SN - notes from 2/20
Jesus and Bartimaeus -
Mark 10:46-52
The scenario - with a huge crowd at His back, Jerusalem and His pending crucifixion at His front, enemies forming day by day all around, and Passover pandaemonium - Jesus backs up His words in Mk 10:45 and stops to serve 2 blind outcasts.
v46a - Coming or going? When compared to Matt. 20:29 (“went out of Jericho”), this seems like a contradiction.
answer - there were 2 Jerichos: one old and historic, and one new and newly made by Herod. So it could mean both - no contradictions!
v46b - one or two blind men? According to Matt. 20, there were 2.
answer - There were 2, but Bartimeaus was the more vocal and possibly the more significant to the early church
v46c - blind Bartimaeus - the fact his name is given is both interesting and rare. It is possible that he was significant to the early church so Mark includes him by name in the letter.
observation - Jesus can use anyone - faith and humility are the main prerequisites!
v47 - Jesus of Nazareth aka “Son of David” ?
answer - this Messianic title was alluded to quite often:
1. Isa. 11:1-5 - “There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse,
And a Branch shall grow out of his roots.
The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him,
The Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
The Spirit of counsel and might,
The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.”
2. Jer. 23:5-6 - “Behold, ethe days are coming,” says the Lord,
“That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness;
A King shall reign and prosper,
And execute judgment and righteousness in the earth.
In His days Judah will be saved,
And Israel will dwell safely;
Now this is His name by which He will be called:
THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.”
3. Ezek. 34:23-24 - “I will establish one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them— My servant David. He shall feed them and be their shepherd. And I, the Lord, will be their God, and My servant David a prince among them; I, the Lord, have spoken”
So this blind man knew much about Jesus being the Messiah - based on scriptures that he couldn’t even see! Most of the “seeing” Jews were blind to this fact, he was blind but could still “see” who Jesus really was.
observation - there are no excuses for not growing in your walk with God and in your knowledge of God.
Col 3:16 - Let the word of Christ dwell (as in live in and influence) in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
v48 - many warned him to be quiet…
observation 1 - expect opposition of varying degrees when you attempt to seek God or draw near/worship Jesus
observation 2 - be somewhat concerned if you never have opposition to your faith - is it visible? Is the devil concerned about you - or is your effect so negligible that he doesn’t even care?
observation 3 - perhaps the people were upset at what he was saying (Jesus is the Messiah) and not so much at the shouting (Passover is a celebration, so it would’ve been loud anyway)
v49a - Jesus stood still - even though the culmination of thousands of years worth of prophecy were about to unfold in the form of His all-atoning life-saving (our) death on the cross, he still made time to help this man.
observation 1 - access to God (Jesus) is as easy as a loud shout or a humble whisper simply because He cares for you.
observation 2 - access to other gods (aka cults, other religions) is not easy at all and requires a lot of effort and sometimes money BEFORE they even acknowledge you.
v49b - and commanded him to be called - Jesus could of just supernaturally shouted but choose to use others. He likes using us and wants to use us.
observation 1 - Ephesians 2:10…again.
observation 2 - perhaps the ones who were trying to shut him up were the ones sent to tell Him that Jesus wants to help him. Perhaps the disciples were trying to shut him up and they were the ones sent. Either way, both parties would have felt dumb.
v49c - Be of good cheer. Rise, He’s calling you.
observation - these words are in essence how we are to live (in good cheer) and why we share the gospel (b/c Jesus wants to heal, comfort, and save people.)
v50 - throwing aside his garment…
observation 1 - he threw it aside b/c that was what he collected alms on (and he wouldn’t need it any longer since he’d likely be healed.)
observation 2 - he threw it aside so as not to trip. Are we that excited for Jesus, that no person and no thing stands in the way of Him?
v51a - What do you want Me to do for you?
observation - although the answer was seemingly obvious (to heal his blindness), it was necessary for Bartimeaus to show personal faith - no one could do this for him.
v51b - Rabboni…
observation - “Rabboni” was only used twice in the gospel (Mary at the tomb in John 20:16) and it basically means “my Lord and my Master”. It was a statement of personal faith, not a wide spread notion that He was the Messiah.
v52a - Go your way …
observation - his way was to follow Jesus and glorify Him (see Luke 18).
v52b - your faith
observation 1 - the objects of our faith are:
a. God. Joh 14:1.
b. Christ. Joh 6:29; Ac 20:21.
c. Writings of Moses. Joh 5:46; Ac 24:14.
d. Writings of the prophets. 2Ch 20:20; Ac 26:27.
e. The gospel. Mr 1:15.
f. Promises of God. Ro 4:21; Heb 11:13.
observation 2 - by faith we:
a. Live. Ga 2:20.
b. Stand. Ro 11:20; 2Co 1:24.
c. Walk. Ro 4:12; 2Co 5:7.
d. Obtain a good report. Heb 11:2.
e. Overcome the world. 1Jo 5:4,5.
.
f. Resist the devil. 1Pe 5:9.
g. Overcome the devil. Eph 6:16.
observation 3 - all saints should:
a. Be sincere in. 1Ti 1:5; 2Ti 1:5.
b. Abound in. 2Co 8:7.
c. Continue in. Ac 14:22; Col 1:23.
d. Be strong in. Ro 4:20-24.
e. Stand fast in. 1Co 16:13.
f. Be grounded and settled in. Col 1:23.
g. Hold, with a good conscience. 1Ti 1:19.
h. Pray for the increase of. Lu 17:5.
observation 4 - ways to increase your faith:
1. It is a gift of the Holy Spirit. 1 Cor. 12:9
2. The Scriptures produce it. Rom. 8:28, Joh 20:31, 2Ti 3:15 - ”and that from childhood you have known the Holy
Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”
3. Preaching produces it. Ac 8:12, 1 Cor. 3:5
Acts 8:12 - But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized.
applications -
1- This week, let nothing or no one hinder your relationship with Jesus. Cast aside anything that does.
2- This week, apply all 3 and increase your own personal faith.
