THE Saviour was journeying to Jerusalem for the last time. In less than a week all the sorrow of earth were over for Him. Death, with its agony and shame, was behind Him, and His body lay in the tomb. But though His sensitive spirit felt the weight of all that was impending, nothing was permitted to stay His beneficent hand. Human misery and need aroused all the tenderness of His heart.
He was just passing out of Jericho, after being a guest at the house of Zacchæus (Luke 19). The fact that this city had lain under a special curse for ages was no barrier with Him; divine grace in Him rose supreme over everything. Had it not been so, He would never have visited our earth, so long under God’s displeasure because of sin. A blind beggar, hearing the tramp of a crowd and inquiring what it meant, learned that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. Mark tells us his name was Bartimæus; Matthew lets us know that he had a companion, this being the third instance in which the first Gospel notes two sufferers where the other Gospels speak only of one.
Bartimæus cried out lustily: “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.” He received no rebuff from the Saviour for addressing Him by this title. In using it he was as right as the Syrophœnician woman was wrong. As born of the stock of Israel, he was entitled to look for a king of David’s line who should open the eyes of the blind, unstop the ears of the deaf, make the lame leap as a hart, and teach the tongue of the dumb to sing (Isa. 35:5-65Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. 6Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert. (Isaiah 35:5‑6)). Bystanders sought to silence him, but to no purpose. “He cried out the more a great deal, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me” (Mark 10:4848And 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. (Mark 10:48)). Had he missed this opportunity, he would never have had another, for the Lord never visited Jericho again.
His cry reached the Saviour’s ears. Learning that he might approach, the blind man “cast away his garment, sprang up, and came to Jesus” (R.V.)., This poor man reads us many lessons.
There is a garment of self-righteousness which multitudes are hugging to-day to their soul’s harm. Oh, that they would cast it from them, and as sinners seek the Saviour’s feet! (Rom. 10:33For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. (Romans 10:3)). Many among us would also do well to imitate Bartimæus’ earnestness in appealing for the blessing, and the alacrity with which he hastened to receive it. One word from Jesus sufficed for his healing: “Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole.” Not only he, but also those who beheld the miracle, burst forth in praise to God (Luke 18:4343And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God. (Luke 18:43)). The Lord did not bid him be silent about his healing as when He healed two blind men some time before (Matt. 9:3030And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See that no man know it. (Matthew 9:30)). He was about to present Himself publicly in Jerusalem as Israel’s long-expected King, and it was well that a testimony should be rendered at this juncture to His person and His power. But the clearest testimony avails nothing for men willingly blinded by Satan, hence no crown awaited Him in Jerusalem but a crown of thorns; no throne of glory was in preparation for Him, but instead a cross of shame. But this, in the wonderful ways of God, has secured our salvation from eternal woe.