Bartimaeus

Read Mark 10: 46-52

Bartimaeus son of Timeaus a blind beggarNo provisions for the disabled in those daysRoad leading from Jericho to Jerusalem, about 15 milesChrist headed to Jerusalem for final showdown

Judean Dessert

Jericho

V. 46 Multitude vs. individual (he is low on the social scale)

Jesus turns from the many to the one, priority to individualsOur generation acts largely in terms of multitudes

Individual gets lost

The value Jesus places on one person is one of the greatest needs of our times

Society and church need to see beyond the multitudes

What can be done for just one person?

V. 47 Bartimaeus thinks here is my chance, what do I have to loseMaybe more hope than faith but he acted on it

Called Jesus Son of David, only told He was Jesus of Nazareth

Recognized Jesus as Messiah

Have you ever acted on something that was more hope than faith because you had nothing to lose?

V. 48 Crowd is agitated and rebuked him

Stock answer from crowds to those who clamor about needsIntolerant and cruelMan was a nuisance they wanted to see and hear Jesus

His suffering has nothing to do with JesusThe crowds say that poverty and needs are not of interest to

Jesus

How do the multitudes of today shout over the needs of the individual?

How do crowds put their own interests above the interests of the individual?

All human needs are of interest to Jesus

Sometimes even the disciples rebuked people

The crowd says shut up and Jesus says come

How do the crowds of the world today interfere with what might be important to Jesus?

V. 49 Jesus stops, the ultimate tribute to a person in needGives him His attentionStopping says “you count!”Take heart = cheer upCrowd helps him over to Jesus

When have you stopped for the individual?

We are too prone to be busy, too much schedule to stop and listen

Stopping is a necessary part of ministryGiving respect is a basic social serviceMeets fundamental need underlying most social problemsAnother solitary figure picked outDon’t lump people into a class, treat as individuals

Do people in real trouble like to be surrounded by optimistic friends?

How do you feel about cards with commands, Get well soon!

How can a busy schedule interfere with helping?

We sometimes get so absorbed in the task we miss the opportunitiesJesus was focused on Jerusalem

Don’t want to detour, might slow us downIndividual need is lost on the goal on the horizon

Does the healing of a single blind man make a difference in the totality of Jesus ministry at this point in time?

What are the spiritual aspects of this healing?

V. 50 (use different Bibles)He leaps to Jesus.

Do we leap when Jesus calls or do we look before we leap and then decide not to leap?

V. 51-52 Jesus, as the good teacher, encourages others to express their wishes and hopes and an opportunity to express their faith and then acts on it

Jesus doesn’t just heal him, he asks what he needs

If Jesus asked you What do you want me to do for you? What would you say?

Bartimaeus followed Jesus to Jerusalem as part of Passover crowd not necessarily as a disciple

Some people healed just go on their way

Lesson teaches us that our primary language should be prayer

Sometimes gets lost because we mostly speak words of the world

We may make it repetitive and ritualistic

We have to take time to pray now, not just wait on the bad times