“Open
the Eyes of My Heart, Lord!”
Mark
10:46-52
Introduction: When John the Baptist was
imprisoned, we read in Matthew’s Gospel that he made an inquiry about Jesus,
2 Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word
by his disciples 3 and said
to him, "Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for
another?" 4 And Jesus
answered them, "Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5 the blind receive their sight
and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are
raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them… (Matthew 11:2-5).
The works and the words of Jesus bore witness to His
messianic identity. One of the ministries of the Rescuer in the prophesied
messianic age would be to open the eyes of the blind. Isaiah at least twice
refers to this future work of the messiah. We read in Isaiah 42:6-9…
6 "I am the
LORD; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep
you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the
nations, 7 to open the eyes
that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison
those who sit in darkness. 8
I am the LORD; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to
carved idols. 9 Behold, the
former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare..."
That passage talking about the coming Servant of the Lord
seems to refer to spiritual darkness and blindness being overcome by the Light
of the World. It seems this is what Isaiah had in mind when he said in Isaiah
53:5, “…he was wounded for our
transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the
chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed.”
The context is talking about spiritual restoration, but ultimately that will
subsume the physical as well. One day we’ll have a new, resurrection body! Earlier
in Isaiah we read in 35:4b-6a…
…Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the
recompense of God. He will come and save you." 5 Then the eyes of the blind
shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; 6 then shall the lame man leap
like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy.
Physical healing of all kinds of handicaps and ailments are
to accompany the coming Kingdom of God. The miracles that Jesus did were a
glimpse ahead to that coming kingdom. The kingdom was present, because the King
was present! Ironically, most did not yet have eyes to see, they did not
recognize their own Messiah, even though He was “…attested to you by God, with miracles, wonders, and signs, which God
did through Him in your midst as you yourselves know…” (Acts 2:22). His
works bore witness to His identity and gave a look ahead to the future kingdom,
for those with eyes to see.
Context: The two healings of blind men
(10:46-52; cf. 8:22-26) bracket the three predictions of Jesus’ impending death
and resurrection, as well as the extensive teaching on discipleship in these
chapters.
The Maine* Idea: As we call on Jesus in faith He
will open our spiritual eyes and we will follow Him. We’ll look at this from
four perspectives, 1) The Prerequisite of a Disciple: Recognizing our
need; 2) The Perception of a disciple: His sheep hear and heed the call;
3) The Prayer of a Disciple: He calls on the Lord to be saved; and 4)
The Path of a Disciple: Saved by faith, saved to follow Him.
I. The Prerequisite
of a Disciple: The
path begins with seeing our need (46-48).
46 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. 47 And when he heard that it was
Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have
mercy on me!" 48 And many
rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, "Son
of David, have mercy on me!"
It seems Jesus
and the disciples had crossed the Jordan and taken the road south on the east
of the Jordan, and then crossed the Jordan as they headed toward Jerusalem. The
ancient city of Jericho was about a mile away from another city that arose in
the New Testament era, which was also called Jericho. That probably explains
the differences in the Gospel accounts, was Jesus entering or leave Jericho
when this encounter with the blind man happen? Both! And on the way, another
divine appointment. This would be the last miraculous healing reported by Mark
before the events of the week of Jesus’ life are elucidated.
“…Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, the son of
Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside.” This would have been a common sight
in the ancient world. There was no system of welfare to help with the
handicapped or the poor, it was through begging that such people were able to
survive. Remember also the timing of this encounter. Jesus and the disciples
were heading to Jerusalem at the time of Passover, one of the “pilgrim
feasts” of Israel. Diaspora Jews from all over would be streaming to the city
at this time to celebrate the feast. For a beggar these times probably
presented a key opportunity to be blessed by the “mitzvahs” [which in rabbinic Judaism went beyond the “commandments”
to meritorious acts, good deeds]. People may have been in a charitable mindset
as they prepared to celebrate the Passover, more inclined to be generous to a
beggar by the side of the road. This day, Bartimaeus may have reasonably hoped
for a good day, as days went for blind beggars in the ancient world. He experienced
a blessing far greater than he could have imagined.
