The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1914-07-16
LESSON FOR JULY 10
BLIND BARTIMAEUS.

GOLDEN TEXT-"Then the eyes Of the |
blind shall be opened, and the ears of the
deaf shall be unstopped Then shall the |
lame man leap as an hart, and the |
tongue of the dumb shall sing; for in the
wilderness shall waters break out, and |
streams in the desert" lisa. 35:5, 6.
On our Lords journey towards Je-
the place Of sacrifice. a
place of power was sought by his dis
ciples, Mark 1927. This lesson is an
illustration given to those who accom-
panied Jesus how they too may reach
a place of power, viz, through service
and sacrifice.
Matthew 20: 1924 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 1t
occurred as Jesus was entering and
not leaving Jericho. Mark is telling Of
one man, Luke of another.
Mans Nature.
|. Bartimaeus Begging, w 464o.
The passing tAong 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 GID, and is type of
this world cursed by sin. He was
blind, see II Cor. IA; Rev. 3:17. His
rags suggest Isa 64:6 and Phil. SO.
If 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. 1t was glad
message to Bartimaeus, 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, lisa. 55:6. His cry was that
of conscious need, it was direct, 1t
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 1.-The more a great deal" He
would not be put off.
/. II. Bartimaeus Blessed, w. 1852.
His command "call We 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-
rusalem 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. 1928. This was
good news for the disciples to pro-
claim, Matt. 2S:19,20. There was no
| lAuSClSlOu vi IAc pd1I VI Dbl IIudSusk
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 it 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
received his sight. Society will be
saved only as individuals are first
made whole" Our Lords response
was to the cry Of need and the &C.
acknowledgement of his Messian1c office
The Teaching: First, the readiness
of Gods mercy. Jesus had been reject
ed by rulers and councils and is NOV.
ing 'steadfastly" toward the consum
nation Of his earthly career That
| JouAAO ACo AAAA AAOu6A JSI1CAO, per
haps that he might meet Bartimaeus
At Jerusalem he is to pronounce sen
tence upon the rebellion of his people
Nevertheless when one of that same
people called him by the title that
suggested his Messiahship Son OF
David" he Immediately turned aside
in response> thereto, Heb. So. God
never destroys the righteous with the
wicked or the repentant with the re
bellious. His ear is ever open to the
faintest cry.
Second. The failure of men to ap
prehend this fact. There are many to
day as successors Of those who re
buked Bartimaeus. Some who hole
him In reverence and yet fail to an
prehend adequately that he came tt
seek and to save the lost" There /.
no consideration of policy or of expe
diency, no question Of method, nor the
importance of rank, that can stand IL
the way of opening blind eyes, and an
swering the cry Of the beggar.
Third. The nature Of saving faith
The answer Of relief from the Lore
comes in response to the profound con
viction of personal need. He cam,
not to call the righteous but sinners t,
. |