Who Do You Say I Am – Week 2
April 9, 2017
Today we celebrate Palm Sunday, it is the story of the Triumphal
Entry of when Jesus rode into Jerusalem.
I talked last week about the question who do you say that I am?
We have another question today but before I get to that here are a few more pondering thoughts to consider.
• Why are there no ‘B’ batteries?
• If a bunch of cats jump on top of each other, is it still called a dog pile?
• Why does quicksand work slowly?
• Can you buy an entire chess set in a pawn shop?
• Can a cemetery raise its prices and blame it on the cost of living?
• What do Greeks say when they don’t understand something?
It was Palm Sunday but because of a sore throat, 5-year-old Sammy stayed home from church with a babysitter. When the
family returned home, they were carrying several palm branches. Sammy inquired as to what they were for. ‘People
waved them as Jesus walked by,’ his father responded. ‘Wouldn’t you just know it?’ Sammy complained, ‘the one Sunday
I don’t go and Jesus shows up.’
Sorry about that, now let’s try to get into the message.
As Jesus was making his way to Jerusalem from Jericho the crowd became larger and larger because the news of the miracles
and healings spread like a wildfire. As Jesus approached the city the crowds welcomed Him with a celebration and waved palm
branches as they shouted: “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”
Before Jesus and the disciples left Jericho to go to Jerusalem there was a blind man whom Jesus healed his name was Bartimaeus. He was likely here in Jerusalem waving one of those palm branches.
It may interest you to know that Jericho the city where Jesus healed blind Bartimaeus was in the days of Jesus known as the city of palms. So much took place on the day Jesus healed him let’s spend a little time looking at a few of the things that transpired that day.
Matthew 20:29–34 (NIV) – 29 As Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him. 30 Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!” 31 The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!” 32 Jesus stopped and called them. “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked. 33 “Lord,” they answered, “we want our sight.” 34 Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.
I don’t know If you have ever noticed that in Matthews account of this story it mentions two blind men and neither is mentioned by name. However, in Marks account of the story in Mark chapter 10, Mark shares the name of one of the blind men and that was Bartimaeus, but doesn’t mention the other. In Luke’s telling of the story he mentions that while heading to Jericho he encounters a blind beggar and doesn’t mention Bartimaeus’ name nor the other blind man.
Even through each account is slightly different in how the story is told this is still the same story and same man who was healed by Jesus.
To help you understand we need to look at the lay of the land in the days of Jesus which I hope will give you a clearer picture and perspective.
Both Mark and Luke in there telling of the story state that Jesus was headed “to Jericho,” Matthew on the other hand tells us well let’s read it. . .
Matthew 20:29 (NIV) – 29 As Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him. So, was Jesus going into or out from Jericho? Is this a contradiction in Scripture? Let me answer the latter first, no it is not a contradiction. The answer to the first question was Jesus going into or out from Jericho?
The answer is Yes.
Wait a second pastor how can that be? I’m glad you asked, let me try to explain it to you.
Jericho had two inhabited areas about a mile apart that can still be seen today. Jericho may be the oldest city on earth and has many references to it throughout the Scriptures.
Remember Joshua chapter 6, the battle that occurred and Joshua marched around the city and then a great shout and the walls came tumbling down?
Jericho is a city the is situated about 800 feet below sea level that is a beautiful oasis in the middle of a barren wilderness near the Dead Sea. The reason for its beauty and lush vegetation is due to an underground spring upon which the city was founded. When Kind Herod the Great came on the scene, he built a palace about a mile south of the Old Testament remains of Jericho. This became the second extension of an inhabitable area where
people began to live. These two sections if you will, were about a mile apart and that explains how Jesus could be going out of and going into Jericho depending on who’s account you read.
So that being said let’s move on in the story.
Many would have traveled along the road as they all headed toward Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. The crowd that were their most likely numbering in the thousands heard that Jesus was headed that way. This no doubt made for a lot of buzz because many were aware of His miracles and His teachings.
So back to our text
Matthew 20:30 (NIV) – 30 Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!” Here again we see that Matthew’s telling of the story mentions two blind men. As I mentioned earlier Mark and Luke only
mention one blind beggar and only Mark mentions him by name. So again, we have a question to ask, “Were there two people who were blind or one?”
The answer is “yes.”
