Chinatown Outreach Ministry

Editor of Kingdom Iconoclast

Mark 10:46-52 / Luke 18: 35-43

Blind Bartimaeus - Son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside and he heard the noise of many people. He cried out and shouted in a loud voice, "Jesus, Son of David, Have mercy on me."

By calling Jesus the Son of David, he was acknowledging that he was the Jewish Messiah. Those around him tried to shut him up because of this - but he cried even louder and more earnestly! He didn't want his opportunity to meet Jesus pass him by!

Jesus acknowledges him and calls him to him. In Mark's account Bartimaeus then throws off his beggar's cloak - he was crying for mercy - not just healing. This cry went out to the heart of the Messiah. When he got to Jesus his plea was very specific. Bartimaeus' heart could already see who Jesus was; he already had light and spiritual sight.

Jesus asks him, ‘what do you want me to do?" The blind man said, "Teacher I want to see." Jesus said, "Go, your faith has healed you." Immediately he received his sight and he followed Jesus, praising God!

How many others were there that day that needed a touch from Jesus? Yet only Bartimaeus received a healing. Why? Because he was desperate. He didn't care what others thought - he pursued Jesus with all his heart.

Mark 5: 22-43/ Luke 8: 41-56

Jairus' daughter

Jairus was a ruler of the synagogue. He came to Jesus because his daughter was sick and dying. He was pleading and begging Jesus to come and heal his daughter. In Mark 9:18 it says that Jairus knelt before Jesus. This was a cry of desperation.

There was a large crowd that had gathered there to meet Jesus after the storm. When Jesus got there he was "thronged" or surrounded by the crowd. They were eager and expectant - waiting for him. But there were 2 people in that crowd who desperately sought Jesus.

Both Jairus, and the woman who was subject to bleeding reached Jesus at about the same time. They both had faith. In both of these cases the thing sought for was unattainable humanly speaking. And In both of these cases the results were obtained through the power of Christ and their faith.

By the time Jairus reached Jesus, his daughter was at the point of death or literally at the last breath. Now Jairus could have gone to see Jesus the day before, but he wasn't desperate enough yet. This was his hour of supreme need. When his only child lay dying.

Jesus will wait till we are ready. The purpose of Jesus' miracles is not to excite the flesh with a caravel show, but to humble discipleship and faith in the person of Jesus. The need of faith is the primary point here.

Jairus knew Jesus because he was speaking at the synagogue and therefore he must have had Jairus' consent. Jairus may have even sat under Jesus' teaching for a while and may have seen many miracles. We can only suppose...

When Jesus followed Jairus to his house the multitude thronged him with eager curiosity. But another person in the crowd approached him. Now according to the Law of Moses, because of her bleeding, she would be considered unclean and would have had to be wearing special clothes. Just as the blind man wore a cloak that signified him, so this woman was identified as someone unclean and therefore no one would touch her.

She had been seeking help for many years (Psalm 60:11 "Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man."

Mark 5: 21- 34 says she spent all the money she had and instead of getting better she was worse. Her situation was hopeless. She thought, "if only I touch the hem of his cloak, I'll be healed." She only thought to touch him outwardly, because of her uncleanness, but Jesus wanted to touch her inwardly.

What a strong faith- to expect help when all human efforts had failed. And what strong faith to believe that just having outward contact with his divine power would make her whole. She felt so unworthy, that she wouldn't even touch Jesus himself, but only something that in and of itself had no power.

But no sooner than she touched the boarder of his garment, then she knew in her body that she had been healed. In Luke 8:46 Jesus says, "Who touched me?" He felt the power go out of him. The woman comes trembling at the feet of Jesus. Jesus says to her, "Daughter, your faith ahs healed you." She learned that it was not the garment, but Jesus that healed her and she met him face to face. When OUR faith comes into contact with the DIVINE power of Christ miracles happen!

While Jesus was still speaking the report comes that Jairus' daughter is dead and by the time Jesus gets there, the house is full of mourners. Jairus was told not to trouble Jesus any more, but just like Bartimaeus, he wouldn't listen. This delay could have threatened Jairus' faith. The utmost need, which would now require the utmost faith on the part of Jairus, had come.

While Jesus goes into the house there are loud crying, wailing and mourning going on all around him. He told them that she wasn't dead, but only sleeping and they mocked him. How many times does God give us a word, but because we don't see it manifest in the natural yet, we mock it and don't believe? The first thing Jesus does is put out the mourners. (Mark 5:40) He puts out unbelief! Their conduct has made them unfit witnesses to the miracle.

So, into the girls room go Jesus, the girls mother and father, and 3 of the apostles. Jesus doesn't hesitate, but he takes her by the hand and says, "Maiden arise!" Immediately the girl stood up and walked around and the witnesses were completely astonished!

So, the question I ask you today is, are you desperate for Jesus? Do you need a special touch from him? Are you willing to let nothing and no one stop you from pressing into his presence? He's the same yesterday today and forever!