LUKE 18:35-43 BLIND MAN PASSIONATELY PERSISTS

BLIND MAN PASSIONATELY PERSISTS

Luke 18:35- 43

(See also Mark 10:46-52 and

Matthew 20:29-34)

Luke 18:35-36 And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging: And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant.

Susan: This is not the same man whose healing is described in John chapter 9. That man did not cry out to Jesus. Instead, Jesus’s disciples pointed him out to Jesus and asked whose sin caused his blindness. Jesus stated that he was born blind that God might be glorified through him.

Susie: That is correct. However, this account is probably about the same man or men described in the gospels of Mark and Matthew. I say that because in all three accounts 1) Jesus is near Jericho, 2) the man addresses Jesus as “Son of David”, 3) Jesus asks what they want Him to do; and 4) once they are healed, they follow Him.

Mark 10:46 And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging.

Susan: Only Mark gives us the blind man’s name—Bartimaeus, meaning “son of Timaeus”. Timaeus means “honorable or highly prized”.

Matthew 20:30 And, behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou son of David.

Susie: Matthew says there were two blind men, but it could have been that one stood out as the spokesman for the two. Also, Bartimaeus may have been known to the people following Jesus or to Mark’s readers. At any rate, one blind man asked the crowd what was going on since he heard a loud commotion.

Luke 18:37-38 And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by. And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me.

Susie: Jesus was not the only person around who bore that name. It was a common name in Israel.

Susan: Jesus means “Jehovah is generous. Jehovah saves. It is a diminutive of Joshua from the Hebrew name Jehoshua.” http://www.meaning-of-names.com/hebrew-names/jesus.asp

Susie: The fact that others carried this same first name is why many people in the New Testament followed it with some descriptor such as “son of Joseph”, “from Nazareth”, “the Galilean,” or “Jesus the Christ.”

Susan: The blind man addressed Jesus as “Son of David.” God made a covenant with David that his descendant would sit on the throne forever which was a clear reference to the Messiah. Addressing Jesus as the Son of David was acknowledgement that the man believed Him to be the Messiah, the Son of God.

Luke 18:39 And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, Thou son of David, have mercy on me.

Susie: I guess the crowd saw him as disturbing the peace or possibly annoying Jesus and tried to shut him up.

Susan: Perhaps they saw him as an embarrassment to them. No matter, he yelled all the later, desperate and determined to get Jesus’s attention, to have an audience with the Master. He was shouting over the people in front of Him in the crowd, hoping to receive a healing touch. He tenaciously persevered.

Luke 18:40-41 And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him, Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight.

Susie: Rather than allow the crowd to prevent the man, Jesus ordered that they bring him right up to him.

Susan: Then Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” The man indicated that he wanted to be able to see again.

Susie: You might think it was obvious what the man wanted, but sometimes there are things plaguing us more than what it observable to others. Jesus asked the man. Even though He knows everything, Jesus tells us to be specific in prayer. Perhaps He wants us to think about what we really need, the things deeper than the surface.

Susan: Many times, when people approach me to pray for me, they assume that my greatest need is physical healing. I may be battling a spiritual issue or have a financial need, but they do not even ask me. I appreciate that even though Jesus knew everything about the blind man, He allowed him to articulate his own need.

Luke 18:42 And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.

Susan: The Greek word translated “saved” can also mean “healed” or “delivered.” I do not believe it is an “either or” choice here. I believe the Lord was saying the man’s eyes were opened figuratively as well as physically.

Susie: The man’s eyes may have been blinded for a time, but the Holy Spirit had revealed to Him that this Jesus of Nazareth he had heard so much about must be the Messiah.

Susan: Jesus was assuring the man that he was not only healed from blindness but was saved to eternal life. The formerly blind man was now a part of Jesus’s forever family.

Luke 18:43 And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.

Susan: This was not a slow, progressive healing: it was an immediate miracle. The man then followed Jesus as His “glory announcer,” exalting the Lord and inspiring others to praise Him as well.

 Ponder this and Apply it: As with the persistent widow we studied a few verses back, this man would not be dissuaded from calling out to Jesus. Jesus asks, “What do you need me to do?” Are you persisting in prayer, lifting up your needs to Him? When He answers, are you giving Him all the glory?