2023

Mark 10:46-52       (Also in Matthew 20:29-34 and Luke 18:35-43)

(46) And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging. (47)  And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me. (48)  And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou son of David, have mercy on me. (49) And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee. (50) And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus. (51)  And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight. (52) And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.

 This miracle is recorded in three places in the Gospels. Each one’s version has a slightly different view. In Matthew is says two blind men, and in Luke it refers to a certain blind man. Only in mark does it say the person by name. Many reasons for this are subject to the viewpoint of the writer. It is possible Mark might have knowledge of who this man was by name because He does mention the man’s lineage. Matthew and Luke possibly not. This in no ways makes the Bible contradict itself.

 The man cries out to Jesus to have mercy on him when he finds out Jesus has come to town. Many around said he should hold his peace. Almost as if he were not worthy to speak to Jesus. He then begins cry out louder to Jesus. When I read this, I found it very profound what this man did. He was calling to Jesus, People were discouraging him from doing so, and he persistently keeps calling to Jesus louder and louder. This man knows the healing power of Jesus and was not going to allow anyone to stand in his way of getting to Jesus or getting Jesus to acknowledge him. How often do we allow ourselves to get distracted from pursuing Jesus. I know I am very guilty of this.  Do we find ourselves with the same desperation o get Jesus’ attention? How often to we ask God for something and over time get winded and quit asking because we have not received it yet. Or, better yet, we do not ask, for we think we are not worthy of getting what we ask for. Bartimaeus risked everything to get Jesus’ attention and to make his request known.

  After he cries out to Jesus again, Jesus tells them around Him to call the man to him. The Bible says Bartimaeus cast his garment and went to Jesus. I get the impression that he did not casually walk over to Jesus, but probably moved as fast as he could even though being blind. You get a sense of desperation as the story unfolds. You would not think that after the commotion he made he would just casually stroll up to Jesus after being called. Jesus then asks what He should do for him. Bartimaeus responds that he may receive his sight. Here in Marks, Jesus responds by saying his faith has made him whole. In Luke, it says his faith has saved thee. In Matthew it says Jesus touched them (the 2 men) and they received their sight.

 Just as stated above, these are not contradictions. Only recorded as the writers saw and felt necessary to record. Yes, there could have been two blind men and probably were, but being only one was calling out to Jesus or the one who was most vocal, could possibly be why two of the authors only wrote about him. Think about many I witness accounts on the news. Many people see the same instance but will not give a word for word account of what others saw. Does not discredit any of them, but they would talk about what they felt was important to them. I will say, I do get frustrated when I hear people say the Bible contradicts itself. It is usually from people who do not read the Bible in context but want to take one verse and pit it against another verse. It is stories like this where people who do not read the Bible and quickly start accusing the Bible of being contradictive.

Enough of that rant. So, the Thing about this miracle is Bartimaeus was persistent in getting to Jesus. He was not going to let no one stand in his way of the blessings of Jesus. Once in Jesus’s presence, he made his needs know. He put his faith out there on the limb. Risked everything. Jesus’ response is your faith has made you whole, or saved thee, however you want to state it. When Jesus interacts with you, you will be a different person. Very difficult to stay the same. The Bible goes on to tell us Bartimaeus immediately followed Jesus.

Matthew 7:7 pretty much sums this miracle up.

"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you”

Bartimaeus was seeking, he asked, and was knocking to get Jesus’s attention and the door was opened to a new life with sight.

We need to focus on those three things. Ask, Seek and Knock. 

Asking:

1 John 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

1 John 5:15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

Seeking:

Psalm 9:10 And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.

Psalm 27:4 One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple.

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Knock

Matthew 7:8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

Luke 11:10 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.