JESUS PASSED THROUGH JERICHO
JESUS PASSED THROUGH JERICHO
Sunday, March 6, 2016, the Year of our Lord
Pastor Carolyn Sissom
As we approach the Cross during the season of Resurrection Glory, our story today is when Jesus passed through Jericho. After raising Lazarus from the dead, the gathering storm clouds are deepening into evening shadows. The great Jewish Counsel and the High Priest were more enraged against Jesus than ever. Some of those very Jews who had beheld with their own eyes the miracle at Bethany went straight from the house of Lazarus to plot the murder of Jesus.
The murder, indeed, was already secretly resolved upon by the great Jewish counsel. “If we let Him alone” they said, “all men will believe on Him.” The Sadducees joined with the Pharisees in their dreadful purpose.
But “the hour” of which Jesus had so often spoken had still “not yet come.” So He once more leaves Bethany, and goes to a small town or village on the hills at Bethel. The name of the town was Ephraim. It was about twenty miles from Jerusalem.
Jesus and His disciples remained in the uplands for a few weeks. At last the appointed hour arrived. He must turn His steps toward the city and scene of His death. The Gospel of Mark tells us specially, that Jesus walked in front of His disciples.
Mark 10:32-34: “They were going up to Jerusalem; and Jesus went before them. They were amazed. As they followed, they were afraid. He took again the twelve, and began to tell them what things should happen to Him, saying, ‘Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered to the chief priests, and to the scribes. They shall condemn Him to death, and shall deliver Him to the Gentiles. They shall mock Him and scourge Him. They shall spit upon Him and shall kill Him; and the third day He shall rise again.”
Christ had told them often before of His coming sufferings, even of His approaching death; but He had not told them that He would be crucified. “Cursed is every one that hangs on a tree.” We know this had to be part of the price of the Cross because at the Cross, through the Blood of Jesus, Faith and the Holy Spirit every curse is broken
As they make the journey toward Jerusalem for Passover, the crowds are beginning to throng the green valley; some on mules, camels, and donkeys; some on foot, carrying branches of palm and myrrh. They joined the bands of worshippers on one of the greatest roads of Palestine north of Jericho.
Mark 10:46: “They came to Jericho. Jesus went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great number of people. Blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the side of the highway begging.”
Today Jericho is part of the Palestinian territories in the West Bank. Jericho has been ravaged by many armies through the millenniums. Today it is at least partially restored to the beautiful city at the time of Jesus. It was a city of balsam, palm trees, orange and olive groves. A whole forest of palms once stretched from the outer walls to the Jordan, and for miles on every side. The balsam plantations yielded the “Balm of Gilead” whose perfume had a reputation among all the luxurious cities of the East.
We read, as Jesus passed through the city, the crowd was becoming gradually larger. The Gospel of Matthew tells us there were two beggars (Mt. 20:29). Mark and Luke tell us of Bartimaeus.
This poor man was not only a beggar, but he had sat there for years in the brightest noonday, but that noon was all darkness to him. There was now the blue sky of April above him, but he could not see it. There was the green flush of spring on that great garden of South Palestine.
Every day he would grope his way to the same place; the same hum of voices passing and re-passing. Blind men are very quick in hearing. Bartimaeus hears it whispered among the crowd---“Jesus of Nazareth is coming!” The name, fame and miracles of Christ would be the talk of the passers-by. The wonder –worker had already cured blind people and given them sight, both in Judea and Galilee.
“Jesus of Nazareth is passing by”. If Bartimaeus does not speak to Him and plead with Him at once, he may lose the opportunity. It may be his one chance.
I believe it was always the Savior’s plan to “pass through Jericho”. I also believe he knew the plight of blind Bartimaeus.
As the crowds were surging by, the blind man cries in the loudest voice he can, “Jesus, You Son of David, have mercy on me! The people speak some angry words to him. They tell him to “hold his peace.”
They cannot hush the cry of faith. He raises his voice higher and louder amid the buzz of the crowd, and shouts, “Jesus, You son of David, have mercy upon me!”
