From the Roadside to Redemption

COLERAINE EVANGELICAL CHURCH

SUNDAY 18 MAY 2025 – MR BRYAN CRUISE

MARK 10 VERSES 46 TO 52

FROM THE ROADSIDE TO REDEMPTION

This miracle in Mark 10 is the very final healing miracle of Jesus. Saying that there is the cursing of the fig tree found in Matthew 21 which takes place after this story. The Lord Jesus also healed the ear of Malchus, the servant of the high priest. On his journey from Canaan in John 2 up to this point in Mark 10 this was the last of the miracles performed in the ministry of Jesus before he gets to Jerusalem. I want you to notice 3 things in this story.

“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.” (verse 46) Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, a blind beggar and Jesus the Son of David, the merciful master.

Notice firstly the beggar’s position. Bartimaeus in the eyes of society is at rock bottom. The first thing we see about him is, he is a beggar. He sat by the highway side begging. Jericho is a city mentioned in scripture previously. It was a city conquered because of its depravity. Zacchaeus chose Jericho as his base, shamelessly exploiting his people. Bartimaeus was a beggar amongst a sea of other beggars. The highway was more than likely swarming with beggars. Bartimaeus was not along in his begging. Matthew 20 verse 30 tells us of 2 beggars who sat begging by the wayside. There were probably more than 2. The gate of the city. The beggars came to the city gates each day. They were outcasts. They were hoping to catch people going in and out of the city at this time. Jews making their way to Jerusalem for the Passover. Trying to catch many pilgrims as possible. Begging alms from people travelling on the road. Jesus is coming into the city one day. The same city that Zacchaeus the tax collector had to climb a sycamore tree because there were many people. Just another beggar, a nuisance, one among many others. A beggar who had hit rock bottom. Also notice his name – Bartimaeus. Mark is very unique as he records someone’s name. We need to take note when he does that. Many others such as demons who were released were not named. Bartimaeus – Bar means son of. He was the son of Timaeus which means unclean, defiled, contaminated. This man Bartimaeus was the son of uncleanness, the son of defilement, contamination. On the authority of God I have to say – so are you. The bible tells us that sin makes us unclean in the sight of God. Ezekiel 24 verse 13 “It is sin that makes you unclean. I have tried to make you clean, but you would not be made clean from your sins. So you will not be clean again until My anger against you is finished.”  From the Old Testament people knew that sin made them unclean, unworthy to come into the presence of God. You cannot enter heaven in uncleanness. You cannot clean yourself up. That is not possible. “All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.” Isaiah 64 verse 6.  We are as an unclean thing. No matter how good you are, what your righteousness looks like they are as filthy rags in the sight of a holy God. How then can I make myself clean? It is very simple. When you put your faith in Christ for salvation, the blood of Jesus Christ is applied to your unclean soul. God cleans you up. Only God can do it. 1 John 1 verse 7 “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all^[a] sin.” Maybe you think to yourself “you don’t know what I have done, I have deep dark sin that no-one knows about.” He cleanseth from all sin. Bartimaeus had hit rock bottom. He was also blind. Blind people were very despised and ridiculed. In the eyes of Jewish people they were considered sinners, under God’s judgment. For someone born blind or someone who became blind it meant you had done something wrong. God was punishing that person. John 9 verses 1 and 2 “And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?” The disciples thought the beggar was under condemnation of God and therefore born blind. Ostracised and alienated from society. The bible shows blindness as a metaphor for the sinful condition of men and women. 2 Corinthians 4 verse 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.” Revelation 3 verse 17 “Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:” You are blind to your own condition, your true condition before God. Nothing in yourself to merit salvation. Many believe today that because they are born into religion and culture they are going to heaven when they die. You are blind to your true condition. The only way to receive your sight is through Christ. John 9 verse 39 “ And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.” If you are not saved you are spiritually blind. How can you be made to see? Exactly the same way as Bartimaeus – you come to the Lord and ask for mercy.

