To Jerusalem Through Jericho
In Lk 18:31-34, Jesus foretold what was going to happen to him in Jerusalem. And in Lk 18:35-43, Jesus healed a blind man near Jericho, on his way to Jerusalem.
Jesus told his twelve disciples that “all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished”. In this passage he mentioned seven things in particular.
- Delivered to the Gentiles Lk 23:1
- Mocked Lk 23:11
- Spitefully intreated Matt 26:65, 68
- Spitted on Matt 26:67
- Scourged Matt 27:26
- Put to death Lk 23:46
- Third day rise again Lk 24:6-7
Mark added two other details in Mk 10:33.
- Delivered to the chief priests and scribes Lk 22:54, Matt 26:57
- Condemned to death Matt 26:66
Matthew clarified the means of death in Matt 20:19.
- Crucified Lk 23:33
These are too many fulfilled details to be left to chance. Jesus, in fact, prophesied beforehand somethings he knew from the Old Testament prophets and others he knew as God manifest in the flesh. See Is 50:6, Is 53:5, Is 53:9, Ps 22:16, Jon 1:17. There are more details also found in Ps 22 and Is 53.
Furthermore, there are hundreds of prophecies still yet to be filled before, during, and after Jesus’s return. The fact that the details specified by Jesus before his death were fulfilled gives us great confidence that all these other prophecies will be fulfilled exactly.
Lk 18:34 says, “they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken”.
One of the reasons that they couldn’t “get it” is that they believed, like so many of the other followers of Jesus, that he was going to soon be crowned “King of the Jews”. Look at the reception he received when he entered Jerusalem, Lk 19:35-38. They just didn’t believe that he would be killed.
Another more important reason that they couldn’t understand is that God didn’t reveal it to them. If a saying is “hid”, it won’t be “seen” until God opens your understanding. See 1 Pet 1:10-12 and Lk 24:44-45. Yet, Jesus prophesied these details of his death so that we would believe that he is God, Is 45:21. They didn’t need to understand at the time; we needed to know that Jesus knew beforehand. That’s why this saying was written.
Nigh Unto Jericho
There was a blind beggar by the wayside. This episode in the gospels is very interesting because Matthew, Mark, and Luke give us so many different facts. Some people believe that these facts contradict; but, in truth, they are all supplemental.
In Matt 20:30 we see that there were two blind men. In Mk 10:46 one of them was called Bartimaeus.
Lk 18:35 says “as he was come nigh unto Jericho”. Mk 10:46 says, “as he went out of Jericho”. This certainly looks like a contradiction. However, the accounts are both true. The event took place where they left the city and then reentered it again a little further down the same road.
When they heard that the multitude was with Jesus of Nazareth, they cried, “Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David”, Matt 20:30. Many rebuked them for crying out, but they cried even more. Notice that they called him “Lord” and “Son of David”. They knew and believed that he was the Messiah.
Jesus stopped and commanded that he be brought, Lk 18:40. Mark wrote that they called the blind man and said, “Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee”, Mk 10:49. And the next verse is fabulous, “And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus”, Mk, 10:50. It’s like he knew he was going to see and wouldn’t need to return to that garment again.
The Lord asked, “What wilt thou that I should do unto thee”? Lk 18:41. He said, “Lord, that I may receive my sight”. And Jesus said, “Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee”, Lk 18:42. His faith is evidenced in that he knew Jesus was the Son of David, the Lord, he knew that Jesus would heal him, and he asked to be healed. It doesn’t take more faith than that.
Mk 10:52 adds that Jesus said, “Go thy way”. He didn’t go his way. The beggar, after he received his sight, “followed him, glorifying God”, Lk 18:43. Instead of going his way, he “followed Jesus in the way”, Mk 10:52. In Matt 20:34 both of the blind men who were healed “followed him”. This is exactly what people should do the moment they get saved. Start following Jesus.
To study the previous lesson, click on A Certain Ruler.