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BLIND BARTIMEUS CURED
OUR Lord, like the sun in the firmament, prosesecuted without intermission the great ends of his ministry, diffusing innumerable blessings wheresoever he bent his course. The miracle which he performed at Jericho, though similar in many respects to some others which are recorded, has some circumstances peculiar to itself, which deserve to be attentively considered. St. Matthew mentions two persons who were joint-petitioners on this occasion; but St. Mark confines his narration to Bartimeus alone, as the more noted of the two, and as the chief speaker. To comprehend the most important incidents in this history, we shall consider,
I. The state of the person whom Jesus called—
Bartimeus was a distressed and humble suppliant for mercy—
[He was both blind, and necessitated to subsist on the precarious bounty of those who might pass him on the highway. Who would have thought that God should suffer one, towards whom he had designs of love and mercy, to be reduced to so low a state? Yet such is his sovereign appointment in many instances; his own children are lying at the gate full of sores, while his enemies are faring sumptuously every day. Hearing that Jesus passed by, this blind man earnestly importuned his aid. He would not lose the opportunity which now occurred; nor cease from his cries till he had obtained his request. His language was expressive of an assured faith in Jesus the promised Messiah, at the very time that the rulers and Pharisees almost unanimously rejected him. Thus it is frequently found, that those things which are hid from the wise and prudent are revealed unto babes.]
Afflictive as such a condition is, it affords a pleasant and hopeful prospect—
[Distress of any kind cannot but be an object of commiseration; but none is so much to be deprecated as the blindness of the mind. The loss of eye-sight is no more worthy to be compared with this, than the body with the soul, or time with eternity. Miserable beyond description are they, the eyes of whose understanding have never yet been enlightened to behold the wonderful things of God’s law. But if we be sensible of our blindness; if we be calling upon Jesus as the appointed and all-sufficient Saviour, if we be persevering in prayer notwithstanding all our discouragements, and saying, “I will not let thee go except thou bless me,” we are surely in a hopeful state; we are not far from the kingdom of God.]
In confirmation of this point we proceed to shew,
II. The encouragement which the call of Jesus afforded him—
The command which Jesus gave was announced to Bartimeus with joyful congratulations—
[Jesus had declined for some time to notice his cries, but at last commanded him to be brought unto him. What a gleam of hope must instantly have irradiated the mind of this poor suppliant! A few minutes before, he had been rebuked by the multitude, and bidden to hold his peace; but, happily for him, their rebukes had operated to quicken rather than to damp his ardour. Now also the voices of those who had checked him were changed, and their rebukes were turned to encouraging exhortations. The very call was deemed an earnest of the mercy that had been solicited.]
And are not the calls of Jesus a ground of encouragement to all who feel their need of mercy?
[He does not, it is true, call any of us by name; but the minute descriptions given of those whom he does invite, are far more satisfactory to the soul, than the most express mention of our names could be: we might doubt whether there were not others of our name; but who can doubt whether he be a sinner, a lost sinner? Yet such are repeatedly declared to be the very persons whom he came to seek and save. Are we, like the blind man, longing for mercy, and striving to obtain it? It is impossible to doubt whether Jesus have mercy in store for us, since he particularly calls to him “every one that thirsteth.” Only let his invitations be treasured up in our minds, and we shall never despond, never entertain a doubt of obtaining our desire at last.]
Participating in the general joy which this call excited, let us trace,
III. The effect it produced upon him—
He arose and went to Jesus without delay—
[Intent upon one point of infinite importance, he disregarded his garment, as the Samaritan woman on another occasion did her water-pot; or perhaps, fearing that it would retard his motion, he cast it away, that he might the more speedily obey the summons. Valuable as it must have been to one so poor, he utterly despised it, when the prospect of a cure had cheered his soul; nor would he retain any thing that should for one moment interfere with his expected bliss. Instantly he went, and made known to Jesus the particular mercy which he desired. He asked not any pecuniary aid, but that, of which the value was above rubies. He had come to one who was able to grant whatever he should ask; and, as he was not straitened in his Benefactor, he would not be straitened in his own petitions.]
Such should be the effect which the calls of Jesus should produce on us—
[We should not hesitate one moment to comply with his gracious invitations, nor should any worldly concerns occupy our thoughts when a prospect of mercy presents itself to our view. We should cast off every thing, however dear or even necessary it may be to us, rather than suffer it to retard our spiritual progress. “We should lay aside every weight, and the sin that most easily besets us, in order that we may run with patience and activity the race that is set before us.” Going to Jesus we should spread all our wants before him. If he ask, “What wouldst thou that I should do unto thee?” we should be ready to reply, ‘Lord, open my eyes, forgive my sins, renew my soul.’ If we thus improve his calls, we shall never be disappointed of our hope.]
We shall conclude with recommending to your imitation the conduct of this blind beggar. Imitate,
1. His humility—
[It is scarcely possible for words to express deeper humility than that manifested by Bartimeus. He sought nothing but mercy for mercy’s sake: he had no plea but that of his own misery, together with that which was implied in the appellation given to Jesus. The Son of David was to confirm his divine mission by the most benevolent and stupendous miracles. The import of the beggar’s petition therefore was, ‘Let me, the poorest, meanest, and most necessitous of mankind, be made a monument of thy power and grace.’ Such exactly is to be the spirit and temper with which we must approach the Lord. If we bring any self-righteous plea, or build our hope upon any thing besides the work and offices of Christ, we never can find acceptance with him. It is the broken and contrite spirit, and that alone, which God will not despise.]
2. His perseverance—
[The circumstances under which he persevered in his requests were very discouraging. He was rebuked by the people, and, to appearance, disregarded by Christ; yet, instead of relaxing, he redoubled his efforts to obtain mercy. Thus should we pray and not faint. Discouragements we must expect both from without and from within. The world will cry out against us, and God himself may appear to have forsaken us: but we must argue like the lepers, and say, ‘If I cease to call upon him, I must perish; and I can but perish if I continue my supplications. Thus must we continue in prayer with all perseverance; breaking through every difficulty, casting away every impediment, and determining, if we perish, to perish at the feet of Christ. Would to God that there were within us such a spirit! Sooner should heaven and earth pass away than such a suppliant be finally rejected.]
3. His gratitude—
[When healed by Jesus, we find the same contempt for secular interests as he had manifested under his distress. From henceforth his concern was to honour his Benefactor: he instantly became a stated follower of Jesus, a living witness of his mercy and power. How differently did he act from those who seek the Lord in their affliction, but, as soon as ever they are relieved, forget all the vows that are upon them! Let not us be of this base and odious character. Let us rather yield up ourselves as living sacrifices to the Lord, and devote ourselves wholly to his service. Let the remembrance of his kindness be ever engraven on our hearts, and a grateful sense of it be ever legible in our lives. Thus shall we answer the end for which his mercy is imparted, and be numbered among his followers in a better world.]