The beggar’s plea.  Whenever the Lord was passing by – verse 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.” Bartimaeus began to cry out. The word used to describe his crying was violent shouting. The same word is used in Mark 5 when a demon possessed man cried out. Bartimaeus cries out in anguish to Jesus. He was not going to let him pass by. He cries out in desperation. “Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me.” That was significant. In verse 47 we read that people told Bartimaeus that Jesus was coming to town that day. Maybe he asked who Jesus was and they told him. When Bartimaeus cried out he didn’t say “Jesus of Nazareth have mercy on me” but rather “Jesus thou son of David have mercy on me.” Nazareth was a back water town, of little significance. Jesus was of a lowly birth. John 1 verse 46 “And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.” It indicates Nazareth was not a good place to be from. To be a Nazarene was to be despised. When people told him Jesus of Nazareth was passing that way and he called out Jesus son of David it revealed an incredible Messianic insight on Bartimaeus’ part. He probably heard all about Jesus. Perhaps his mind thought back to the Messianic promises of a Saviour. Isaiah 35 verse 5 “Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.” When he heard Jesus could heal blind people this means he was the Messiah, the Saviour of the world. “Jesus thou son of David” – this phrase is used 16 times in the New Testament. Bartimaeus used it. He is aware and he knows Jesus is the Saviour of the world. He knew exactly who Jesus was. Do you? Perhaps you think “I believe the Lord was a great teacher”, that is not good enough. A lot of people believe that. “I believe that he was a prophet”, that is not good enough. “I believe that Jesus actually exists”, that is not good enough. Everyone in hell believes Jesus is real. It is not enough to believe he exists. You have to believe on him, put your faith and trust in him. Bartimaeus knew who Jesus was. He could see better than any man that day. He couldn’t see the dusty stranger walking down the road that day, wearing no royal robes, nor holding a sceptre in his hand, followed by a royal entourage. He could see better than any man. He was the Saviour of the world. He cried out for mercy. “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.” The crowd told Bartimaeus to be quiet. They were embarrassed by his outcry. He was not following protocol. “Why would he spend time with you?” Bartimaeus didn’t care what crowd through, he cried all the more. They were a barrier that Bartimaeus had to overcome to come to Jesus. Maybe you are saying “I would become a Christian but you have no idea what my family would say, the mockery I would face in my work tomorrow.” Any individual that is holding you back from coming to Christ is an obstacle that has to be overcome. Bartimaeus cried out all the more. What happened as a result of crying all the more? Verse 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.” Jesus stood still. Here we have the Lord, the Saviour of the  world, the Son of God on his final leg of the journey to die for the sins of the world. He was days away from Calvary. Here in this scenario he stops and stands still because of Bartimaeus’ words. Joshua in the Old Testament bade the sun, moon and the heavens to stand still but here the Lord of the sun, moon and heavens stood still at the word of a beggar. He commanded Bartimaeus to be brought to him. Verse 50 “And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus.” When Bartimaeus heard the command of the Lord to come him he rose to his feet, throws off his cloak in eager faith. He casts away his beggars cloak. That was significant. Bartimaeus was a beggar. In the Mosaic law the cloak was important to him. Exodus 22 verses 26 and 27 “If thou at all take thy neighbour's raiment to pledge, thou shalt deliver it unto him by that the sun goeth down: For that is his covering only, it is his raiment for his skin: wherein shall he sleep? and it shall come to pass, when he crieth unto me, that I will hear; for I am gracious.” Bartimaeus had a beggar’s cloak. During bible times if they were a genuine beggar and blind they went to the local council, the city elders and they gave them a cloak with a seal on it. When you begged you throw off your cloak. This man is a genuine beggar. When he cast his cloak aside at Jesus’ word it was an act of faith. He knew he never would need it again. He would never beg again. He rose to his feet and walked to Jesus knowing that he would receive his sight.

The beggar’s pardon. Verse 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.” The king of heaven, sovereign creator, the God of the universe offered the lowly outcast something. The Lord asked this question and Bartimaeus got straight to the point. He really wanted his sight and this is what he said. Full of faith. The evidence of his healing was obvious – verse 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.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus in the way. He had perfect sight. Instantly. One moment in total blindness the next in unimpaired vision. What was Jesus was saying to Bartimaeus? The healing of his blindness was a great miracle but not the greatest miracle in our story. We are not talking about the physical. Bartimaeus came and became a Christian. This man put his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ – notice it says “he followed Jesus in the way”. Whenever his sight was restored it was instantaneous. He was able to see where he sat. He began to follow Jesus in the way. Do you follow the Lord? Can you say with certainty “I belong to Jesus”? Maybe you are unsure – make sure. Leave no time for error. It was a good thing that Bartimaeus sought the Lord that day because the Lord would never be in Jericho again. Do not put off today what you might not be able to do tomorrow. Jesus may never pass this way again. We do not know what a day may bring forth. Maybe if you let him pass by you might never hear him call again. Isaiah 55 verse 6 “Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near.”