Scripture Reading: Mark 10:46-52 | Sabbath: December 14, 2024
Memory Verse: Mark 10:52
Mark 10:52 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.
Weekly Proverb: Proverbs 29:2
Proverbs 29:2 When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.
Introduction: The blessing of sight. We all know what a blessing it is. But for those who have lost it, they are reminded every day. Why was Bartimaeus blessed with the gift of sight?

1. Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem to be crucified. As he passed through Jericho, who was by the side of the road? What was his condition? Did he have a reason to speak to the Healer? Mark 10:46.
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.
2. When he knew that the Healer was passing by, what did he do? How did he address Jesus? Did the way he addressed Jesus show that he acknowledged Jesus as the Messiah and Saviour? v 47.
Mark 10:47 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.
3. (Why would the multitude resist the attempts of a blind man to speak to the Son of David who has proven that He can heal blind eyes?) Would Bartimaeus be silenced? Was this his desperation talking? Was it his faith talking? Could it possibly have been both? v 48.
Mark 10:48 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.
4. When Jesus heard him calling, what did He command the crowd to do? In Bartimaeus’s desperation, what did the crowd tell him? v 49.
Mark 10:49 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.
5. He had been called. He had been chosen. He knows what he wants from the Son of David. How does he express his enthusiasm? How does he manifest his expectation? v 50.
Mark 10:50 And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus.
6. So he meets the Saviour and Healer. Did Jesus keep him waiting? Did Jesus already know what the blind man wanted? Did Jesus call him out of the crowd because he was blind? v 51ab.
Mark 10:51 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.
7. What was his obvious answer to Jesus’s question? v 51cde.
Mark 10:51 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.
8. How willing was the Creator to exercise His love for one of His creatures? (Do you think Bartimaeus’s recognition of Jesus as the Son of David had anything to do with His action toward him?) v 52.
Mark 10:52 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.
9. “Go thy way.” What option was Jesus giving Bartimaeus? Could he have picked up his garment and gone home to his father? Now that he had his sight, there were many sights to see and many people to see face to face. Did Jesus give him the freedom to see them? v 52b.
Mark 10:52 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.
10. What option did Bartimaeus take? In all the enthusiasm over his eyes, what was most important to him? Were his eyes more important than He who healed his eyes? v 52de.
Mark 10:52 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.
11. He receives his sight. He leaves his home, Jericho. He follows the Lamb into Jerusalem a few days before the Passover. A few days after arriving in Jerusalem, what would he have witnessed? Mark 15:25.
Mark 15:25 And it was the third hour, and they crucified him.

Conclusion: Bartimaeus’s faith was strong. He knew that he was in the presence of the promised Son of David. Not until the Passover, when he sees Jesus crucified, would he have known that he was in the presence of the Lamb of God.