ASK, SEEK, KNOCK
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.
Jericho means place of fragrance. Jesus was passing out of Jericho on His last journey to Jerusalem when He passed blind Bartimaeus. Jericho was the home of someone in the lineage of Jesus, a woman named Rahab, a Gentile harlot, who helped spies sent out by Joshua to spy out the land.
How wonderful it is that even though we have a past, being sinners, Jesus passes through our lives with the sweet fragrance of salvation, if we will cry-out to Him in faith.
Bartimaeus was the son of Timaeus. The only thing we know about Bartimaeus, he was the son of Timaeus. The only thing we know about Timaeus, he was the father of Bartimaeus.
They were nobodies. They were unknowns until the Holy Spirit put them in the Bible. Jesus came to save us, nobodies and make us somebody: sons and daughters of God; a kingdom of priests.
Bartimaeus sat by the highway side, begging everyday, rain or shine. His day was the same old thing every day with no hope for things to be different. But one day, blind Bartimaeus heard about Jesus of Nazareth. He heard of the miracles and the signs and wonders. Someone must have told him about the teaching, preaching, and healings that Jesus did. Bartimaeus understood Jesus was the Jewish Messiah,the Son of David.
Bartimaeus heard a great noise coming from a crowd of people passing by. Bartimaeus asked, Who are all these people?
Mark 10:47 – 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.
Bartimaeus couldn’t see, but he could shout. He used his faith to cry out to Jesus. He was physically handicapped but his spirit and soul was determined to get the attention of Jesus and be healed. He cried out and asked, Have mercy on me. It was covenant prayer, confessing by faith. He knew who Jesus was: the promised Messiah, the seed of Abraham, the son of David, the Jewish Messiah, the One who came to give mercy to those who will believe in Him.
Everybody is not happy with a desperate person who knows who Jesus is and will not shut up.
Now, Bartimaeus is shifted to a seeking mode, he is seeking Jesus for his need. Some people stop after asking. Not blind Bartimaeus, he has faith that will not be quiet, he will seek his Healer.
Mark 10:48 – 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.
The number of people following Jesus, we do not know, but probably many of them did not have the understanding of who Jesus was, but Bartimaeus did, he knew Jesus was God, come in the flesh, Son of David,Virgin born Son of God.
This asking, seeking, confessing his faith, stopped Jesus, He stood still.
Mark 10:49 – 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.
Jesus stood still and commanded them to call Bartimaeus. Jesus wasn’ t ignoring Bartimaeus, but was listening to his faith cry out. Jesus stood still and let a blind man come to him. This would seem cruel to some who don’t understand that true faith will overcome every roadblock, every hindrance, every handicap. Desperate people do desperate things to get to Jesus. He didn’t say to Jesus, I can’t come to You, I’m blind. He got up and throwed off his beggar’s garment. He would never need it again. And he went to Jesus Faith never complains, faith receives.
Mark 10:51 – 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.
Why would Jesus ask a blind man a question like that? Couldn’t he see the man was blind? Bartimaeus had cried out and asked for mercy. he cried out again, seeking the Lord’s attention, now he is standing at the door, knocking for his miracle, crying, Lord, that I might receive my sight. God knows what we need before we ask, but we must ask and seek Him, and continue to knock until the answer comes.
Mark 10:52 – And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received h is sight, and followed Jesus in the way.
Some people think God does not heal people anymore. But the Bible says, Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Salvation of a soul comes by faith in Jesus. Bartimaeus was healed by his own faith. So was the woman with the issue of blood. If faith in Jesus still saves the soul, Will it not bring healing to the body? Will faith not bring answers to all our prayers, to all of our needs? Yes, it will . God responds to faith when we pray in His will: His Word is His will Barimaeus asked, seeked and knocked, and got his need met. So can we.
Matthew 7:7 – Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you;…
