What The Blind Man Saw

Joke: There was a blind man at Wal-Mart the other day. He seemed to be doing alright until he started spinning his dog around his head on its leash. The sales lady ran over and asked, “Can I help you?”

To which the blind man replied, “No thanks, I’m just looking around.”

Bartimaeus acts like I dream of people acting, the eagerness to get to Christ, persistence in the face of adversity.

Luke 18:38 And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me.

Luke 18:39 And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, Thou son of David, have mercy on me.

Why? What made the difference? What the blind man saw!!!!

Luke 18:42 ... thy faith (“sight”) hath saved thee.

Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

People who are not blinded by sight often have a better view of the unseen.

The famous blind songwriter Fanny Crosby wrote more than 8,000 songs. This fact and other interesting highlights in the life of Miss Crosby were revealed by Warren Wiersbe in his book Victorious Christian.

Wiersbe explained that when Fanny was only 6 weeks old a minor eye inflammation developed. The doctor who treated the case was careless, though, and she became totally and permanently blind. Fanny Crosby harbored no bitterness against the physician however. In fact, she once said of him, “lf I could meet him now, I would say thank you thank you over and over again for making me blind. “She felt that her blindness was a gift from God to help her write the hymns that flowed from her pen. According to those who knew her, Miss Crosby probably would have refused treatment even if it could have assured the restoration of her sight. Wiersbe concluded by commenting: “It was said of another blind hymn writer, George Matheson, that God made him blind so he could see clearly in other ways and become a guide to men. This same tribute could be applied to Fanny Crosby, who triumphed over her handicap and used it to the glory of God.” Yes, this talented woman allowed her tragedy to make her better instead of bitter.

Someone said to Helen Keller, “What a pity you have no sight!” to which she replied, “Yes, but what a pity so many have sight but cannot see!”

1. Bartimaeus saw his blindness

It was his blindness that caused his interest in Jesus, People don’t go to the doctor unless sick (blind)

Sat by the wayside - heard about Jesus, did much listening, contemplated seeing.

Ridiculous point? He knew he was missing something he wanted to see.

There are a whole group of people who don’t know they are missing something.

I remember when I put on my first pair of glasses at 16th & Glenarm in Denver and immediately was able to read the signs across the street. I didn’t know I was blind until I put them on.

2 Cor 4:3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:

2 Cor 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

How did they become blind - 2 ways

1. some were born to blind parents,

Mark 10:46 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.

Timaeus = Blind Man

Bartimaeus = Son of the blind man

He never knew anything else.

Many blind parents - never considered their eternal destiny - taught their children that all there is, is the here & now.

A German lady during World War II was going to have a baby. When she was assigned a hospital room, she noticed upon the wall a picture of the crucified Saviour. Being a brainwashed Nazi, she screamed for the nurse: “Get the picture of that Jew off the wall!”

The nurse said, “I can’t. I have no authority to do that.”

“Then get me the head man.” Again she cried, “Get that Jew off the wall!”

He too informed her that he could not remove the picture.

The husband came to visit; and when he saw Jesus hanging on the cross, he too went to the authorities. “Get that Jew off the wall. I don’t want my baby’s eyes to see that Jew!”

The picture was removed. The baby was born. The baby was brought to the parents. No, the baby would never see the picture of that Jew; it was born blind.