Lesson 185 - Junior
Memory Verse
"Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole" (Mark 10:52).
Notes
By the Highway
Jesus and His disciples were travelling through the city of Jericho on their way to Jerusalem. This was Jesus' last journey through Jericho, for He was about to give His "life a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45). A great multitude of people followed Jesus.
Bartimæus, the son of Timæus, was a blind man. He sat by the side of the road, begging. He had no other way to make a living. As he heard the multitude that followed Jesus, he inquired about it. Upon hearing that "it was Jesus of Nazareth," Bartimæus began to call to Him.
An Opportunity
The blind man had no way of being sure that the man was Jesus. He believed the report; and, deep in his heart, he believed that Jesus would help him. Many people, afflicted in body and soul, have had the same opportunity that Bartimæus had. Some people do not admit that they need help from the Lord, even though they are helpless in a physical way and blind to spiritual things. Many people have heard a report that Jesus of Nazareth is near, but they believed not. Others who know that they cannot help themselves have heard the true report, yet do not call to Jesus for help. For this reason, they do not receive physical or spiritual help. In James 4:2 we read, "Ye have not, because ye ask not."
There are other people who plan to pray some day; they expect to ask Jesus for mercy some other time, at a "convenient season," they say ([ACT:24:25]). This lesson shows how dangerous delay can be; Jesus did not pas through Jericho again. This was Bartimæus' only chance for help; "next time" never came. Had Bartimæus delayed his prayer, perhaps he would never have received his sight, would never have had another occasion to ask for mercy, never an opportunity to follow Jesus.
Mercy
By his call, Bartimæus showed that he believed Jesus to be the promised Son of God. When Bartimæus called Jesus the "son of David," it was the same as saying, "Jesus, the promised Saviour." Bartimæus asked for mercy. He did not say that he deserved to have his sight, or that he had earned it, or had a right to it. His prayer was that the Lord would be merciful to him. His cry was for personal help -" "Have mercy on me."
Not Discouraged
We are not told that Jesus showed any sign of hearing the first cry of the blind man. Those about Bartimæus tried to stop him from calling out. Probably they tried to tell him that he was hindering others from hearing, or that Jesus would pay no attention to one such as he. Other people have had similar experiences when they first called out to Jesus for mercy. Perhaps it seemed that their prayer was not heard the first time. Maybe those about them tried to discourage them. No doubt Satan came along to try to make them believe that Jesus did not have time for them, and would not hear their prayer.
It took more to discourage Bartimæus than what these men could say. He needed help, and knew that he needed it. He also knew that Jesus could help him, so he cried all the more -" and, no doubt, still louder.
Jesus hears and answers the prayer of a determined person. He heard Bartimæus. Jesus did not go to him and heal him by speaking a few mystic words, as some might have expected Jesus to do. He commanded that Bartimæus be called. No doubt a great hope sprang up within the heart of Bartimæus when he heard the words, "He calleth thee."
Effort Put Forth
Bartimæus cast aside his garment, as one would take off his coat, so there would be no hindrance and nothing to retard him. Bartimæus went to Jesus. He did not make excuses. He did not say that he needed to be led, or that he was handicapped by being blind. He was willing to go when Jesus called him. Perhaps he did not know how he would get to Jesus, but he arose and started. It is doubtful that he stumbled or groped about, for the voice of Jesus had called him, and he desired to answer that call.
A Particular Favour
Jesus asked the blind man what he wanted. Bartimæus did not say that the Lord knew his need. The blind man asked a particular favour, "Lord, that I might receive my sight." It would appear that Jesus would know what a blind man would want. Jesus did know. Jesus wanted to hear the request from the lips of the man. In the Sermon on the Mount (
) Jesus taught, "Ask, and it shall be given you" (Matthew 7:7). Today, when people have a request, the Lord is pleased to have them speak that request. If one really wants mercy of the Lord, he will ask for it. If you have been praying, expecting to receive healing for your body or an experience for your soul, perhaps you have not received because you have not asked. "Ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full" (John 16:24).Faith
Jesus said to Bartimæus, "Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole." The words were not, "Thy faith will make thee whole." Jesus said, "Thy faith hath made thee whole" or that his faith had already made him whole -" as soon as he believed. "And immediately he received his sight."
What a wonderful day it must have been to Bartimæus! To have his sight! Not dimly at first, nor gradually; but immediately he could see. His faith in Jesus brought light where there had been darkness. It brought freedom from fear and want. He was no longer helpless or hopeless. How happy he must have been that he asked Jesus for mercy! What a change took place when Bartimæus believed!
We are not told how long Bartimæus was blind, nor if he had ever been able to see. We are not told the cause of his blindness. These things are not considered by Christ. Jesus looks for faith in the heart. To another man Jesus said: "If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth" (Mark 9:23).
Others Healed
Bartimæus was not the only one who received healing for his body because he believed. We have studied about the woman who was healed when she touched the hem of Jesus' garment (
), and to whom Jesus said, "Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole" (Mark 5:34). We have read about the servant of the centurion () who was healed in the "selfsame hour" that Jesus spoke these words to the centurion: "Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee" (Matthew 8:13).Bartimæus was not the only blind person to receive his sight because of his faith. Another time, two blind men called upon Jesus for mercy. He touched their eyes and said, "According to your faith be it unto you," and their eyes were opened ([MAT:9:29-30]).
Healing for You
It was not only in Bible times that Jesus healed afflicted bodies. Many, many people, in our own day, who have the same faith in Christ that Bartimæus had, have been healed of serious sickness and afflictions. In the Blood of Jesus there is power to save the soul, and to heal the body. Healing is according to the Word of God. The Prophet Isaiah, in referring to Jesus wrote, "With his stripes we are healed" (Isaiah 53:5). This instruction is given us concerning healing: "Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: and the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up... pray one for another, that ye may be healed" (James 5:14-16).
Before Jesus ascended into Heaven, He gave the great commission to go "into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." He continued by saying, "And these sings shall follow them that believe... they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover" (Mark 16:17, 18). Jesus performed many miracles of healing. He told His disciples that those who believed would do the things that He had done, and "greater works than these shall he do" (John 14:12).
Testimonies
We have on record many testimonies that sick bodies have been healed by the prayer of faith. Children have been healed when their parents prayed in faith. God honours the prayer and faith of a child, too. Many people have been healed through the prayers and faith of a child.
Jesus today has given sight to those who were blind, the same as He did to Bartimæus. A young man worships with us, whose eyes were blinded by an explosion during World War II. He was given no hope that he would ever see. Preparations were made to send him home, blind. He prayed, and had faith in the same Jesus who spoke to Bartimæus. Like Bartimæus, his eyes were healed by the Lord. The testimony of this young man is given in the Apostolic Faith tract, "On Board the Enterprise."
Our lesson concerns the healing of the physically blind. May the study of the Word put new hope and courage into the hearts of those whose bodies are afflicted. Jesus is still performing miracles of healing. Perhaps you have prayed for and have not received healing; pray again in faith. Children, you can pray, not only for yourselves but you can also pray for others, and God will hear and answer your prayer.
No doubt Bartimæus also received spiritual sight, for he "followed Jesus." In our next lesson we will study about the healing and the salvation of the spiritually blind.
Questions
1. Who was Bartimæus?
2. Why was this his only chance to meet Jesus?
3. What was the cry of Bartimæus?
4. What did he do when he was told to "hold his peace"?
5. Why did Jesus ask him what he wanted?
6. How did he receive his sight?
7. What did Bartimæus do after he was healed?
8. How can a person today receive healing from the Lord?