He heard,
somehow, that Jesus was coming with the crowd of pilgrims. How? What did He
know about Jesus? We can only speculate. He hadn’t seen a single miracle done
by Jesus. He was blind, after all! Perhaps he had heard stories of Jesus,
people testifying about His works of power and His teaching with authority. Had
he heard people asking, “When the messiah comes will He do greater works than
this man?” He cast out demons, healed the sick, made the lame walk and the deaf
hear. He made the blind see! Some had even said that He even raised the dead
(Lazarus’ home in Bethany was only a few miles away). No one could do the works
this man did except by the power of God. And now He was here!
Normally beggars
would quietly ask for alms, not expecting much attention from passersby. During
our time in Brazil we experienced quite a bit of interaction with beggars. In
most cases they were happy to accept almost anything. If you ate out in a
restaurant, someone would be ready to receive your leftovers. If you stopped at
a traffic light, beggars, and sometimes venders, would come up to the window.
After awhile, they almost become invisible. As Fay Murphy’s song reminds us, we
were all just like the blind beggar. The first step in having our eyes
opened is seeing our own need. Bartimaeus was blind, but he saw His need
and seized the opportunity and cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on
me!” There are a few “firsts” in this story. This is the first time the name
of someone healed by Jesus is mentioned. Why here? We don’t know for sure, but
it may be that He later was known in the early church, maybe a leader. Mark was
sharing the testimony of old Bart! Could it be that he was one of the 200 or so
gathered in the upper room on the day of Pentecost?
Another first in
this story is that it is the first time that someone publicly uses a messianic
title to address Jesus. Bartimaeus was crying out, calling Jesus David’s son.
That is a clear reference to the messianic hope, particularly the promise God
made to David in 2 Samuel 7:13,14. The people tried to shut him up, but he
cried out all the more. And as Paul would later say, “Whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” He knew he
deserved nothing. But cried out for mercy. And As we call on Jesus in faith He
will open our spiritual eyes and we will follow Him. Whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved! The
prerequisite is seeing our need. Once we see the truth about ourselves we know
we need mercy! That brings us to…
II. The Perception
of a Disciple:
Hearing and Heeding the Call (49-50).
49 And Jesus
stopped and said, "Call him." And they called the blind man, saying
to him, "Take heart. Get up; he is calling you." 50 And throwing off his cloak, he
sprang up and came to Jesus.
The language here presents a
vivid picture. Jesus is moving on the way, heading toward His “appointment” in
Jerusalem, when He hears the cries of Bartimaeus and stops in His tracks.
Have you noticed as we’ve worked our way through Mark’s story of Jesus, that
the Lord always had time for people? The demon possessed man living among the
tombs, the man lowered down through the ceiling in the middle of a busy home
meeting… Jairus, asking Him to come and heal his daughter… the woman with the
issue of blood who touched Jesus’ garment in the crowd… the children… Syrophoenician
woman who interceded for her daughter… the deaf-mute in chapter 7… the blind
man at Bethsaida in chapter 8… Jesus was always interested in people,
interacting with them, making time for them, meeting them at the point of their
need. He always acted with compassion. Now, He was resolutely heading
toward Jerusalem, His face “set like flint” to carry out the Father’s plan, yet
He heard the desperate cry for mercy from a blind man in the crowd. Let’s
learn from that. There are lonely, needy people all around us. Yes, we all have
things to do. But we know the One who is the answer to their deepest need. What
would Jesus do?
Just a detail, rather than going to the
man, rather than shouting to him to come, He tells someone, presumably the
disciples, to “call him.” That is
still the way He works under most circumstances. He uses ambassadors, people
like us, to invite others to come. And so, these unnamed intermediaries obediently
“go and tell,” offering encouragement: “Take
heart,” don’t be despondent or discouraged, “Get up, he is calling you!” He has committed to us the message of
life, and the invitation to come to Jesus in faith. Paul said it in 2 Corinthians 5:18-21,
18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us
to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was
reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them,
and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors
for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of
Christ, be reconciled to God. 21
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might
become the righteousness of God.
Who was Paul speaking of, just the apostles? I think not. It seems he is
talking of the church, the body of believers in the world. We are His
ambassadors, called to bring the message of reconciliation to those who need to
hear!
“And
throwing off his cloak…” The enthusiastic response to the man stands out.
He didn’t get up and shuffle over, he leapt up and threw off his cloak! As a
poor beggar by the side of the road that cloak may have been one of his few
possessions, but right now he needed nothing to encumber him, he wanted to get
up and get to Jesus as quickly and as efficiently as possible. Today he might
have cast off his white cane. I read a sermon from Charles Spurgeon on this verse.
