MARK 10:46-5246And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimeus, the son of Timeus, sat by the highway side begging. 47And 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. 48And 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. 49And 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. 50And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus. 51And 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. 52And 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. (Mark 10:46‑52)
IT would appear not an altogether unwarranted conclusion that it was a self-respecting orderly company which is described as accompanying the Lord Jesus out of Jericho when blind Bartimæus made his earnest appeal.
Grace does not disclose their names-but many charged Bartimæus that he should hold his peace who had so disregarded the proprieties that seemed to them due to the occasion. All this we can understand. Our British reserve would probably have resented a "scene" still more, as not being "good form," but the verdict in the light of history is with the blind beggar.
What is however of still greater importance is that this outrage on man's conventionalities was the sweetest music to the One of whom it is said, "He came unto His own, but His own received Him not." Through all the anguish that this rejection carried, this grateful note reaches His ear: "Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me." No halting apprehension—He is hailed in all His kingly glory; and so once again it is demonstrated that the blind see (physically and spiritually) while of those who thought they saw, it is said their sin remaineth.
"When we shall see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him," was being realized in the religious heads and the vast body of Jews.
But as many as received Him (and here indeed was one), to them gave He title to become the children of God, even to them that believe on His name.
The blessing must not stop at the temporal needs of Bartimæus. His heart is won, and we find him following Jesus in the way.
Thus we see what happened at the importuning of a wayside beggar. He who stilled the storm with a word was Himself at the command of a needy soul. Jesus stood still." How encouraging to those in need of mercy!
But this is not the only instruction to be gathered from this incident. We will not judge "the many" spoken of, as to whether they were most regarding their own reputation for respectability in the world, or considering what became the dignity of the One they were following. Their judgment was wrong in either case, and Jesus rebukes their misinterpretation of His character to the blind man, to the extent that He stands still.
An act of grace to the blind beggar, it was at the same time a secret rebuke, in the utmost grace, to His followers. Time was when He had stretched forth His own hand in His ministrations, but this does not suit the occasion. They had grievously misrepresented Him, and shown how contrary they were to His spirit. A human master might on this account have been tempted to brush them aside as unwilling servants, and cover them with shame as He personally gave the denial to their misrepresentations, but He is gracious both to His servants and the objects of His ministrations. He would have the servants right too, as it is not His way to humble them before the beggar in this way. He will not readily deprive them of the privilege of being fellow-workers. They shall themselves correct the wrong impression given.
He commanded him to be brought unto Him. At that command, associations which had previously been a source of distress are transformed into a privileged occasion; and so faith, hearing of Him, and entering into the spirit of the command, can clothe the message He sends with the additional grace of their own cordiality and fellowship. "Be of good cheer," they add to the command, "rise; He calleth thee." And this is the true evangelistic spirit. O.