendship,
for help in trouble, for enduring peace and
Joy; and nothing with which to satisfy
them. t3) He is helpless. He can not save
himself; he can not supply his own wants.
But, a. He can 90 to Jesus. He can not cure
himself, but he has power to go where no
can be cured.
THE SINNER SAvED-U (he sinner who
he ars Christs invitation has great reason
to be of good cheer. C2 How eagerly will
one cast away his pride and self-righteous-
ness when he hears Jesus call TO him to be
savedl (3) The sinner must rise up and go to
Jesus. No one will be saved sitting still
and neglecting to do what lies in his own
power. az He must believe Jesus word.
Faith is like opening the blinds of the house
to lot in the sunshine that is waiting to en-
ter; like opening the door to receive the
guest who is knocking; like the coupler
that Joins the car to the engine, that it may
use its power; like the desire for learning
that makes the world of literature our own.
90 Jesus makes him whole, restores that
which has been ruined by sin, completes
and perfects his nature, his character, and
his life. 0) Then he should follow Jesus,
praising and clarifying God Henceforth
Jesus is his Leader, his Teacher, his King,
as well as his Saviour and Friend. a. His
experience of salvation is now the argu-
ment by which he can persuade others to
come to Jesus, and thus help to save the
world from spiritual darkness.
CoMMENTs--If you had been in the posi-
ton of poor Bartimeus, you would have re-
allied the need keenly. He was blind and
doubtless never a day passed In when he
did not feel his sad condition, and long for
help. From the narrative it Is evident that
he had heard of Jesus, and most probably
had been told of the wonderful cures That
He had wrought. But this made hlm feel
his own sad case all the more, and wish that
he might also receive his sight. The case
of Bartimeus was all the more sad because
il was of long standing, and he was now
full-grown man. No human help would be
Of any avail. Unless Jesus, the son OF Ia
vid, afforded relief, blind he mast live and
blind he must die. A beggar through this
fell disease he had become, and beggar he
must always remain, unless by miraculous
power he experienced a cure. His case is
but type of the spiritual condition OF
every unconverted man in the world. Inc
god OF this world has blinded their minds.
In fact, they are worse off by far than Bar
tmeus, because he knew he was bind,
and so was ready TO cry for deliver
ancc. But men are blind to their
blindness, and maintain stoutly that
they see spiritual things clearly. Only
when the sinner confesses that he
is blind, and begins To seek anxiously Tor
physician, does his case assume hopeful
aspect. The case ofthe sinner IS again ike
that of Bartimeus, in that miracle must
be wrought if he is ever to see. No human
power can give spiritual sight. All the
sermons in the world can not reach asingle
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