In the testimony of blind Bartimaeus, we witness so much more than a blind man being healed from his blindness. The lessons taught, the strength displayed, the courage and conviction offered, and the love, tenderness, care, and compassion of Jesus Christ are all here in this testimony for all who will receive it.

Let’s go through the testimony of Bartimaeus step-by-step.

It’s important to realize that Jesus and His Apostles were now on their way to Jerusalem where Jesus says, for the third time, He will be condemned by the chief priests and scribes. It is in Jerusalem that He would be tortured and murdered. And it is in Jerusalem that He would suffer the death we all deserve so that we could have a chance at salvation.

Mark 10:32-34 “And they were in the way going up to Jerusalem; and Jesus went before them: and they were amazed; and as they followed, they were afraid. And he took again the twelve, and began to tell them what things should happen unto him, Saying, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes; and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles: And they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him: and the third day he shall rise again.”

It can’t be overstated that our Lord KNEW He was walking to His humiliation, torture, and death. Bear in mind that Jesus is the epitome of what a man ought to be. He didn’t travel this road with anything less than complete determination to fulfill the prophecies about Messiah in obedience to His Father’s will.

Though a lesser man would only think of his own demise and harden his heart in anticipation of the events soon to take place, our Saviour displayed even MORE compassion toward all who came His way. Before coming across blind Bartimaeus, a loving lesson needed to be taught to the disciples.

Mark 10:35-45 “And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire. And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you? They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory. But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? And they said unto him, We can. And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized: But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared. And WHEN THE TEN HEARD IT, THEY BEGAN TO BE MUCH DISPLEASED WITH JAMES AND JOHN. But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. BUT SO SHALL IT NOT BE AMONG YOU: but WHOSOEVER WILL BE GREAT AMONG YOU, SHALL BE YOUR MINISTER: AND WHOSOEVER OF YOU WILL BE THE CHIEFEST, SHALL BE SERVANT OF ALL. For EVEN THE SON OF MAN CAME NOT TO BE MINISTERED UNTO, BUT TO MINISTER, AND TO GIVE HIS LIFE A RANSOM FOR MANY.”

Not an ounce of impatience was shown. Not a shred of lacking courage was manifested. Not a single opportunity to display compassion was missed. Where a lesser man would be so self-involved that he would concentrate only upon his own sufferings, Jesus Christ, in His single-minded devotion to His Father in Heaven, maintained His work in perfecting His people through Godly teaching and instruction.

James and John were momentarily caught up in pride and desired to sit on the Lord’s left and right hand in Heaven. Due to this, the other ten Apostles began to have hardened hearts toward James and John. Here was a divine opportunity to show the Apostles, and us, how to think and how to regard ourselves.

Jesus took the time out His busy eternity to gather the twelve together as brethren to instruct them about how to treat each other. He first calls to their attention the way in which the Gentiles operate in terms of placing one above another. He goes on to declare that this is NOT the way it ought to be amongst His believers. Jesus goes on to say, “But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.”

To all who are listening right now, please keep this next bit deep in your hearts. Our Saviour never taught anything without first being the living embodiment of that teaching. He always led by example! To prove His point when teaching the Disciples, He points to Himself as the very example they ought to follow when He said, “For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

Jesus stepped down from His Heavenly throne to be a servant unto all. He humbled Himself in a way never before seen.

Philippians 2:5-8 “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”

This is the King and Creator of all mankind who brought Himself low; even to the extent of washing the feet of the Disciples as a display of true meekness and humility.

John 13:3-17 “Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After that he poureth water into a bason, and BEGAN TO WASH THE DISCIPLES’ FEET, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean. So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? YE CALL ME MASTER AND LORD: AND YE SAY WELL; FOR SO I AM. IF I THEN, YOUR LORD AND MASTER, HAVE WASHED YOUR FEET; YE ALSO OUGHT TO WASH ONE ANOTHER’S FEET. For I HAVE GIVEN YOU AN EXAMPLE, that YE SHOULD DO AS I HAVE DONE TO YOU. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.”

By His very example, Jesus taught us all the lesson of servitude toward others. He showed how our minds need to always be set toward the service of others because as He came from above to serve, so too ought we to do. Afterall, is it not written …

1 John 2:6 “He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to WALK, EVEN AS HE WALKED.”

Now, we finally get to the meat of this video. As Jesus and His Apostles, together with a great multitude of people, came to Jericho, blind Bartimaeus was sitting along the road begging. As soon as he heard that Jesus was coming, he began to cry out to the Lord for mercy.

Mark 10:46-47 “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. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.”

And in Luke it is written …

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.”

But something a bit strange happened. Though Bartimaeus was calling for mercy, many of the people in the multitude compelled him to stay quiet. However, listen to how he reacted when he was told to stop calling unto Jesus.

Mark 10:48 “And 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.”

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.”

Blind Bartimaeus would NOT hold his tongue! He would not allow the rebuke and disdain of others dictate his speech or his pleading to the Lord! In the faces of all who had first told him to hold his tongue, he lifted his voice even higher! What a lesson to be learned!

Let the governments attempt to silence us and we will cry out to our Saviour so much the more! Let our first amendment rights be stripped from us and we will declare the name of Jesus Christ even on an even greater level and to more people! Let the devil do his best to shut our mouths … the Lord’s people will never be silenced. His name will ring in their ears until our dying day.

