Text: Mark 10.46-52
By: Whiskey, Joshua
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INTRODUCTION
Blindness is the most severe form of visual impairment.
This has been a major problem facing humanity.
One can be blind physically, spiritually or both.
Any of these has serious consequences.
Some of the consequences of blindness are stated by W. H. O.
“Visual impairment can limit people’s ability to perform everyday tasks and can affect their quality of life and ability to interact with the surrounding world.”
Three things of note from the statement of WHO are:
(1) blindness limits people’s ability to perform
(2) blindness affects the quality of one’s life and
(3) blindness affects one’s ability to interact with the surrounding world.
Another interesting fact is that blindness seems to be connected to poverty.
- H. O. has it that “Ninety percent of visually impaired people live in low and middle income countries.”
For this reason many blind people have to live a lower income life.
In the third world countries, many blind people are thrown into the streets to beg for their survival.
As it is in our time, so it was in the time of Jesus.
Blindness was not a comfortable situation.
TEXT: Mark 10.46-52
People who are blind have therefore look forward to having their sight restored.
The story of Bartimaeus the son of Timaeus is an example of this.
In Mark 10.46-52 we have the following record: Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (that is, the Son of Timaeus), was sitting by the roadside begging. 47 When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48 Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
49 Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” 50 throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus. 51 “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him. The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.” 52 “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road. (Mar 10:46-52 NIV emphasis mine)
Bartimaeus a blind man was sitting by the roadside and begging. The highest blind people could do in the first century was to beg. John 9 tells of a man born blind.
The neighbors and his acquaintances knew that his job was to beg. In John 9.8 we hear the comments of the neighbors: Besides the menial job of begging, the blind people among the first century Jews were stigmatized as sinners.
When the blind man in John 9 tries to talk to the Pharisees, listen to their comments, “They answered and said to him, “‘You were completely born in sins, and are you teaching us?’ And they cast him out” (John 9:34 NKJ).
The worst thing that can happen to a person therefore, is blindness. When Bartimaeus shouted, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me! “Some in the crowd were not happy and so, “Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet” (Mk 10.48).
Blindness is therefore an unbearable condition. Anyone blind will not like to remain in such a state. Because Bartimaeus had cried for help, Jesus will not ignore him. And so “He stopped and said, call him.”
We read that Bartimaeus threw his cloak and ran to meet Jesus. He could not see so the people have to make a way for him if not he will fall on them. As he came near, Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?”
This is where priority will be of most importance. Bartimaeus, a man with many problems, which of them will he tell Jesus?
Bartimaeus understands that his other problems were not as important as his sight.
If only he can see, he will be able to deal with other problems.
Today the major problem in the world is the inability of people to see. Many people are blind physically and most are blind spiritually. But then they do not know. Bartimaeus knew his weakness but many today do not know their weaknesses. In spiritual matters many are blind.
If only we can see what God has planned for those who love him, we would love Him and do more in his kingdom. If only, Christians can see, they will not fight in the church. They will not fight one another. They will not speak evil of one another.
In political matters many are blind. If only they can see, they will not be so corrupt the way they are. They will not be killing other people the way things are going on now. In economic matters, many are blind. If only they can see they will change their states of life.
In marriage matters, many are blind. If only they can see, some will not make the decision they have made or are about to make. Many have failed to realize that marriage can be a reason for one to go to heaven or to hell. If only we can see.
In the care for a family, many are blind. If only they can see, they would work harder for their families to remain faithful to God. Bartimaeus cried out, “Lord that I may see.”
Brethren, like Bartimaeus we need to cry out to Jesus, “Lord that I may see.” Bartimaeus knew the importance of sight. It is your sight that can take you to where you are going. It is your sight that can make you to understand better.
You are declared to be blind or not blind from your sight.
Jesus knows the importance of sight.
For that reason, He always give sight to those who are willing. He gives sight to those who ask for it.
Open the eyes of my heart, Lord
Open the eyes of my heart
I want to see You
I want to see You
Open the eyes of my heart, Lord
Open the eyes of my heart
I want to see You
I want to see You
To see You high and lifted up
Shinin’ in the light of Your glory
Pour out Your power and love
As we sing holy, holy, holy
In Mark 10.52 Jesus says to Bartimaeus, “Go, your faith has healed you. Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.”
In Luke 18.43 we are told, “Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God” (NIV). Our following of Jesus seems to be connected to how much we can see. Further, our praising of God seems to be connected to how much we are able to see.
Our ability to do things are connected to how much we are able to see. Our ability to go higher is connected to how much we are able to see. The apostle Paul says to the Christians in Ephesus, “I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints”
There is power in sight and we need to pray that we may see. Many have not been able to obey the gospel because they are not able to see. We have heard people read Mark 16.16, “Whoever believes and is baptized shall be saved” and still argues, “Baptism does not save.”
They hold this argument because they read different thing from what they are seeing. We have heard people reading Ephesians 4.4, “there is one body” and Ephesians 1.23, “And the body is the church” and still argue that it does matter what church one goes.
This is because of what they are seeing. In another term, sight is said to be “a vision.”
The more our vision, the more we can do and the more we can be. Bartimaeus understood this, that was why he says, “Lord that I may see.”
When we understand the same we will also say, “Lord that we may see.”
CONCLUSION
Blindness has been the major reason for the unprogressive nature of the work of God. It has been the reason, we are not all out for the gospel. It has been the reason, we are not shinning as light to the world. Blindness is a major reason we are limited in what we do.
When we are able to see we will see a vast expanse of opportunities. When we are able to see we will be able to deal with some problems that are not problems at all. Anyone that is able to see will know and he will see the difference.
The blind man in John 9.25 says, “One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” Our daily prayer therefore should be “Lord that I may see.” May God help us in Jesus name. Amen.
TEXT: Mark 10.46-52
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