Part 233

But to proceed, “As our LORD went out of _Jericho_ with his disciples, and a great number of people, blind _Bartimeus_, (the son of _Timeus_) sat by the highway-side begging.” It should seem that he was a noted, though by no means what we commonly call, a sturdy beggar; having no other way, as he had lost his sight, to get his bread; his case was still the more pitiable, if he was, as some think the name imports, the blind son of a blind father. It may be, he begged for his father and himself too; and if so, then this may give us light into that passage of _Matthew_ xx. 22. where we are told, that “two men spake to JESUS.” It might be father and son, though only one is mentioned here, because he only followed JESUS in the way. Thus that holy, judicious, and practical expositor of holy writ, Mr. _Henry_. But however this be, he is not blamed for begging, neither should we discommend others for so doing, when providence calls to it. It was the unjust steward that said, “To beg I am ashamed.” It is our pride that often makes us unwilling to be beholden; JESUS was not thus minded, he lived, as it were, upon alms; the women that followed him, ministred to him of their substance. _Bartimeus_, not being able to dig, begs for his living; and, in order to make a better trade of it, sat by the highway-side, in all probability, without, or near the gate of the city, where people must necessarily pass in and out. But though he had lost his sight, he had his hearing perfect; and it should comfort us, if we have lost one sense, that we have the use of another, and that we are not deprived of the benefit of all. Happy was it for _Bartimeus_ that he could hear, though not see. For in all probability, upon hearing the noise and clamour of the much people that followed after our LORD, his curiosity set him upon enquiring into the cause of it, and some one or another told him, “that JESUS of _Nazareth_ was passing by;” JESUS of _Nazareth_, called so, because he was bred there, or out of contempt; _Nazareth_ being either a very mean, or very wicked place, or both, which made guileless _Nathaniel_ say, “Can any good come out of _Nazareth_?” And what does _Bartimeus_ do when he hears of JESUS? We are told, verse 47; “And when he heard that it was JESUS of _Nazareth_, he began to cry out.” This plainly denotes, that though the eyes of his body were shut, yet the eyes of his mind were, in some degree, opened, so that he saw, perhaps, more than most of the multitude that followed after JESUS; for, as soon as he heard of him, he began to cry out; which he would not have done, had he not heard of him before, and believed also, that he was both able and willing to restore sight to the blind. “He began to cry out.” This implies, that he had a deep sense of his own misery, and the need which he had of a cure; his prayers did not freeze as they went out of his lips; he began to cry out, that JESUS might hear him, notwithstanding the noise of the throng; and he began to cry out, as soon as he heard he was passing by, not knowing whether he might ever enjoy such an opportunity any more. “He began to cry out, JESUS, thou Son of _David_, have mercy upon me.” The people called him JESUS of _Nazareth_. _Bartimeus_ stiles him, “JESUS, thou Son of _David_.” Thereby evidencing, that he believed him to be the Messiah who was to come into the world, unto whom the LORD GOD was to give the throne of his father _David_, and of whose kingdom there was to be no end. “JESUS, thou Son of _David_;” or, as it is in the parallel place of St. _Matthew_ xx. 30. “O LORD, thou son of _David_;” of whom it had been long foretold, _Isaiah_ xxxv. that when he should come, “the eyes of the blind should be opened.” “Have mercy upon me,” the natural language of a soul brought to lie down at the feet of a sovereign GOD. Here is no laying claim to a cure by way of merit; no proud, self-righteous, GOD I thank thee that I am not as other men are: no bringing in a reckoning of performances, nor any doubting of JESUS’s power or willingness to heal him, but out of the abundance of the heart, his mouth speaketh, and, in the language of the poor, broken-hearted publican, he cries out, “JESUS, thou Son of _David_, have mercy on me.” JESUS, thou friend of sinners, thou Saviour, who, though thou be the true GOD, wast pleased to become the Son of _David_, and to be made man, that thou mightest seek and save those that were lost, have mercy upon me; let thy bowels yearn towards a poor, miserable, blind beggar!