In Mark chapter 10 we find the story of blind Bartimaeus. It doesn't say how old this man was, but it does say what he did.
Mark 10:46 "And they (Jesus and His disciples) 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."
This poor man spent his days sitting and begging in order to survive. What a depressing, horrible situation he was in. His very existence depended on the kindness and generosity of others. But there is one thing about him, he was not ignorant, He knew about Jesus and what He could do.
Mark 10:47 & 48 "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. 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."
Bartimaeus knew who Jesus was. Not having his sight, he had no way to get to the Lord, so he determined to get the Lords attention any way that he could...so he began to yell out. Those around tried to get him to be quiet, but Bartimaeus knew what the Lord could do for him, and he would not be silenced.
Mark 10:49 - 52 "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. And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus. 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, 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."
I want to draw your attention to a couple of things in these verses. First, the Lord always hears
those who cry out to Him. And secondly, after Bartimaeus received his sight, he followed Jesus.
He was not like the 9 lepers that we talked about yesterday, who the Lord healed and then went
on their own way, not even thanking Jesus for healing them!
This world is filled with people who are the sighted blind. You've heard of the saying, "The blind leading the blind," well there is much truth in those 5 simple words. People are walking around, blind to the spiritual condition that they are in.
2 Corinthians 4:3 & 4 "But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 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."
Those who have not received the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior are blind. They cannot see the truth that the Gospel carries, they are blinded by Satan, the god of this world. It is not until they come to a place of repentance and complete surrender to the Savior, that their sin-blinded eyes will receive sight.
Ephesians 4:17 & 18 "This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:"
Christians can still be blinded by things. We can become blinded by hate, envy, greed, bitterness, anger, self-pity, an arrogant spirit, slothfulness, to name a few.
1 John 2:11 "But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes."
In Ephesians 4:27 we are told not to give place to the devil. When we walk as the world, talk as the world and act as the world, we are giving place to the devil. Why, when we have received our sight (salvation) would we choose to go back to the sin - blinded condition that we were in?
Bartimaeus, when he received the gift of his sight, followed Jesus. When we have our spiritual
sight restored to us by the Lord Jesus Christ, do not leave following Him to return to the world. Unfortunately, this is the condition that many Christians are in, blinded again by the god of this world.
There are many things that we hear about these days that we should do to protect our sight. There are also important things you need to do every day to protect your spiritual eye-sight. Be in the Word of God. Read it, study it and apply it to your life every day. As children of God we should breathe the Scriptures, it is as important to us spiritually as oxygen is to our physical bodies.
Psalms 119:18 "Open Thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Thy law."
Ephesians 1:17 - 19 "That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him: the eyes of your understanding being enlightened: that ye may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power to usward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power."
Those of us who have called out to Jesus, and have been touched by His kind loving hand, and have been given the gift of salvation and have had our spiritual blinded eyes open, should never take for granted what the Lord has done for us. Bartimaeus received his sight and followed Jesus...have you received your sight? If you have, are you following Jesus?
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
T'was grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear,
The hour I first believed.
Thru many dangers, toils, and snares,
I have already come;
'Tis grace hath bro't me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.
The Lord has promised good to me,
His Word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures.
When we've been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We've no less days to sing God's praise,
Then when we'd first begun.
John Newton
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