Luke 18: 35 – 43
The Great Optician
35 Then it happened, as He was coming near Jericho, that a certain blind man sat by the road begging. 36 And hearing a multitude passing by, he asked what it meant. 37 So they told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. 38 And he cried out, saying, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 39 Then those who went before warned him that he should be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 40 So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be brought to Him. And when he had come near, He asked him, 41 saying, “What do you want Me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, that I may receive my sight.” 42 Then Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has made you well.” 43 And immediately he received his sight, and followed Him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.
The Gospels of Matthew and Mark also record this event, so let’s also take a look at what they say.
Mark 10: 46 – 52, “46 Now they came to Jericho. As He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the road begging. 47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48 Then many warned him to be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 49 So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called. Then they called the blind man, saying to him, “Be of good cheer. Rise, He is calling you.” 50 And throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus. 51 So Jesus answered and said to him, “What do you want Me to do for you?” The blind man said to Him, “Rabboni, that I may receive my sight.” 52 Then Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road.
Matthew 20:29-34, 29 Now as they went out of Jericho, a great multitude followed Him. 30 And behold, two blind men sitting by the road, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, saying, “Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!” 31 Then the multitude warned them that they should be quiet; but they cried out all the more, saying, “Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!” 32 So Jesus stood still and called them, and said, “What do you want Me to do for you?” 33 They said to Him, “Lord, that our eyes may be opened.” 34 So Jesus had compassion and touched their eyes. And immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him.
I can already hear you. There are some significant differences. So, before we begin to look at today’s Scripture let’s discuss the reasons for the differences.
As The Lord Jesus left Jericho on His approach to Jerusalem he was hailed as ‘the son of David’ - by a blind man. The idea had no doubt been suggested to the blind man by others but it was he alone who, having thought about it and accepted it, hailed Jesus by the title. Blind Jerusalem might not welcome Jesus like this but this blind man would, and he also was given sight and became a disciple as we will see in verse 52.
Whatever the beggar’s intention Mark clearly saw the use of this title on this momentous entry into Jerusalem as highly significant. Here was the son of David approaching Jerusalem across the Jordan as He proceeded towards His final victory, as had the Israel of Joshua, and as the Messiah of the future was expected to do.
Look again at the three Gospels regarding Jericho:
, Matthew - 29 Now as they went out of Jericho
. Luke - 35 Then it happened, as He was coming near Jericho
. Mark - 46 Now they came to Jericho
You can see that neither are stressing the exact spot, the important thing (if it was important) being that it happened at Jericho. Everyone okay with this answer?
Matthew has two blind beggars at the scene and names neither. This would not be surprising as there would probably be a dozen or more there, (it would be a favorite place for beggars at Passover time), and it is quite likely that our Lord Jesus would heal them all. He certainly would if they asked for it. But Mark concentrates on the one who brings over his point. Approaching Passover time such a spot just outside Jericho leading up to Jerusalem, would be prized by beggars. And it would be constantly thronged with people in festive mood. The point about this particular beggar was his use of the title ‘son of David’, and that was clearly picked up by a second joining in his cry.
Let’s now take a look at Luke’s Gospel.
35 Then it happened, as He was coming near Jericho, that a certain blind man sat by the road begging.
Mark wrote this, “46 Now they came to Jericho. As He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the road begging.”
Mark rarely mentions names and yet here he stresses the approach to Jericho. The sensible explanation for this is that he saw it as significant in the light of Old Testament history. When the ancient people of Israel first entered the land they came to Jericho, and when any Jew heard the name Jericho that was the idea that would spring to mind. And now the first place our Adoni Yeshua reached after the mention of His determined ‘going up to Jerusalem’ in chapter 10 verse 32 was Jericho. He has, as it were, ‘entered the land’ to claim it and was now to be greeted as ‘the son of David’, the all conquering Messiah.
Please take note how our Wonderful Holy Spirit’s mentions the large crowd has again appeared. Our Great Master could not avoid them, and here they were to be seen as part of the triumphal march to Jerusalem. He had not come alone. Some would return home shortly but others would continue to Jerusalem for the Passover.