Jesus who has just recently shown His love for babies and children, (“for of such is the kingdom of God”) now shows His love and pity for this friendless, stricken sufferer. He heard the sound of “Faith”. He heard the cry of “Mercy”. The sound of that voice stopped Him. It is a wonderful instance, surely of what the cry and prayer of faith can do.
“JESUS STOOD STILL!”
Mark 10:49: “And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. They call the blind man, saying to him, be of good comfort, rise; He calls you.”
Matthew 20:32: “And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, what will you that I shall do to you.”
People of God – we are to travail as did the Apostle Paul that Christ be formed in us. (Gal. 5:19).
Let our heart, hands and words be those of compassion to the sufferer. It is not sin, wrong choices, or wrong doing that is in view here. No! Jesus simply says, what do you want me to do for you?
Gal. 5:20: “I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you.”
Will that be the testimony of the church of the 21st century? Blind Bartimaeus received a miracle from the heart of compassion and love.
Bartimaeus throws aside His ragged cloak, and comes to Jesus. The Savior looks upon him with divine pity, and puts forth on his behalf divine power.
Perhaps this is the “key” to miracles and wonders being restored to the Church:
Kindness, compassion, mercy, goodness to the sufferer.
My fears are past and o’er;
My soul is glad with light---the veil
Is on my heart no more.
A sudden answer stilled my fear,
For it was said to me---
“O sightless one! Be of good cheer;
“Arise! He calls you.”
All the wonderful beauties of nature in a moment burst upon Bartimaeus---the sky, the clouds, the hills, the streams!
Mark 10:52: “Jesus said to him, Go your way; your faith has made you whole. Immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.”
There is a painting of Christ entering Jerusalem in triumph. Bartimaeus is there waving his palm branch and shouting Hosanna to One brighter than the bright sun his eyes had so recently seen for the first time.
It was on this same divinely appointed day that Jesus called Zaccheus, the publican and added him to the number of his disciples.
You know the story well. Zaccheus was small in stature. He climbed up among the thick branches of the Sycamore tree which lined the road. Jesus seeing him---calling him down---calling him by name---speaking kindly to him---yes, so kindly to a man who was hated by all others for his mean trade and means ways. “Make haste and come down Zaccheus, for today I must abide in your house.”
Then the narrative further tells, how the once grasping publican received the gracious Prophet, Healer and His Savior as a guest at his table. How touched by the loving heart and loving ways of Jesus. He resolved that day forward to end his cheating, covetous practices---to give the half of all he had to the poor, and to pay back four times over, his past unfair and dishonest gains. Oh happy day, the Savior said to him, “This day salvation has come to your house”.
Jesus proceeds on His way from Jericho.
The Lord had been this way before.
Joshua 5:13: “It came to pass when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold there stood a man opposite him with his sword drawn in his hand; and Joshua went to him and said to him, Are you for us, or for our adversaries? He said, No: but as captain of the host of the Lord am I now come. Joshua fell on is face to the earth, and did worship, and said to him, what says my Lord to his servant? The captain of the Lord’s host said to Joshua, “Loose your shoe from off your foot; for the place whereon you stand is holy, and Joshua did so.”
Joshua 6:2: “The Lord said to Joshua, “See I have given into your hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valor.”
The king of Jericho represents Satan, who is the prince and the god of this world system. The king of Jericho (demonic power) is the one who is in authority in Jericho. The king of Jericho could be the carnal mind exalting itself above the Word; a person in the home ruling in the flesh; a shepherd or sheep in the local church ruling in the flesh; a leader in the religious, political, economic, or social realm of the world system, energized by Satan and ruling in the flesh.
Jesus passed through Jericho. He healed a blind man and probably two blind men (Mt. 20:32). The Blind man identified him by the spirit as the “son of David”. The King of Kings passed through to dethrone Satan. He brought salvation to Jericho and tore down the walls of Hell.
Joshua was a prophet who shouted so that the wall fell down flat, and was no more. This reveals the consummation of the inevitable full and complete destruction of every wall that stands against the Kingdom of God.
Carolyn Sissom, Pastor
Eastgate Ministries Church
Scripture from K.J.V. – I entered into the labors of John Ross MacDuff, Brighter than the Sun ---- Comments and conclusions are my own and would not reflect the views of John Ross MacDuff.