THE scene in our picture is one which is doubtless familiar to most of us, for many children play “Blindman’s Buff.” The faces here look bright and happy as they watch the blind-folded boy and carefully avoid getting within his reach.
Nearly nineteen hundred years ago there was a blind man named Bartimeus. He could not see to work, so he sat by the road and begged from the people as they passed by.
One day he heard a crowd of people coming toward him and he learned that Jesus was with them. Perhaps he had heard of the Lord’s wonderful miracles and how He had made the blind to see, for he cried out, “Jesus, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.” The people around tried to make him be quiet but he only cried the more for help.
Then Jesus stopped and told the people to call the blind man to Him. When he had come, Jesus asked him what he wanted and the man answered, “Lord, that I might receive my sight.” Jesus then said to him, “Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole.” And immediately he received his sight.
The blind-folded boy in the picture is enjoying the sport along with the others, but he is blinded for only a few minutes. It is a great affliction to be blind and we feel very sorry for those who can never see the kind faces of their friends, the beautiful trees, the flowers, and the sunshine.
But there is another kind of blindness that is much more terrible than this. Thousands and millions of people about us are blinded by sin, and do not see the lake of fire to which it is leading them. Do you know how this blindness can be cured?
The same One who caused blind Bartimaeus to see, can make the poor sinner see. He can show you how bad you are by nature. He can make you see how much you need a Saviour. Turn to Him and receive the sight that He alone can give. Then you can joyfully and thankfully sing,
“Once I was blind, but now I can see, The Light of the world is Jesus.”
ML 07/19/1903