Middletown transcript., 1914-07-18
LESSON FOR JULY 10
BLIND BARTIMAEus.

| Dllno Bnau De opened, and the ears OF tn
leaf shall be unstopped. Then shall tn
lame man leap as an hart, and tn,
tongue Of the dumb shall sing; for in tn,
wilderness shall waters break out, anC
streams in the desert" lisa. S5:5, 8.
On our Lords journey towards Je
rusalem," the place Of sacrifice,
place Of power was sought by his dis
ciples, Mark 10:37. This lesson is al
illustration given to those who accom-
panied Jesus how they too may reach
a place Of power, viz, through service
and sacrifice.
Matthew 20:S0-S4 tells US that there
were two who made the appeal, but
Mark seems to have thought that Bar
timaeus was worthy Of special men
ton. The healing mentioned by Luke
1885 suggests that in that case II
occurred as Jesus was entering and
not leaving Jericho. Mark is telling OF
one man, Luke Of another.
Mars Nature.
!. 5artImaeus Begging, w 464s.
The passing throng rebuked the beg.
gar. Very likely the disciples Joined
in this rebuke. This certainly shows
the fact that none of them fully com.
pretended the Lords teaching as sug-
gested in Mark 10:45. Bartimaeus is
an illustration Of man by nature. His
home, Jericho, was the city under "a
curse" Josh SID, and is a type Of
this world cursed by sin. He was
blind, see II Cor 4:4; Rev. 3:17. His
rags suggest Isa 64:6 and Phil. 8
II the rebuke was mainly by the dis
ciples it was that they might save the
master during these strange days.
Great and marvellous were the works
and teachings he was performing, but
these were the things that called forth
such a wayside service. It was a glad
message to Barttmaeus, Jesus Of Ma
zareth passeth by" There was no
one else who could help him. Some
one had told him Of the power Of
Jesus. Now his opportunity is at hand,
he must not miss It. Jesus never
passed that way again. Bartimaeus
began by crying out, Rom. 1913; he
called while Christ was near enough.
to hear, Isa 55:6. His cry was that
Of conscious need, it was direct, it
was insistent He called Jesus "Son
Of David e. g., the Messiah, although
the people had said Jesus of Naza'
reth," see Matt 9:27; 1921, %. His
cry for mercy is rebuked. Many to
day are so stiff and formal as to frown
upon any religious enthusiasm or ear
nestness. 1t was not beneath the dig
nifty Of Jesus to be disturbed by a
blind beggar. Though poor in purse
Bartimaeus was rich in faith for he
answered those who rebuked him by
crying "the more a great DEAL" He
would not be put of.
II. BartImaeus Blessed, w. 1852.
His command call ye him" Is indica-
tive Of the conscious power Of Christ.
Notice his great interest as suggested
by the words, Jesus stood still" Re
member his important mission to Je-
and, the leaders Of the people
who occupied his time; yet he does not
compel Bartimaeus to follow after, nor
to overtake him ere his prayer is an
swered, see Matt 11:28. This was
good news for the disciples to pro-
claim, Matt. 28:19,20. There was no
indecision on the part Of Bartimaeus.
Casting his garment aside he sprang
up, came and cast himself at the feet
Of Jesus. Although Jesus possessed
all power still its manifestation was
confined to the desire of the beggar.
We have no suggestion Of any further
controversy after the command to call
Bartimaeus. No further objections
Or speculations are raised. He sim
ply came to Jesus" The garment he
threw aside would have impeded his
progress, lisa. 53:7; 64:6; Heb. 1872.
Before the cry has been for mercy,
now 1t is for sight. This he received
in response to his faith, "Thy faith
hath saved thee" R. V. Notice he is
saved ". 52) made whole" before he
his sight. Society will be
saved only as individuals are first
made whole" Our Lords response
was to the cry Of need and the ac-
Of his Messianic office.
The Teaching: First, the readiness
If Gods mercy. Jesus had been reject
I'd by rulers and councils and is NOV
ng "steadfastly" toward the consum-
nation Of his earthly career. That |
Journey led him through Jericho, per
laps that he might meet BRrtimaeus.
1t Jerusalem he is to pronounce SEN
ence upon the rebellion of his people.
Nevertheless when one Of that same
,eople called him by the title that
his Messiahship. '"Son Of
David" he Immediately turned aside
n response thereto, Heb. 3:2. God
lever destroys the righteous with the
wicked or the repentant with the re-
,elIious. His ear is ever open to the
aintest cry.
Second. The failure Of men to ap-
,rehend this fact. There are many to-
lay as successors Of those who re-
,uked Bartimaeus. Some who hold
i'm in reverence and yet fail to ap-
'rehend adequately that he came to
seek and to save the lost" There is
% consideration Of policy or Of expe-
iency, no question Of method, nor the
Importance Of rank, that can stand in
he way of opening blind eyes, and an
wering the cry Of the beggar.
Third. The nature Of saving faith.
he answer of relief from the Lord
ONES in response to the profound con-
lotion Of personal need. HE came
OF to call the righteous but sinners to
spentance." There is nothing in that
all to make any definite appeal to
be righteous. A blind man, through
omeone's testimony hears that he is