A Blind Man’s Cry
(Mark 10:46-52)
Intro.
We see here a picture of a man who was without sight, who heard about Jesus, and cried out for mercy. Too often we hear salvation described in such a light way we get the idea, it’s just turning over a new leaf. Throughout the Bible we see salvation described as a radical change in the person, a new creature, a blind man given sight, a lunatic made sane, and a dead man given life.
Here, I believe, we see salvation shown as a blind man given sight. There are several different stories in the scriptures where blind men are healed, each time it is different. I believe this is so we might understand God is absolutely Sovereign and can do whatever He desires in whatever way He desires.
I. The Person: The first verse we look at v.46 tells us two things about the person we are speaking about. He is blind and he is a beggar.
1. His Condition: He is blind, he cannot see. I must admit the losing of any of my senses would be awful, but I believe I would dread more the loss of my sight. It seems a blind man is at everyone’s mercy. This is the condition God used to describe you and I, before we knew Christ Jesus our Lord. We were without sight. We could see nothing of value to life.
To think you would never see the beauty of God’s creation again. Your loved ones faces you would never again look upon. For you or I to go blind would seem to be an awful thing and certainly a radical change in our lives. We depend so much on our sight, as we go through life.
2. His Circumstances:
He is poor, he must depend upon the alms which he begs to feed him. He probably had no friends of which he could turn for help. A blind beggar’s friends are others that have similar problems. There may have been other beggars that had different infirmities.
Every morning someone probably had to help Bartimaeus to get to the place where he would spend his time begging for alms. He had no thought of God nor the things of God, only for survival. His life seemed hopeless, there was no better for him. Then on this day, he hears the commotion, what’s happening ? he asked. What is everyone talking about. Jesus is coming may have been the reply.
He may have asked, “who is this Jesus?” Haven’t you heard, He is a miracle worker, He is a great healer of the sick, He is a friend to the poor. Bartemaeus may have thought, this may be someone who can help me. A tiny thread of hope began to grow within him. We do not know if this is the case, all we know is that when he heard it was Jesus, something caused him to cry out for mercy.
II. His Plea: (v.47)
“Jesus, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.” He is crying out to Jesus. Is this man a fit candidate to be a disciple? Surely, he must be cleaned up to come to the Lord of Glory. He cannot expect the Lord to receive him as he is.
One of the disciples may have heard him first. A voice crying out, they looked about to see who this was crying out. Maybe it’s one of the priests, or some wealthy person who is very important. No it’s only this beggar, ragged, dirty and he has no sight. Another time they had seen a blind man and had asked, “who did sin this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” I would imagine, our natures being as they are, this time, the disciple may have thought, just a blind, dirty, sinful beggar looking to take advantage of the Lord’s compassion.
The Bible says, that some there tried to silence this beggar, saying hold your peace, but instead of being silent he began to cry out the more. I would imagine he raised his voice and began to shout. He felt he must get the attention of this man called Jesus.
The title he used for Christ, Thou Son of David, had a significant meaning. The Messiah, long expected by the people of Israel was to come through the lineage of David. Bartimaeus may have been familiar with the scripture that said, Isa 35:5, Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.
We do not know what was in the mind of this blind beggar except we know his desire was to see. This man called Jesus of Nazareth is passing by, he must call out to him. It’s with just such a thought we sing, “Pass me not o’ gentle Savior, hear my humble cry..” This blind beggar knew he must cry out. “Jesus Thou Son of David have mercy on me.”
III. The Promise:
1. He Stood Still: A lost sheep is crying, will our Lord stop to hear his cry. There are many times we do not understand the ways of our Lord. He always hears that one who cries out to Him in sincerity. One who the Father has instilled in their heart a faith and belief to call on His Name. Our Lord seemed to have little time to rest, he was never to busy to pause and hear the requests of His Own.
2. He Called: I don’t understand it all, but my Lord never ignored those that sought Him. He commanded that they call the man over to Him. Notice the wording used by the Holy Spirit, Jesus commanded that he be called. We speak of the irresistible call of Christ, when Jesus sends forth the Holy Spirit, it isn’t a hit and miss proposition, He sends forth a royal command, come forth. (Paul on road to Damascus)
3. He Came to Jesus: We do not want to presume upon the scriptures, but here we see, when the King Of Kings calls, men respond. I see here a type showing how men respond to Christ.
Look at how he comes, he casts away his garment. All of the filth that would cling to a garment was there on his cloak. Men in that day used their outer garments oft times to sleep in, and we can imagine how this would affect the condition of a blind man’s clothing. Others might wash their garments and keep them reasonably clean, but it would be very difficult for a blind man.
The Bible speaks of how we are to be dressed. We are to put away worldly things and to receive from Him a Robe of righteousness. Also we are to lay aside every weight, allowing nothing to slow us down. The Lord has summoned you, hurry, there is no time to waste.
This man who had been a blind beggar would be able to leave a man whose sight was restored. He knew how to beg, he came to Christ as we all did, as a beggar. He knew that Jesus did not have to even hear him, but if He would hear him, he could plead for his sight.
4. Jesus asks a question: “What wilt thou that I should do unto thee?” Some men may ask for silver and gold, some might even ask for a loved one. What is it that you desire Bartimaeus? Jesus did not set limitations on the request. When we go to Jesus it should be for that which we have need of. “You have not because you ask not.” “You have not because you ask amiss.”
5. His Reply: “Lord that I might receive my sight.” His greatest desire was that he might see. This man needed many things, but he felt his greatest need was sight. When you and I came to Christ Jesus, were there not many things we needed, but our minds were not on those material things, but on our greatest need. We needed sight, God had given us life, else we would not have come. The first need is life, and then we need sight.
6. The Cure: The cure was immediate. Stop and think a moment here, do you think this mans life changed. Do you think he came down to the highway the next day to sit and beg for a handout. His life was totally changed, a new life, it didn’t even resemble his old life.
2 Cor 5:17, Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
7. Faith: We know faith is not able to save but a channel through which we receive salvation, or justification. One must first have life, but by grace through faith we also receive sight. We have faith because we are saved, not in order to be.
I Jn 5:1, Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.
Thise who believe have already been born of God. We find this same order spoken of in John 1:12,13, Let’s look:
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Who is it that received him? Who is it that believes on his name? Verse 13 is absolutely clear, those who have been born(past tense) not of blood nor by the exercize of man’s will, but God has made a great change in them and they have become new creatures.
IV. Gratitude Proven: (V. 52)
1. He Followed Jesus: Jesus said, “Go thy way.” The Bible says he followed Jesus. Those in whom God has done a work of grace will desire to follow Jesus. One of the proofs of salvation is that we follow our Lord. Those who truly believe he has taken our place beneath the judgment of God and suffered for us on Calvary’s tree, how can we turn away and not follow him?
2. He Glorified God: (Lk. 18:43) And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.
Salvation should and does produce within the individual a need to praise and worship God. A stranger can give us a little help and we thank him. When we realize the almighty creator was willing to suffer and die in our place can we walk away without expressing our gratitude?
3. He Was An Influence To Others: He not only glorified God but those that knew him gave glory to God. No man is an island, our lives touch others, our children, our friends, and relatives. Things that happen in each of our lives will make an impression on those around us.
Did you ever sit down to talk with an individual who you knew just bubbled over with joy about Jesus. I’m speaking of those who truly show their love for God and not those that are so phoney it makes you sick. Notice how contagious their testamony is to you, pretty soon both of you are sitting around just praising God for who he is and what he has done.
