The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-12-08
THE sUNDAY-sCHOOL LESSON.
December 8, 1900, Mark K, 46-52-
Bartimaeus Healed.

Bartimaeus Healed.
Jesus approached Jericho with peculiar emo
tons. 1t was the home OF His ancestress, Ra-
hab. In the river in front of the city He re-
ceived His baptism from the hands Of israel's
greatest prophet: and sight of dove and sound
of His Fathers voice. making an appropriate
induction to His Messianic mission. In the
'thunder-smitten pile ,Quarentana) behind the
city He had undergone the severe ordeal Of His
temptation. In yonder Herodian palace His
forerunner. to whose imperishable fame lie had
himself borne record, suffered martyrdom. Aside
from these personal associations all the stirring
scenes of the first victory OF Israel in Canaan
must have passed before His minds eye. Could
He not see Joshua, the man of war; and Elisha,
the peaceful teacher in the school of the proph-
cts; and. coming down to His own day. the
great Herod and Archelaus? Jericho was great
in itself. as we'll as its associations; superb in
its natural environment and rich in palaces, en-
powered in palm trees and rose plants. .
But the seems. so brave and fair. was married by
mendicancy and that distressing inirmity, blind
ness. At the city gate sat Bartimaeus. easily
chief of his brothers in misery-a group of three
or more-all crying to the passer-by, PITY the
blind" and asking aims. A sudden hope took
possession of the son of Timaeus when he heard
that it was the Nazarene that was passing. He
changed his conventional address and cried:
Have mercy on me-" 1t was not silver and
gold he wanted, but delIverance from darkness.
Vain was the attempt to silence him. Every
protest against his noise evoked only a louder
CRY. His opportunity was passing. He would
fain storm heaven with his violence. His i'm
%portunity brings Jesus to a standstilL An aisle
is formed through that human mass. The blind
" a cn~fDrc 40 HE foaf a-I 1-r&.-- z-.l- IL
toga. flies to the presence of the w~onder-worker.
He must, at the Masters command, put his
general petition into more specific form. He
does so without a moments hesitation. With
him tho other word for mercy is sight"
His cure is instantaneous: 'He received his
sight" What an experience is back of that
simple phrase. Two worlds burst upon his ''see-
ing eye Gods world of nature, mans world
Of art. Prisnatic s~plendors shone about him
in sky and field. in flood and flower. The heav-
ems began to tell him the glory of God. while
city and palace wall showed ham the han6iwork
OF man. . No more significant OF beautiful
period could be put to this thrilling incident
than that epigrammatic word Of Mark: HE
followed Jesus in the way" Jesus needed cot
to ask. Where is hep as he did of the nine
upgrateful lepers. Bartimaeus attached himself
to Jesus train with all the loyalty of graft
tude and love. He became at once a living.
familiar. incontrovertfele seal to the Messiah
ship Of Jesus: 1.-The blind seer
THE stud LAMP.
Verbal inspiration strikes a mag in this Incl
dent. Luke says the miracle occurred on the
approach to Jericho. Matthew and Mark say
it was on the departure. Meyer puts it mildly
when he says 1.-THE harmonists are omen to GEN.
sure for their unwarranted exegesis in the in
terests Of conformity" Supreme folly to
stake the ethical teachings of tho whole New
Teetament upon the literal accuracy Of single
verses. Modern thought will not abide the me-
diaeyal alternative. 'ell or nottingham error
less Bible, or no Bible at all. ss . Inaccura-
cy is here best frankly conceded. 1t is matter
of absolute indifference whether Jesus was COM
ing or going . Every incident Of Jesus's
life seems indissoluble from pity and heipfulness.
He was touched with a feeling Of human in
frmities. His. however. was no sentimental
breeding. His energies went out In quick and
active relief. He is cur example here. .
The sentiment of the crowd whirls like the
weather-cock. One moment IL is charging Bar
timaeus to hold his peace; next it is saying TO
him, BE OF good comfort . = . A boy toll
ing with his printing press, and. failing of a
good impression, called a printer friend to his
aid. Why said the printer. "sonr type are
of their feet. They need to be justified, II
was done In a moment. and a perfect impression
obtained. That is a parable OF what Je-
sus did for the blind men, lnfrmity had thrown
them aslant in the press Of life. Jesus pu,
them ION their feet" He gave them TO gold or
silver. but put them In the way Of getting their
own gold and silver. . . . That is the ideal
OF charity now happily current. 1t is not the
dole OF money. always calculated to deprive the
recipient OF his manliness. t. stimulate deceit
fitness and mendicaEcy. Put the unfortunate
in the way OF a livelihood. is the working max
i'm Of up-to-dste charity. . Here is a fine
example OF Marks style. No grass grows under
his feet. His narrative is alert and rapid-hIs
characteristic word, ''Straigntway.' Seven
verses suffice to tell this story. To the
thirty-three parallels. the thirty-threc miracles
Of Jesus may well be added. for the latter are.
In fact. parallels too-deeds packed with an In
exhaustibie symbolism. 49, Renan pays no
BILE tribute to the splendid courage u Jesus a.