There is in this passage a very important lesson about grace. A lesson that I have been thinking about on and off over the holidays. Certainly, I realize that in Matthew's version of this report, there were two blind men and the other Gospel writers may provide missing details not recorded by Mark. Be that as it may, we still have before us the report of how Bartimaeus, son of Timaeus came to encounter the Lord of all the earth. Bartimaeus was blind, as such he would have been unable to read and in that context normally would have been somewhat ignorant of the Word of God.

However, we sense in this passage that in spite of his physical handicap, he had listened, learned and remembered more than the average person not so handicapped. When, by the Creator's providence - Jesus passed through Jericho, Bartimaeus knew immediately who He was. "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" There is a whole world of discernment in that cry for help. We may note well that in the title "Son of David", Bartimaeus acknowledges the messiahship of the Lord's Anointed. Sadly, there are some in the crowd who would keep him from the Son of David's hearing. "Be quiet" they suggested. and so he cried out all the more loudly. Jesus heard Bartimaeus, stopped in the road and stood still and demanded that he be allowed to come forward. Bartimaeus, who was perhaps sitting on his garment so that passers by would have a place to drop gifts of coin, throws it aside to hurry to the side of Christ.

How many people in the history of the church have so willingly thrown aside their past life to come to Christ even before they knew what He could do for them. Can we see the handful of coins rolling away as the outer garment is caught up and kicked out from under foot? Here is a man who is eager to come to the Lord.

Jesus asks Bartimaeus "What do you want Me to do for you?"

Like everyone, Bartimaeus asks for the most obvious help to his present condition. "that I may receive my sight." Yet in his asking he uses an interesting construction of the language. "My dear teacher", "My Great One", "My Master" are several ways "Rabboni" may be translated. Again we see what a certain grasp on the truth this blind man really has. Only once in a great while do any of my students ever get intellectually affectionate. Over the holidays, as I was cleaning out the files of the last decade, sorting things, moving books and remembering what my ancestral home had been like, I came across quite a few treasured mementoes like the affection of this man for a far greater teacher. This affection of Bartimaeus is what the worldly might call "love at first sight". Excuse the pun of course, since Bartimaeus could only see with the mind's eye.

As we see, Jesus not only gives Him the grace requested, but much much more. In Mark 10:52. we see what Jesus says: "Your faith has made you well." An older version reads: "Thy faith hath saved thee." Calvin explains what this phrase means: "By the word faith is meant not only a confident hope of recovering sight, but a loftier conviction, which was, that this blind man had acknowledged Jesus to be the Messiah whom God had promised. Nor must we imagine that it was only some confused knowledge; for we have already seen that this confession was taken from the Law and the Prophets. For the blind man did not at random bestow on Christ the name of Son of David, but embraced him as that person whose coming he had been taught by the divine predictions to expect. Now Christ attributes it to faith that the blind man received sight; for, though the power and grace of God sometimes extend even to unbelievers, yet no man enjoys His benefits in a right and profitable manner, unless he receive them by faith; nay, the use of the gifts of God is so far from being advantageous to unbelievers, that it is even hurtful. And therefore, when Christ says, "thy faith hath saved thee", the word saved is not limited to an outward cure, but includes also the health and safety of the soul; as if Christ had said, that by faith the blind man obtained that God was gracious to him, and granted his wish. And if it was in regard to faith that God bestowed his favor on the blind man, it follows that he was justified by faith."

"The faith of thee has healed thee" runs the literal translation. Of course, we sense that salvation is also included in the bargain. The man asked for what he wanted most and Christ not only gave him that gift, but affirmed the salvation implied in the faith which prompted the question for relief. Gordon Clark reminds us that "According to the author of Hebrews, those who come to God must believe at least two propositions: That he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." We see both elements in the passage of Mark before us. But let us do be careful. an important event in this last section of chapter ten is the fact that Bartimaeus "followed Jesus on the road" after the great gift bestowed upon Him. He followed Jesus immediately upon His healing. And yet, from the hints given in the text, we know that He knew far more than the usual beggar who desired healing.

Now, let us be careful in our understanding and use of this text. I can remember examples in my life where I gave something to relieve undeserved and sudden poverty. I can also remember even more where the gifts were demanded and unappreciated. On a couple occasions, the Lord granted my family an unexpected benefit out of all proportion to the gifts we had shared. Once, we took some food and clothes to a family that had been suddenly burned out. I had even been part of the volunteer squad of firemen who helped to contain the blaze. Later that week, on a low budget during the Carter depression, we wanted to plant a dozen or two flower bulbs in front of our new home which we could scarcely afford. We went into the local hardware to price the bulbs at the end of the season. The manager, who we didn't know, volunteered that if we cleaned out the last of the bulbs so that he could use the shelves for something else, we could have the whole lot for five dollars. There were over two hundred tulip and daffodil bulbs in the collection when we got them all planted! I realize that tulip bulbs are no comparison to receiving eye sight, but that ability of God to out give anything we might do has always impressed me of the fact of His kind and gracious love.

You know, the crazy thing about this whole salvation thing, is that I have known people who were more deserving of being rewarded for things they have done than ever I have been! There is a whole social movement out there in the world, of a better people who deserve the recognition and rewards for being the movers and shakers of society. Sometimes, they will govern by any means possible if necessary! I was asked to join their societal order once, but I had noticed over the years, that while they gave lip service to the concept of grace, they really didn't think they needed it! They had already arrived at some earthly perfection, and while they have done ever so much more to help the poor, the needy and so on than even the church, generally as a group - they have not Christ!

They are just as blind and as impoverished as the beggar in our text, but should the King of all the earth walk by, they would not give Him a call - because they already have everything that they think they need.

The beggar realized not only His need, but also the Lord of all the earth when He passed by. To Him He called and Jesus saved his soul and also gave him sight. Our sovereign Lord, King Jesus gives as the Father wills and allows. May we learn to be thankful for the saving grace we have been given at the very least. And if within His providence He determines to give us more, let us use all His gifts in His service. Amen.