To help with this answer we need to look at the location once again. While Jesus is headed from “old” Jericho toward “new” Jericho on His way to Jerusalem, there would have most likely been many along the path who suffered from blindness. Because of Jericho’s warm climate and vegetation that produced from the underground spring, along with the palm trees in the area, there was also a balsam plant that grew in that area and it was known to be medicine to help with blindness. So, because of all that the people suffering from blindness no matter the reason for their blindness would have congregated in and around Jericho hoping to find some relief.
I said all that to say this, “most likely Blind Bartimaeus and his unnamed blind friend were probably not the only two blind beggars on that road.
Mark may have named Bartimaeus because he was probably the spokesperson for both himself and his friend, much like Peter in last week’s message when he responded to the question, “Who do you say that I am?”
Now there is no doubt that these blind folks had heard about the healings that Jesus had performed. News like that I’m sure traveled fast.
Think of the woman at the well that Jesus encountered she returned to her village and told them what had happened. She ran and told them and a whole village came out to see this Jesus.
Back to our story
Even though they were blind and may not have been able to see Jesus their other senses were able to let them know that something special was happening around them. They heard the commotion all the noise from the crowd as Jesus made his way closer and closer toward them.
Jesus was being referred to by some as the “Son of David.” This had a prophetic message to the Jewish people, they recalled what Isaiah the prophet had said about Him. Some felt that royalty was passing by. And it was just not how they expected to see royalty. To many royalty meant riches and perhaps that is why these beggars cried out, they thought maybe this was the opportunity to cash in as Jesus passed by. They understand that royalty often love to have the crowds see them give charity and be merciful because that could help their image. And then again maybe money wasn’t the motivation of Blind Bartimaeus and his friend at all, they may have heard of the miracles that Jesus did and wanted to be healed from the start. Whichever the reason they for sure were not going to miss the opportunity to get the attention of Jesus.
Look again at verse 30 again
Matthew 20:30 (NIV) – 30 Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”
They shouted or another translation says they cried out to Jesus.
The word in the Greek here is the word krazo and it is used for any sort of screaming or an anguished shout. This word Krazo is a word used for the rantings of insane people and the cries of a woman in childbirth. Bear in mind that when the crowds would soon shout for Jesus to be crucified, the word that Mark chose to describe that scene in his gospel was this very word krazo. Just before Jesus yielded His spirit on the cross, Matthew tells us
that Jesus cried out. . .same word krazo.
So, these blind men wanting to get the attention of Jesus cried out for Jesus to have mercy on them.
But look what happens.
Matthew 20:31 (NIV) – 31 The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”
Have you ever noticed that when cries of desperation go out, it often times makes the nearby crowds uncomfortable?
Biblical scholar F.F. Bruce noted, “The two blind men refused to be bludgeoned into silence by an indifferent crowd.”
Instead of turning the volume down a notch they cranked it up a notch or two.
Look at verses 32-34.
Matthew 20:32–34 (NIV) – 32 Jesus stopped and called them. “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked. 33 “Lord,” they answered, “we want our sight.” 34 Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.
These could be the most powerful words in this story. These blind men got the attention of Jesus and they had a choice to make do we play it safe or ask for what we really want. For so long they were asking the questions. Do you have some extra change? Alms, alms, give us alms? For so long they asked for money now this voice that they believe to be that of Jesus asks them “What do you want me to do for you?” And so instead of asking for the usual they ask something that really matters, we want to see.
Because of the risk, we see that Bartimaeus’ identity changed in an instant. No longer could he beg along the side of the roadside. His risk allowed for his healing. And because of that he chose to leave the lifestyle he once lived and follow Jesus.
Let me just quickly say This church we have so many that don’t want to change their lifestyle so they are afraid to call out to Jesus. They would rather do their thing than His thing.
Back to Bartimaeus.
Think about this he had to figure out a whole new way to survive. Did he have any skills other than begging? His life changed in an instant with this one question, “What do you want me to do for you?”
And church yours can as well, Jesus is asking you that same question.
Let us look for a moment at this same scene from Marks gospel. Earlier in the day we see that Jesus asks two of His disciples this very same question, but their response is much different from that of Bartimaeus.
Mark 10:35–37 (NIV) – 35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.” 36 “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked. 37 They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.” Remember our lesson last week when the disciples were asked, “who do you say I am?” Peter spoke for the others and said, you are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
This was not to long after that, that this happened. Just a few weeks had past and His disciples still not seeing clearly who He really is. They still
anticipate for Jesus as the Messiah to take over the Roman government and rule and so James and John say when that happens we would like a position of glory.
