Jerico

Matthew XX. 29-34; Mark X. 46-52; Luke XVIII. 35-43, XIX. 1-10

Traveling along in easy fashion, Jesus and his company reached the city of Jericho, very near Jerusalem. This, you remember, was the first city that Joshua and his Israelitish army conquered when they entered Canaan hundreds of years before. Ever since that time it had been inhabited by the Jews, and had ranked as one of their largest and most important cities.

As Jesus entered the gates and passed through the streets, two little incidents happened which offered him precious encouragement. A poor blind man named Bartimaeus was seated at the roadside, begging alms. He heard the soft footfalls of sandals in the dust, and cried out to know who was passing by. Some one said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” At once the poor fellow shouted out, “Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me!”

They told him roughly to keep still, but he shouted the louder, “Jesus, have mercy on me,” until Jesus heard and stopped, and asked him what he would have. Bartimaeus made his touching request, “Lord, I ask that I may receive my sight.” Jesus granted his request in heartfelt gratitude. Here was a blind beggar who believed on him and came to him for help, and Jesus secretly thanked him for even his poor trust and confidence.

As he walked along, with the people crowding around him more and more, he happened to glance up into a fig-tree that grew at the side of the street. And saw the figure of a man perched among the branches, and looking eagerly and intently down at him. It was a man named Zacchaeus, who, being very short, had found it impossible to get a glimpse of Jesus through the crowd, and so had run on ahead and climbed a tree in order to get a good look at him. He was a man whom everybody hated and despised, because he was a tax-gatherer; but Jesus was so touched by his eagerness to see him that he struck up a friendship with him, and called him to his side, and spent that night at his house.

Here was another man, a despised and misjudged publican, who yet believed on Jesus, and was proud of it. What an encouragement it was to him to win the confidence of at least a blind beggar and a hated tax-gatherer, if of no one else! Jesus went about his work strengthened in his determination to be faithful for the sake of the poor and the outcast, like Bartimaeus and Zacchaeus, if not for the benefit of the strong and the well-to-do.

1. What great city did he visit on the way to Jerusalem?

2. What occupation did Zacchaeus follow?

3. Why could not Zacchaeus see Jesus?

4. How did he manage to get a glimpse of him?

5. Why did the people murmur when Jesus proposed to stay at Zacchaeus’ house?

6. What does Bartimaeus mean?

7. What was the matter with Bartimaeus?

8. How did he know that Jesus was going by?

9. How did he reply when they told him to keep still?

10. Did Jesus resent being interrupted by a blind beggar?

11. Of what Old Testament incident does this remind you?

12. How far was Jerusalem from Jericho?