Mark 10.32-34 "Three Persepctives" (Pt. 3)

46 And they came to Jericho. And as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside. 47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me! 48 And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, Son of David, have mercy on me! 49 And Jesus stopped and said, Call him. And they called the blind man, saying to him, Take heart. Get up; he is calling you. 50 And throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. 51 And Jesus said to him, What do you want me to do for you? And the blind man said to him, Rabbi, let me recover my sight. 52 And Jesus said to him, Go your way; your faith has made you well. And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way.

Perspective of Salvation (The Blind Beggar) FREE

The Request (v.46-47)

• Bartimaeus means son of Timaeus, emphasized by repetition- probably for a reason
• Timaeus means “honor”
• CONTRAST: James and John sought honor, Jesus rejected their request; this man had no honor, despite his name, and Jesus granted his request
• James 4.6 “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” (ESV); 1 Peter 5.5 “Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (ESV)

The Rebuke (v.48)

• This man was mocked and rebuked by the crowd
• He was ridiculed because he was different (do we act that way?)

The Recognition (v.49-51)

• Despite his low position, Bartimaeus was called by Jesus
• Bartimaeus “sprang up” when called by Jesus
• He left behind his cloak- probably used to collect money from begging; left his old life behind not looking back
• Luke 9.62 “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” (ESV)

The Reward (v.52)

• When Bartimaeus obeyed Jesus, he was healed
• Bartimaeus responded by following Jesus
• Not the trite and shallow response seen in many places today. He was hungering and thirsting for God (Psalm 42.1-2: “As a deer longs for streams of water,
  so I long for You, God. ²I thirst for God, the living God. When can I come and appear before God?” [HCSB])