Teacher Notes
Bible Stories for Adults
Bartimaeus
Mark 10:46-52
Welcome and Announcements
Next Week - Jesus Heals a Man At Bethesda (Mark 10:46-52)
Bible Words to Remember:
Be strong, do not fear; your God will come ... He will come to save you. Isaiah 35:4
Opening Prayer
Popular Jesus (Mark 10:1)
How popular had Jesus become after 3 years of preaching, teaching, healing and miracles?
Mark 10:1 = Crowds followed Him wherever He went. He taught them.
Did Jesus ever have trouble getting away by Himself?
Mark 7:24-26 = People would find Him even when He tried to hide
Did Jesus get upset when people interrupted His attempts at privacy? = 2nd cousin
Mark 6:27, 30-34 = Went away after John's death, compassion on waiting crowd
How far did His compassion extend for the "faceless" crowds?
Mark 8:1-9a = Fed 4000 with 7 loaves because of compassion
How did Jesus view the people in the crowds?
Mark 3:32-35 = As His close family (brothers & mother)
What were some of the reasons people flocked to Jesus?
Mark 9:15 = Curiosity - they were overwhelmed with wonder & ran to greet Him
Mark 4:1-2 = To listen to Him and learn
Mark 10:17 = Wanted answers to serious questions
Mark 10:13, 16 = To get blessings for them & their loved ones
Mark 7:32 = To get healing for themselves & their loved ones
The Messiah Who Heals (Matthew 11:2-5)
How assertively would people try to get healing from Jesus?
Mark 1:40 = They begged Him, even on their knees
Mark 2:1-4 = Broke a hole through a roof & lowered a paralyzed friend through it
Mark 3:7-10 = They pushed forward so much He needed a boat
Mark 5:24-29 = Woman believed she'd be healed if she just touched His cloak
Mark 6:54-56 = Carried sick people on mats to wherever they heard He might be
Didn't these miracles of healing interfere with Jesus' mission to call people to saving faith?
Mark 5:18-20 = The healed were brought to saving faith & word of Jesus spread
How did Jesus use His healing ministry as proof of who He was? = poor hear good news
Matthew 11:2-5 = The blind see, lame walk, lepers cured, deaf hear, dead raised
How would John the Baptist understand from this who Jesus was?
Isaiah 35:5-6 = Messianic prophesy: blind see, deaf hear, lame leap, mute shout
Isaiah 26:19 = Your dead will live, their bodies will rise (Is56:8 - gather outcasts)
Isaiah 61:1 = The Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor
Bartimaeus' Perfect Vision (Mark 10:46-47)
Who gave Jesus His last chance for a healing miracle before His final entry into Jerusalem?
Mark 10:46 = Bartimaeus, a blind man, begging by the road leaving Jericho
Was Bartimaeus sitting by himself?
Matthew 20:30 = No, he had a blind friend with him
Since he was blind, how did he know Jesus was walking by?
Luke 18:36-37 = Heard the crowd going by, asked about it, was told it was Jesus
How did he call Jesus that showed that he recognized Jesus as the Messiah?
Mark 10:47 = He heard it was Jesus of Nazareth; called Him Jesus, Son of David
Jeremiah 33:14-16 = I will fulfill my promise & raise a righteous Branch to David
How did this call show that Bartimaeus was one of few who could really see?
Matthew 13:11-17 = Only Jesus' chosen can see the secrets of His kingdom
Why is it important for us to call on Jesus' name like Bartimaeus?
Acts 4:12 = There is no other name ... by which we must be saved.
Who are the real blind?
Revelation 3:17 = Those who feel they have no need for Jesus' help
Bartimaeus' Persistence (Mark 10:48)
For what did Bartimaeus ask?
Luke 18:38 = For Jesus to have mercy on him
For what are we to ask?
Psalm 30:10 = Kyrie - Lord, have mercy; Christ, have mercy; Lord, have mercy
Why do we need God's mercy?
Luke 18:13 = Because we deserve only death & punishment as sinners
How seriously did Bartimaeus desire the Savior's mercy?
Mark 10:48 = He just hollered louder when told to be quiet
Why was Bartimaeus so persistent with his request? = Leaving old Jericho, nearing new Jericho
Matthew 20:29 = It was his one and only chance to be healed by Jesus (leaving)
What parable did Jesus give to show we should be persistent with our requests to God?
Luke 18:1-5 = The widow who persistently asked an unjust judge for justice
What promise does Jesus make when we pray persistently?
Luke 18:6-8 = God will answer our prayers, and quickly (God's time)
Do we have to pray persistently for God to answer?
Mark 11:24 = No, just have faith and believe
Do we have to pray persistently to get God's attention?
Luke 11:9-10 = Ask & it will be given, seek & find, knock & door opened
How can we know ahead of time what God's answer will be?
Luke 11:11-13 = He will always give His good answers
Bartimaeus Answers Jesus' Call (Mark 10:49-50)
Did Jesus hear Bartimaeus' pleas above the noise of the crowd?
Luke 18:40a = Yes, He stopped and directed all of His attention to Bartimaeus
What does Jesus promise to those who hear His call and answers?
Revelation 3:20 = If anyone hears my voice & opens the door, I will come in
How did Bartimaeus answer Jesus' call?
Mark 10:49-50 = He threw his cloak aside, jumped to his feet & came to Jesus
What other examples does the Bible give of people leaving things to come to Christ?
John 4:7, 28-29 = Samaritan woman left her water jar to tell others about Jesus
Matthew 9:9 = Matthew left his tax collector's booth
Mark 1:16-20 = Simon (Peter), Andrew, James & John left their boats & nets
Acts 9:15-16 = Paul left good, respected Pharisee life to suffer & teach Gentiles
What did Jesus say about those who are called but refuse to leave things to follow Him?
Luke 14:16-24 = They will no taste of His banquet
What does Jesus promise to those who leave the things of the world for Him?
Mark 10:28-30 = 100-fold blessings on earth & eternal life in heaven
Jesus Offers (Mark 10:51)
What did Jesus ask Bartimaeus when he came to Him?
Mark 10:51 = What do you want me to do for you?
Did Jesus have to ask this question?
Matthew 6:8 = No, He knows what you need before you ask Him
Why did Jesus ask it? = He wants us to ask
Philippians 4:6-7 = Present your requests to God to receive His peace
Jesus Heals (Mark 10:52)
For what did Bartimaeus ask?
Luke 18:41 = To be able to see
How did Jesus give Bartimaeus his sight?
Luke 18:42 = He spoke to him
Didn't Jesus have to do something more than just speak?
Genesis 1:3 = And God said ... All of creation was made by God speaking
John 1:1-3 = Jesus is The Word, Through Him all things were made
What saved Bartimaeus from his blindness?
Mark 10:52 = His faith
What saves us from our blindness?
1 Peter 2:9-10 = Jesus has called us out of our darkness and given us His mercy
John 8:12 = Jesus is the light of the world
John 3:19, 21 = Whoever believes (has faith) comes into the light
How did Bartimaeus respond to his healed vision?
Luke 18:43 = He followed Jesus, praising God, leading others to praise God
Closing Prayer
Copyright © 1997 by Kurt Rosenhagen
Use of this material is provided free of charge for use in personal or group Bible Study, no permission needed.
The author reserves all rights for use in published material or in uses where fees are involved.
For permission, or to provide your comments, insights and feedback, contact the author at:
kurt@biblestoriesforadults.com