Later that same day in Marks account and before Mark 10 concludes, Jesus has the encounter with Bartimaeus or should I say that Bartimaeus has his encounter with Jesus? And Jesus asks him the same question that he had asked James and John earlier.
Now the text doesn’t say this, but I can almost imagine Jesus making this a teachable moment for these two and Jesus just looks over at them as he asks Bartimaeus, “What do you want me to do for you?” Maybe James and John look at each other and say we asked for glory, what will this blind man ask for?Bartimaeus doesn’t ask for glory, or money he asks to see. What an impact that most have had on those two.
Helen Keller once said, “the only thing worst then being blind is having sight but no vision.”
Bartimaeus although physically blind could still see more than James and John.
Play Bartimaeus video
Scripture doesn’t paint a picture of what Jesus had on his mind as he was passing through the “Jericho’s” on his way to Jerusalem, but I can imagine he was thinking about what laid ahead. The cross. Perhaps he looked at the hills around him and thought back after his baptism when he was in the wilderness for 40 days to tempted by the devil. What if he would have given into that? He would not have been able to complete the mission and this
story would be a whole lot different than it is. What must have been running through His mind as he is preparing for His destiny on Golgotha? Sounded by the noise of crowds, thoughts and emotions racing through His mind and walking down this road through the “Jericho’s” Jesus still has the compassion to stop at a cry for help and heal a blind man. Jesus on His way to die for the sins of the world, stops, gives His attention to a blind man, asks a question that good change his destiny, and because of the response heals him. Salvation came to Bartimaeus that day and he being so overwhelmed with joy and thanksgiving follows Jesus out of the city of palms and into Jerusalem waving palms with the rest of the crowd.
Let me close with something I think is extremely important. One thing I haven’t mentioned yet is that on this day there also may have been a second procession into the city.
In the book The Last Week by Borg and Crossan the mention it is probable that there were two processions going on into Jerusalem on that day.
It had become the custom of the governors to live outside Jerusalem, but also during Passover it was not uncommon to go into Jerusalem. They would do so to provide a very visible and powerful Roman military presence and to prevent any potential uprising.
His procession would have been an impressive and lavish procession – designed to impress the people with a visual display of imperial power.
Then there is that of Jesus where Zechariah tells us,
Zechariah 9:9 (NIV) – 9Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
No lavish display, no ceremony, dressed simply like the people, riding on the back of a donkey and followed by his disciples.
Phillip Yancey’s tells about it this way,
He imagines a Roman soldier galloping up to check on the disturbance. He has attended processions in Rome where they do it right. The conquering general sits in a chariot of gold, white stallions pulling at the reigns. Behind him are officers in polished armor carrying the colorful banners of the defeated enemies. At the rear comes a ragtag procession of slaves and prisoners in chains – living proof of what happens when you get in Rome’s
way.
In Jesus’ triumphal entry, the adoring crowd makes up the ragtag procession: the lame, the blind, the poor and children from Galilee and Bethany. When the soldier looks for the object of their attention – he sees a man riding on a donkey using a borrowed coat as a saddle. Not a very impressive sight, perhaps, to a Roman. But it was the best display these people could give. The reception of a meek and peaceful king. Imagine the lepers he had healed and the once blind man dancing and rejoicing with him. And there is Lazarus with Mary and Martha a living symbol of the triumph that this procession represents.
As a matter of fact, look at what Luke’s gospel tells us about this event,
Luke 19:37 (NIV) – 37When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:
Jesus had brought hope to so many including Bartimaeus.
And because of the two processions the crowd hearing Hail King Jesus on one side of town and Hail Pilate on the other, they needed to decide who will I follow.
Do we follow the one that to some like Bartimaeus had become the healer, to other’s like Lazarus had become the restorer of life, or to other’s like Peter thou art the Christ the Son of the living God.
Or perhaps we’re not part of Jesus’ procession at all. Maybe we are at the other procession cheering for the symbols of empire. Amazed by power, and attracted to wealth.
Good Friday we will look at Pilate’s wife Claudia, for Easter Mary
Magdalene, and finally finish off this series the week after Easter
with Matthias.
Leave a Reply