Performance In Christianity series
Blind Bartimaeus - Performance Of Jesus
Our usual didactic or teaching position is to present Matthew first; however the agreement of Mark and Luke concerning the condition and identification of Bartimaeus leads us to question that Matthew may have afflicted with double vision. Theologians have in-depth discussions about the analogous writings Seeing Double in Matthew and Did Matthew simply Double the people in his miracle stories? (disclaimer: you can't believe every scholarly theory you read on the internet. So do your own research and be lead by the Holy Ghost!). There is a preposition that when "two persons" are mention by Matthew and only one is mentioned by the other synoptic writers (is maybe the responsibility of the writer to only point out the one who was delivered (cf. the ten lepers with only one returning to say thanks: Luke 17:7) Mark and Luke both name Bartimaeus specifically in respecting to his deliverance. The bottom line, I feel that there is a common malady Matthew was seeing double, which would explain why, at the end of every miracle, there is only one person. The disciples were exposed to the same illness and sickness as everyone else in that time was exposed to cf. Paul's thorn (2 Corinthians 12:7-9).
Mark 10:46-52, Mark identifies Bartimaeus by symptom, first name, parentage, and location, which means that Bartimaeus was a registered Jew and known in the temple. This is very important because he identified Bartimaeus with specific clarity. Being a Jew also meant that Bartimaeus as educated as he addressed Jesus as the Son of David, which Matthew verifies in his account of Jesus' genealogy of 32 generations in Matthew 1:1-17. With this type of background, we can not ignore or downplay the narrative of Mark or Luke, who identifies a certain man, or Mark, who identifies a Jew called Bartimaeus and not two blind men sitting by the wayside. To the specific issue and the purpose of this topic, he was healed by Jesus, and with significant consideration, by his Faith, he was made whole.
Luke 18:35-43, Luke's view leans to the performance of Jesus without the details of the circumstances. Luke describes Bartimaeus as a certain blind man, Matthew says it was two blind men by the roadside, and all three agree on the healing or performance of Jesus for the Glory of God. Significant again is the pronouncement of Jesus as the Son of David (Matthew 1:1), the person screamed this over the dim of the crowd. Here Luke pays more attention to what Jesus did and details His actions by recording the question: What do you want me to do for you (paraphrased)? And with the acclaim of their Faith they are restored and healed, praising and glorifying God.
Matthew 20:29-34
And as they departed from Jericho, a great multitude followed him. And, behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, [thou] Son of David. And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, [thou] Son of David. And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you? They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened. So Jesus had compassion [on them], and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.
The LORD My Shepherd, Jehovah Roi (Psalm 23:1), we thank You for the understanding of applying Faith. We praise You because all Glory and Praise belong to You and give it freely. We decree and declare blessings upon those who walk in the Light of Your salvation and stand on the firmness of Your sovereign Word so that; by the Work of Jesus, we bear witness to the Works of Your Hand. Now, for the Kingdom and the Glory of God, we petition, with anointing in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord, and Savior, Amen.
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