He said “Cast away the raiment of your
worldliness and the garment of your sin. Cast away your self-righteousness and
come…” This is exactly what the rich-young ruler earlier in this chapter
was unwilling to do. Jesus knew His heart and He told him to sell all his
possessions, give the proceeds to the poor, and to come, and follow Him. But he
went away despondent, because He loved His “stuff” more than He loved Jesus.
This man had little, and He would not have even that impede him from getting to
the Master as quickly as possible. So, he threw off his garment, and sprang up
as soon as Jesus’ invitation was conveyed to him. Be encouraged by that
example. As we sow seed in the world, as we extend the message to those around
us, some will respond.
“…he
sprang up and came to Jesus…” No hesitation, no excuses, no demands. Just a
beggar looking to the Lord for mercy. Some are prepared to hear and believe. As
we call on Jesus in faith He will open our spiritual eyes and we will follow
Him.
III. The Prayer
of a Disciple: Lord, I want to see (51)!
51 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."
“What do you want me to do for you?” Does
that question sound familiar? It’s the same question that Jesus had asked the
Sons of Thunder, James and John, back in 10:36. The exact same words in fact. What
a contrast! Do you remember James and John’s request? They wanted prestige,
honor, perhaps power, the seats at Jesus’ right and left hands in His glory. I
can’t help but hear a deliberate contrast with the disciples in the cry and the
request of this humble beggar. He knew he was unworthy, and he cried out for
mercy. He didn’t ask for riches or power or glory, but for healing, to be made
whole, to see.
“And the blind man said to Him, Rabbi, let
me recover my sight.” He had called to Jesus using a messianic title, “Son of David.” And now he makes a request for a messianic
act of mercy and healing. Had this man sat outside the synagogue hearing
the Scriptures read? Had the messianic hope taken root in his heart, so that when
he heard the stories of Jesus from travelers, he recognized Him, he saw Him
more clearly than many of the sighted people around him? Think of the faith he
is expressing in his request. Who but the messiah could make the blind see?
He is expressing faith even in the asking. And the Lord hears the prayer of
faith. As we call on Jesus in faith He will open our spiritual eyes and we will
follow Him.
IV. The Path of
a Disciple: Saved by
Faith, Saved to Follow Him (52).
52 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.
“Your faith has saved [sozo] you…”
Faith has been called, “The hand of a beggar reaching out to receive a gift
from a king.” That is what we see here. It is an interesting detail that in the
New Testament the verb translated “made
well” here in the ESV is the word sozo¸
which can mean to heal, but it also means “to save.” Jesus used the exact same
expression when the woman with the issue of blood was healed in Mark 5:34, “Your faith has made you well.” The same
verb is used in the Septuagint, in the context of the messianic ministry spoken
of Isaiah in 35:4-6,
4 Say to those
who have an anxious heart, "Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will
come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you
[sozo]." 5 Then the
eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; 6 then shall the lame man leap
like a deer…
Coincidence? I don’t think so. Jesus is speaking, and Mark is
writing the story, and echoing the language of Isaiah. The Promised One, the Deliverer will undo the
effects of the fall, He will ultimately make whole all who put their trust in
Him. There is an indication in this context that the man experienced more than just
physical healing…
“…and
he followed Him on the way…” (contrast 10:21,22). Remember that Jesus
had invited the rich, young ruler to follow Him, but the cost seemed too high? He went away, despondent. This blindman, now
healed, could see more clearly what really mattered, and He followed Jesus. The
words of John Newton come to mind, “I
once was lost, but now I am found, I was blind but now I see.”
What is God saying to me
in this passage? The prerequisite of a disciple, the perception
of a disciple, the prayer of a disciple, the path of a disciple. As
we call on Jesus in faith He will open our spiritual eyes and we will follow
Him.
What would God have me
to do in response to this passage? Jesus said “My sheep
hear my voice…” Have you heard the voice of Jesus inviting you to come? Have
you responded to the invitation? Believe Him… recognize who He is, trust in
what He did for you! Whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved! For
you who have believed, have you heard His call to go and tell? You are His
ambassador where He has sovereignly/strategically placed you! Do you hear the
call? Will you follow Him?
No comments:
Post a Comment