Believing is Seeing
Mark 10:46-52; Luke 18:35-43; Mt. 20:29-34
Jesus is on His way to Jerusalem. As He is passes through the city of Jericho He encounters a blind man named Bartimaeus (Mk. 10:46).
Supposed contradiction: Luke 18:35 says, “…as he was come NIGH unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging.” Mark 10:46 says, “…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.” Matthew 20:29 says, “And as they DEPARTED FROM Jericho, a great multitude followed him…” Was Jesus leaving Jericho or entering Jericho when He met Bartimaeus??? The answer is there were THREE Jerichos—(1) The ancient city God destroyed in Joshua. (2) A Jericho built during the reign of Ahab (1 Kings 16:34). (3) About a mile away there was another Jericho built by Herod. Between these two Jerichos there was a highway where Bartimaeus was begging. Jesus was passing out of one Jericho and entering into the other. NO CONTRADICTION.
The secular world says, “seeing is believing.” Here is a case where “believing is seeing.” Jesus healing blind Bartimaeus is a picture of salvation.
I. His bleak CONDITION (vs. 35).
A. He was BLIND—An unsaved man is spiritually blind (2 Cor. 4:4). When a person is saved they go from spiritual darkness into light. As we sing in Amazing Grace—“I once was lost, but now I’m found; was blind, but now I see.”
Ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: (Eph. 5:8 cf. Acts 26:18; 1 Pet. 2:9).
B. He was a BEGGAR. He had nothing to offer. His focus was only on getting. He had a GIVE ME attitude…
Ahab said to Naboth, “GIVE ME thy vineyard, that I may have it…”
The prodigal—“GIVE ME the portion of goods that falleth to me.”
Herodias’ daughter—“GIVE ME… the head of John the Baptist”
Judas Iscariot told the priests, “What will ye GIVE ME, and I will deliver him unto you?”
Simon the Sorcerer asked Philip, “GIVE ME also this power…”
The focus of the unsaved is “Give me…”
C. He was BROUGHT (Luke18:40). He needed someone to BRING HIM TO JESUS. As Christians, we are commanded to bring people to Jesus.
II. His believing CRY (vs. 36-39).
Partial Sermon: CLICK HERE for full PDF
