Topic: See What Jesus Can Do (Mark 10:46-52)
Jesus has been traveling toward Jerusalem for the purpose of the cross and resurrection. On the way to Jerusalem, Jesus spends a few days in Jericho. In Mark 10:46-52, Jesus departs Jericho with His disciples and a multitude of people. He passed by blind Bartimaeus who was sitting near the roadside begging. The crowd, accustomed to his daily panhandling, had probably hoped to pass by without any commotion; but they were quickly disappointed as Bartimaeus cried aloud to Jesus to have mercy on him for his physical condition. He was known as an all too familiar nuisance, and an embarrassing sight in front of visitors. Therefore, the crowd quickly snapped at him to be silent.
The multitude demanded that Bartimaeus remain quiet, as though he was unworthy of speaking to Jesus. Technically, all people are unworthy to approach Christ, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). However, the Bible declares the good news that “God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ, [for] by grace you have been saved” (Ephesians 2:4-5). Even when we had the stench of death upon us—spiritual death, that is—Jesus approached us with an outstretched arm and called us unto Himself.
Jesus sees all who are searching for mercy and forgiveness in Him as actually being worthy to call upon His name, “For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13).
Mark tells us that Jesus stopped and called for Bartimaeus (v. 49). Jesus ceased conversing with His disciples and the crowd, put off His travel itinerary, took time out from His busy schedule and spoke with Bartimaeus, because He saw him as important and valuable; and in doing so, Jesus ascribed to him dignity and worth.
When most people looked at Bartimaeus, they could only see his outward traits such as the habit of his daily begging, or perhaps his dirty garments stained from sitting on the ground day in and day out, or maybe his lack of hygiene and personal grooming as he couldn’t see to take care of himself. Jesus looked past his outward appearance to see his inner beauty and value, and to recognize his deep spiritual need. Bartimaeus was “physically blind,” but ironically most people in the crowd were “spiritually blind.” They could not see past the dark veil over their heart to view Bartimaeus’ true inner being and worth. The apostle Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5:16-17, “Therefore from now on we recognize no one by the flesh; even though we have known Christ by the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.”
Everyone is worthy of hearing the gospel. Jesus came to die for the entire “world” (John 3:16). During this Easter season, see people as Jesus sees them—worthy of the gospel.
See you Sunday,
Dr. Scott Kallem