The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1900-12-08

49, JAS he went out of Jericho. LUXE
says, 'as he came nigh unto Jericho-
That is, simply while he was IA me VI
cinity of Jericho" Blind Bartimaeus.
the son OF Timaeus Bar-son. Baru-
meus means son Of Timeus, but was usea
as propre name, like our Johnson OF
Thomson sat by the highway side
Because there many people would see
his need, and especially now as the
crowds were thronging in this main thor
oughfare to Jerusalem Begging" In
those days there was almost nothing
blind man could do to earn living.
AZ. And when he heard" (See Luxe
10: 37) Suddenly and unexpectedly some
times our greatest opportunities come 70
us"-Glover. The blind man heard
great multitude going past the piace
where he was begging, and ingulreu ... mna
1t meant (Luke), and was told that =
was Jesus of Nazareth HE mad hearu
OF him beforehand of healings wroushs
by him, of blind eyes opened, OF ueau
men raised. "He began" lmmedlateiS,
as soon as he heard this, and contlhueu
so to do until he gained his end --AieN-
ander ITO cry OUT For GOD loves
to be entreated, he loves to be compeheu,
he loves to be even vanquisheo py our
persevering Importantly. st. GresoIy'
Jesus. thou son of David" That IS, the
Messiah who was TO come, ana one ol
his works was to be the opening oa 'no
eyes of the blind (see lisa. "; 10 4z' ".
/ Have mercy on me-" The emphasis
naturally fails on the word me; for Ber--
| timeus. hearing that ~ was Jesus, anu
! knowing his own disadvantage from ms
| blindness in the crowd, fears ne may 10
| overlooked. But he cried the more
J great deal" 1t was the one opportunity
4 of his life; 1t was now or never WIN
him; it was sight now or hteions eSi o.
! ness; il was a case almost Oh me VI
/ death.
90 And Jesus stood STILL" Whatever
others might do, Jesus never refused 70
/ listen to a call for help. AND COM
uanded him to be called" He sets those
to calling the man who had just peen
hindering him. 'They call sne pnhu
man" No doubt cheerfully and giadiy,
/ now that they know II is the Will OF the
Master. BE of good comfort" COR
"cheer'O, rise; he calleth thee Iney
( knew now that the blind man would
see, and would cheer him as II his signt
were certain.
50. "And he casting away his gar
ment" This was his cloak, or manue,
(which is often used by the poor at nlght
for a covering, and which the IA" "
Moses gave them a special claim TO, tnat
it should not be kept from them over
night when it was given as a pledge
q Jacobus. Rose" tSprang up in X Y.
He did not hesitate; another proof OF his
faith "And came TO Jesus" Guided py
the now favoring crowd.
81. "And Jesus said unto hin1'
What wilt thou that l should do unto
thee?" He as well as the rest knew
exactly what he sought. but, for the sake
of others In need and for the sake OF
the man himself, Christ will elicit stll
clearer prayer, and make the noble falth
of the man shine forth."-R. Glover The
blind man said unto him, Lord. Bet
ter, "Rabboni," My Master. as In the X.
" THAT / might receive my sight.
This was the one great thing he de-
sired. for enfolded within 1t lay rich and
J countless blessings No earthly gift was
of value beside this.
S. And Jesus said unto him" At the
same time touching his eyes Matt 20:
3d. as means of communicating the
: power, as an aid TO the blind man
[ faith, and to show that the healing came
from him. Go thy way" Not neees-
sarily a command to depart, but token
that his prayer was granted.-Schaff, He
! could go wherever he would without any
guide. At the same time he had much
to learn about seeing. When a blind
man first sees he cannot tell distances,
he has no perspective, he cannot tell a
landscape from a fiat picture. Thy faith
! hath made thee whole" Complete sound,
nothing wanting to perfect physical man
, hood. He had shown his faith BY call
ing on Jesus by recognizing him the
Messiah. by perseverance,
Like Bartimeus, the sinner is blind.
poor helpless to cure himself, deprived
Of the largest and fullest life. He some
times, like some of the Laodiceans, may
say. II am RICH and increased with
goods and have need of nothing" and
not know that he is ''wretched, and rais-
erable and poor. and blind, and naked
CRev. 3: ID. The sinner is blind to his
best good, to the great spiritual realities
of heaven and hell to true holiness, TO
the possibilities in his soul, to the joys
and giories Of a religious life, to the
highest motives to eternal life. He thinks
sometimes that he is broad but spiritual
blindness narrows, and restricts, and
, darkens the soul. The sun and stars are
hidden. He loses the ideas OF distance
: and the relation OF things. He cannot
go through life alone in safety. l{ote one
point of difference. Bartimeus' blindness
, was a misfortune. The sinner shuts and
blinds his own eyes.
The first step toward a better life is
the realization OF his true condition and
; needs. Bartimeus heard others telling
about the blessings of sight, and speak
Of things of which he had but faint con-
ception He heard them going around
freely where he could only grope. He
realized his situation, not fully, but
enough to make him long for sight.
Jesus had been preaching and healing
for three years all around him. but he
had not realized 1t enough to go far TO
seek him. But now he learns that Jesus
is about to pass by. And it was the last
time. There was great excitement:
: crowds were gathering around Jesus and
making him known to those who would
otherwise have taken no notice of him.
Excitement in a community, reused and
intense interest is often necessary to
wake up the souls of men who have been
indifferent So Jesus of Nazareth often
passes by where we are. He comes near
by the presence of his Holy Spirit, es-
: pecially in times of revival, IN public
worship. in prayer meetings, in private
devotiOns. In his providences. in the con-
version of friends. I'm sickness, and in
many other ways. Every one. doubtless
has some special opportunity, and life and
death are in the balance.