Welcome to the “front porch”!
Men of women and boys and girls of all ages have lined the Jericho Road to welcome the crowd plodding noisily along. The noise of the procession is no unusual thing, as well-wishers commonly pack the streets to encourage the travelers to Jerusalem on their yearly pilgrimage.
But the commotion is louder than usual today. One special traveler has taken His place in this crowd heading up to Jerusalem for the Passover. It is a strong, young Galilean they had all heard about, Jesus of Nazareth. His fame has grown daily as he walked the streets and shores of Galilee elegantly for some years, hushing the Pharisees, calming the storms, offering peace to all.
The noise has grown to such a level that one particular man sitting up ahead on the side of the road turns to the nearest person and asks what all the commotion is.
“Don’t you know,” he must have replied in shock. “Don’t you know that Jesus is passing by?”
This news is what this man by the name of Bartimaeus has waited for years to hear. Perhaps that is why he chooses to sit in this very spot today. Bartimaeus, you see, is a blind man; and he must have known that if he ever had hope of seeing a sunrise or looking into the eyes of his loved ones, this is the Man he must meet.
Bartimaeus immediately calls out, “Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me” (Mark 10:47).
Those standing near quickly rebuke the blind man: Hold your peace, they say! Don’t you know Jesus is busy! What’s wrong with you, sir? Don’t make a scene right here in the middle of the street! Do you want to give our town a bad name? … And on and on.
But I want to tell you that this man not only is blind, but he is deaf, too – deaf to the criticism and the rebukes. This is his chance for salvation, and he is not about to let it pass him by. The inspired writer tells us – and it is a beautiful thing – that “he cried the more a great deal, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me!” (v. 48) – this accelerated clamor much to the dismay of spectators nearby.
Bartimaeus is different from all of the others, and – perhaps – he is different from you and me, too. Bartimaeus is a complete and absolute desperate man. He has no worry in the world about what he is wearing, or how he might be perceived, or who particularly likes his pleas or who doesn’t. His only concern is to get the attention of the Master, to call and cry and plead, laying it all on the line, until by chance the Lord mercifully turns his face toward him.
Indeed – if you know this great story – you know our Lord hears the desperate cries of the blind man, and Jesus does an amazing thing when those cries come to His ears. He stands still (v. 49).
No, it is not that Jesus is not busy. He likely has never been busier. He is on a mission, His “face set toward Jerusalem.” He is a man with a purpose. But he lays aside His busy schedule, diverges from his itinerary for a minute, and calls for the man. Our Lord must have known before He set foot on the ground that morning that He would meet such a man, a Bartimaeus, one to whom He could give a great blessing.
The Lord calls Bartimaeus, and – after a brief interview – does one of the most amazing things you will ever read: He reaches out and touches him!
Oh, the touch of Jesus! No touch can compare. It is a touch of warmth, a touch of compassion, a touch of love, a touch of healing!
The songwriter catches this moment poetically many years ago, writing, "He touched me! Oh, he touched me. And, oh, the joy that filled my soul. Something happened, and now I know, He touched me, and made me whole!"
Many of us through the years have enjoyed that beautiful melody and message, even as we have enjoyed this great story from the Jericho Road.
And I want you to know today that Jesus not only touches Bartimaeus, making him whole, filling his soul with an indescribable joy. He also reaches out and touches another desperate blind friend who resides beside him. I am so glad that Matthew adds that complimentary point to this great narrative! (20:34). Because of this Jesus, these two men look up and see the splendid beauties of God’s nature for the first time. But that is not all: They lay aside their blankets and follow Jesus, glorifying God as they go. They had felt His touch of grace unlike few had ever done! (Luke 18:43).
Some might think: But Bartimaeus could have waited. This matter was not so urgent. This Jesus who passed down this Jericho Road would surely come back again, and he could’ve caught the Lord on the next trip. Why the urgency?
But we know that Jesus is not passing this way again, not ever. He is going to Jerusalem only this once more, and in a few short days He will be led outside the city to a little knoll called Calvary, and the world will there nail him to a cruel tree. For Bartimaeus – and for his suffering friend – this is not only a chance for him to meet our Master:
This is his last chance. (coachbowen1984@gmail.com)
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