The Pilgrim Path---Mark---10: 46—52 

And they came to Jericho. And as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, her began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” And Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart. Get up; he is calling you.” And throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. And Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” And the blind man said to him, “Rabbi, let me recover my sight.” And Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way.

AND JESUS STOPPED…

---Jericho was not one of the Top Ten most appealing places in the Holy Land to anticipate a “blessing” from the LORD (study its history). It seems to be a place you would be, “passing through”---not a real destination for most (except Jesus). Please remember: The LORD has many people---and many things for people---in places we would be prone to quickly pass over.

---Jesus gets the “faithful attention” of a blind beggar (Bartimaeus). As was the custom, wherever the God-man went---He drew the crowds. Why not? Often, He performed miraculous deeds. Bartimaeus sits by the road. He had a plan: He will address Jesus by His Royal Name---Son of David---and ask for His mercy in healing. It worked!

---Jesus hears the beggar---and simply says, “Call him.” Jesus asks, “What shall I do for you?” The blind man responds, “Rabbi---recover my sight.” The LORD says concisely, “GO---your faith has made you well.” What a miracle. Jesus stopped--- at his faith. Jesus rewarded his faith!

---Jesus may not choose to “heal” your bodily disease. He knows best. You may ask as His child. He may well choose to empower your faith as never before---So you will walk in newness of life as the Apostle Paul (please read Second Corinthians 12: 7—10). What one of us is not prepared to walk in empowered grace---and renewed strength from Heaven---in the face of all that life brings? “GO your way---Your faith has made you well.”

From J. C. Ryle: Let us strive and pray that we may have like precious faith. We too are not allowed to see Jesus with our bodily eyes. But we have to report of His power, and grace, and willingness to save, in the Gospel. We have exceeding great promises from His own lips, written down for our encouragement. Let us trust those promises implicitly and commit our souls to Christ unhesitatingly. Let us not be afraid to repose all our confidence on His own gracious words, and to believe that what He has engaged to do for sinners, He will surely perform. What is the beginning of all saving faith, but a soul’s venture on Christ?

If others did not know the misery of blindness, Bartimaeus did. If others did not think it worth while to take such trouble, in order to obtain relief, he, at any rate, knew better. He cared not for the rebukes of bystanders. He heeded not the ridicule which his importunity probably brought on him. “He cried all the more,” and so crying obtained his heart’s desire, and received his sight…

From Matthew Henry: It is not enough to COME TO CHRIST for spiritual healing, but, when we are healed, we must continue to follow him; that we may do honor to him, and receive instruction from him. Those that have their spiritual eyesight, see that beauty in Christ, that will effectually draw them to RUN AFTER HIM.

HYMN

No strength of our own and no goodness we claim;

Yet, since we have known of the Savior’s great name,

In this our strong tower for safety we hide:

The LORD is our power, “The LORD will provide.”

John Newton, 1779

Grace and Peace in Jesus, the Only Redeemer of broken and wretched souls, Pastor Jason