Bartimaeus showed what faith we need to possess. A faith that will not be deterred by the compulsion of others. The Apostles showed this same faith in Acts.

Acts 5:40-42 “And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and BEATEN THEM, THEY COMMANDED THAT THEY SHOULD NOT SPEAK IN THE NAME OF JESUS, and let them go. And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. And DAILY IN THE TEMPLE, AND IN EVERY HOUSE, THEY CEASED NOT TO TEACH AND PREACH JESUS CHRIST.”

Let the wicked beat us and kill us … the Lord’s people will never cease to teach and preach Jesus Christ!

But we learn even MORE from the testimony of Bartimaeus! After his faith had been displayed in that he would not be silenced, THIS is what we read.

Mark 10:49-50 “And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, BE OF GOOD COMFORT, RISE; HE CALLETH THEE.”

There are several things to learn here. First and foremost, we need to always edify one another. In other words, we need to always build each other up toward Christ, letting each other know that the Lord is always calling us toward His side.

Secondly, the relationship we have with Jesus requires us be led by the Holy Spirit into action. Faith without works is dead, as James declared.

James 2:20, 26 “But wilt thou know, O vain man, that FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD ALSO.”

Bartimaeus was first instructed to “RISE” in response to the Lord’s calling. So, the question is this: what is keeping you down? What is keeping you from answering the Lord’s call? What in your life is restricting your freewill decision to RISE from whatever is weighing you down and preventing you from the personal relationship you need to have with your Saviour?

But there’s more to it than just rising!

Mark 10:50 “And HE, CASTING AWAY HIS GARMENT, ROSE, AND CAME TO JESUS.”

Bartimaeus cast away his old garments when he rose and made his way to Jesus. Let us not forget that Bartimaeus was BLIND! Yet, his faith moved him in the direction of his Lord.

Though the road of life can be treacherous and filled with danger. Though the issues of life can have us blinded to the direction of salvation. And though these blind eyes can prevent us from pursuing the Lord’s calling, all we need is His voice and to walk in that direction.

John 10:2-4 “But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth; and THE SHEEP HEAR HIS VOICE: and HE CALLETH HIS OWN SHEEP BY NAME, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and THE SHEEP FOLLOW HIM: FOR THEY KNOW HIS VOICE.”

Isaiah 42:16 “And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.”

When in faith and truth we come unto the Lord, He is faithful to receive us, and the petitions of our hearts will be answered.

Mark 10:51-52 “And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight. And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and FOLLOWED JESUS IN THE WAY.”

Sadly, this is where most people falter. Bartimaeus showed that after he received his sight, he FOLLOWED Jesus. Many well-meaning souls pray to God to receive something of Him but have no intention of walking with Jesus for the rest of their lives.

(don’t read ) Matthew 15:8 “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.”

The Lord reads our hearts and knows who will walk closely by His side, and those who offer Him mere lip-service. Those who have a heartfelt desire to follow the Lord will obey His command in everything, no matter how difficult it may seem to perform those acts of obedience.

(don’t read) Revelation 14:4 “These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. THESE ARE THEY WHICH FOLLOW THE LAMB WHITHERSOEVER HE GOETH. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.”

Those who only desire the gifts and blessings only the Lord can offer, but do not have hearts to follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth, have idolized and worshipped the blessing rather than the Blesser. Their minds are not singularly focused upon their Saviour.

Isaiah 42:18-20 “Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see. Who is blind, but my servant? or deaf, as my messenger that I sent? who is blind as he that is perfect, and blind as the LORD’S servant? Seeing many things, but thou observest not; opening the ears, but he heareth not.”

The servants and messengers of God are blind and deaf to the world. Satan can offer nothing to those who have tasted and seen that the Lord is good.

(don’t read) Psalm 34:8 “O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.”

The single-minded focus of the saints cannot be deterred by the temptations of Satan which are rooted in the world. We are blind and deaf to them while our eyes and ears are open to the Lord’s commands.

(don’t read) 2 Corinthians 5:7 “(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)”

As He leads, we follow. Truly, He has shaped our hearts to walk by faith, not by sight.

Isaiah 42:5-7 “Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein: I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.”

Our gracious and wonderful Saviour is calling all of us to walk even as He walked. Though the path may be scary at times, we are called to trust in Him and hold His hand as He leads us. As He brings many souls across our paths, He will display His own love through us so that others may be prepared for His soon-to-come arrival. Like Bartimaeus, we must be entirely focused on the Lord, doing those things which are righteous in His sight, obeying His every command, including His 7^th Day Sabbath of the 4^th Commandment.

(don’t read) Exodus 20:8-11 “REMEMBER THE SABBATH DAY, TO KEEP IT HOLY. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore THE LORD BLESSED THE SABBATH DAY, AND HALLOWED IT.”

Have you been blinded and deafened by the enemy of souls to reject the Lord’s will in keeping holy His Sabbath day? Has the enemy deceived you into believing in the purely manmade false Sunday sabbath of the Roman Catholic Vatican? Fear not, the Lord will guide you with eyes that see. He will open His holy Word to you and reveal His true will to you. All you need to do is give Him your whole heart.

I hope and pray that you were blessed by what you heard here today. I love you all. God bless.

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