Bartimaeus Read Mark 10: 46-52

Bartimaeus son of Timeaus a blind beggar No provisions for the disabled in those days Road leading from Jericho to Jerusalem, about 15 miles Christ 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 individuals Our 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 lose Maybe 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 needs Intolerant and cruel Man was a nuisance they wanted to see and hear Jesus His suffering has nothing to do with Jesus The 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 need Gives him His attention Stopping says “ you count! ” Take heart = cheer up Crowd 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 ministry Giving respect is a basic social service Meets fundamental need underlying most social problems Another solitary figure picked out Don ’ 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 opportunities Jesus was focused on Jerusalem Don ’ t want to detour, might slow us down Individual 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 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