By giving the genealogy ‘The son of Timaeus, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar was sitting by the wayside.’ It suggests that Timaeus was well known to Mark, and possibly the church to which he first wrote, as an outstanding Christian. As Bartimaeus (which means son of Timaeus) became a disciple this is quite probable. Also the fact that they were poor comes out in that Bartimaeus was begging.
36 And hearing a multitude passing by, he asked what it meant. 37 So they told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. 38 And he cried out, saying, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
The blind man had clearly asked what the commotion was and was informed that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. That The Lord Jesus was well known to him comes out in that the blind man knew who He was and that He was the son of David. The news excited him for he had heard what our Creator God, Jesus could do and he began to cry out.
The crowd did not react to the name (their rebuke was because they thought he was making a disturbance. However, here was a prophetic recognition, whether conscious or subconscious, of Who Jesus really was. He is welcomed by a blind man in such terms while those who can see are oblivious to His coming.
39 Then those who went before warned him that he should be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
Luke clearly wants to get the point over that our Lord Jesus was hailed as the son of David. It is obvious that the man was creating quite a disturbance for the crowd told him quite sternly to be quiet. But he had seen his chance and would not be quiet.
40 So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be brought to Him.
When someone in the crowd recognizes their Shepherd, our Great Shepherd Jesus hears the voice in the crowd appealing to Him. The man was probably sitting in a place for beggars and because he was blind would not have wanted to get caught up in a crowd. So he had remained seated, which had made his cries even more urgent. But no cry to our Merciful Lord Jesus ever remained unheard. He stopped in His tracks and said, “Call him.”
The crowds attitude now changed. They encouraged the man, telling him to get up. No doubt someone offered help to guide him, or possibly a disciple came to help him.
And when he had come near, He asked him, 41 saying, “What do you want Me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, that I may receive my sight.”
We know that Peter was an eyewitness to this event and he took note of what the blind man did. This information he gave to Mark who wrote, “50 And throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus. 51 So Jesus answered and said to him, “What do you want Me to do for you?” The blind man said to Him, “Rabboni, that I may receive my sight.”
The detail of him throwing aside his cloak is dropped by the other Gospels, (demonstrating that these writers do not invent things to give an impression of genuineness). He was so eager that he sprang up and threw aside all encumbrances. At last his chance had come and the son of king David – The Messiah - had called him. It may be that the cloak had been spread out on his knee to receive alms.
Do you question the fact that our Lord Jesus ask the blind man what he wanted of Him? Our Lord Jesus often questioned those who came to Him so that He could make them think what they were asking and could strengthen their faith.
The blind man replied simply. ‘Rabboni’. This probably indicated extra respect, ‘my lord, my master’. ‘That I might receive my sight.’
42 Then Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has made you well.” 43 And immediately he received his sight, and followed Him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.
Our Holy King Jesus recognized the man’s faith and responded to it. Matthew tells us that He also touched his eyes. Through faith his eyes were opened. This was part of the message that Mark was conveying. The other was that the son of David, the Messiah had come, entering the land of promise and opening the eyes of the blind in fulfillment of Scripture as written by the prophet Isaiah chapter 35, 5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.”
This was what our Majestic Holy Ruler longed to do spiritually in Jerusalem and would do for those who believed and put their trust in Him, for the idea of Isaiah was not only literal but spiritual.
He was immediately healed. When our Lord does a miracle it happens immediately.
Our Lord Jesus had said “Go your way”, but instead he followed Jesus. There seems little doubt that this means fully what it says. From now on he was a disciple of Jesus, which explains why his name and that of his father were well known to Mark. There is probably therefore a double meaning here, that he also received his spiritual sight and was saved, and thus followed Jesus. The significance of the event is clear. The opener of the eyes of the blind, the Son of David, is about to enter Jerusalem.
Remember back a little, where we went over “The Rich Young Ruler’. The rich man had refused to leave all and follow our Master Jesus, but we see now how this blind beggar responded so gladly. He had previously been sitting by the way. Now he was able to follow in the Way. Note the implication. The one who was blind sat ‘by’ the way, it is the one who now sees who ‘walks in the way’, because his eyes have been opened.
Even so, Lord Jesus, open our eyes to Your Ways. You Are The Great Optician.
