Evening star., 1914-07-18

Jesus was. showing that the fame of the
great Nazarene healer had reached hr.p
for he cried out confession of his faith
In the personality and power of Jesus,
when he called Him by the popular mes
sianc title the> Son of David
Hopefulness is the core of faith. Bar
timaeus had hopes that He who healed
others would have mercy upon him and
help him if He ever came his way, 90
now. when Jesus passed by the blind
beggar. who heretofore had been depend.
ent upon the multitude, showed his in-
dependence by refusing to heed their
rebukes that he should be still, for they
were like many who seek today to dis
Master. for he cried the more a great
deal: Thou Son of David, have mercy
upon me-'
The crowd considered that the blind
beggar was intrudng. but Bartimaeus
staked everything upon the personality
of Jesus. for his personal affection gave
him the keenest interest in those verses
of the Old Testament which spoke of
opening the blind eyes by the Messiah
when He came. and Bartimaeus was
certain that Jesus of Nazareth was the
Son of David. he called until Jesus
stopped, summoned and saved him.
Stopped, Summoned, Saved.
Bartimaeus by his outcry revealed not
only his need to Jesus, who always re-
spends to the petition of suffering hu-
manity. The multitude misunderstood
Christ when it tried TO silence blind
Bartirnaeus for the Master, who stopped
when the cry that confessed Him before
men as the Messiah reached His ears
Jesus offered no objection to being called
by the popular title of Messiah. for the
hour was near when He Himself would
publicly proclaim Himself as the Mes
eiah before men. Jesus sought to correct
the error Of the multitude by telling thA
people to call the blind man.
Bartfmaeus, when he head the people
say: BE OF good cheer: rise. He caIleth
thee, threw aside his garments that
would interfere with his haste to re-,
spond. sprang up and came to Jesus
HIS response to the first call proved his
faith Blind people. as rule. are careful
or their garments and STAFF for they
know by experience that IL they once part
with them they are not apt to find them
again The daring faith that sought
Jesus at the first opportunity and stopped
the Master by his appeal for mercy did
not need the second invitation.
The question Of Jesus. What wilt thou
that L should do unto thee?" must have
been music to the ears of blind Barti,
maeus. Jesus gave the suppliant a chance
to state whether he was seeking aims or
sight. He was testing again the blind
mans faith. for evidently what He would
do was limited by the faith that the blind
only in the personality of the Christ, but
His power.
Faith may have whatever it asks. and
the blind mans answer satisfied the
Christ. To his request for sight Jesus
gave him not only the answer to his pe-
tition. but also the eager, unspoken pray
er expressed by his coming TO Chrfpt
Jesus knew that down beneath the re.
quest for sight was desire for salvation
that had been unexpressed, SO Jesus said
unto him: Go thy way: thy faith hath
made thee whole" The blind man
followed Christ. glorifyinS
God. and all the people. when they saw,
1t. gave praise to God.
Pierson has pointed out that We have
In the lesson a fine example OF prayer;
First. because IT is the cry OF a con-
scious need: second, because the heart OF
the prayer is d resolute will. or choice
Of blessing: third. because the cry of the
prayer is Have mercy on me-: fourth.
because the attitude of the prayer is
Receive thy sight. and Inst, because tha
result of prayer is. He followed Him.
glorifying God"
II. as Jesus passes by, We would call
upon Him in prayer, as did Bartimaeua,
We would be welcomed into the brother-
hood OF Bartimaeus that has been work.
ing miracles by inspiring the men and
women of all ages to follow Christ aud
glorify God. The Master that stopped on
the way to His passion at the blind mani
cry of faith and need will draw mar to
help all who call upon Him today.