And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus.
The verse pictures blind Bartimaeus crying to Jesus as the Son of David for mercy and coming to him to be healed, responding urgently as Jesus passes by by throwing aside his garment, rising, and coming. Jesus passing by offers mercy to one blind to the higher interests of the soul and to the blessed, glorious attractions of heavenly life in the city of God. That one has labored for that which is not bread and sacrificed peace and honor and the companionship of the children of God, even his own children, to walk without obstruction in his own way and to content himself in secrets of sinful pleasure and base gratifications irrespective of God and heaven, leaving himself with no hope and without God. Even then Jesus offers him that which he most needs, which is of infinite gain even if it cost the toil and suffering of a whole lifetime.
Even one hardened in sin and transgression and unbelief, without hope and without God, can still come to Jesus even at the eleventh hour and will not be left to perish. A sin-hardened person bound by Satan and standing on the very borders of the eternal world must break with sin and come to Jesus without a moment's delay while Jesus of Nazareth is passing by. Casting away the garment means risking everything, breaking the bands woven by a wicked course, getting away from the place and course of wickedness, and refusing to let any person or the suggestions of Satan keep the voice of supplication silent through fear of having deeds reproved. Coming means falling on Christ the Rock and being broken before it is utterly too late, with a broken and repentant heart crying Jesus of Nazareth have mercy on me, not waiting for anything, not stopping to reason, but throwing himself at the feet of Jesus.
Coming also means crying what shall I do to be saved, confessing sins to God and to those wronged, making thorough work for repentance, and seeking pardon from the sin-pardoning Saviour in order to be rescued out of the snare of the devil and grasp the crown of life. God then touches the heart with new tenderness and leads to a sense of long-perverted obligations to him. Through God's grace, the one who seeks Jesus earnestly for mercy receives clearer sight and a gift more valuable than earthly riches. The verse means the sick can be brought to Jesus the great Physician in the arms of faith with earnest crying for mercy, and those who come this way are comforted and feel the healing power of God. It calls for laying aside all medicine and relying alone on the great Physician, holding faith for entire restoration, seeing the salvation of God yet expecting to see and feel more, with peace like a river, triumph in God, unspeakable gratitude for tokens of his love, and dedicating oneself anew to God.
The verse pictures blind Bartimaeus crying to Jesus as the Son of David for mercy and coming to him to be healed, responding urgently as Jesus passes by by throwing aside his garment, rising, and coming. Jesus passing by offers mercy to one blind to the higher interests of the soul and to the blessed, glorious attractions of heavenly life in the city of God. That one has labored for that which is not bread and sacrificed peace and honor and the companionship of the children of God, even his own children, to walk without obstruction in his own way and to content himself in secrets of sinful pleasure and base gratifications irrespective of God and heaven, leaving himself with no hope and without God. Even then Jesus offers him that which he most needs, which is of infinite gain even if it cost the toil and suffering of a whole lifetime.
Even one hardened in sin and transgression and unbelief, without hope and without God, can still come to Jesus even at the eleventh hour and will not be left to perish. A sin-hardened person bound by Satan and standing on the very borders of the eternal world must break with sin and come to Jesus without a moment's delay while Jesus of Nazareth is passing by. Casting away the garment means risking everything, breaking the bands woven by a wicked course, getting away from the place and course of wickedness, and refusing to let any person or the suggestions of Satan keep the voice of supplication silent through fear of having deeds reproved. Coming means falling on Christ the Rock and being broken before it is utterly too late, with a broken and repentant heart crying Jesus of Nazareth have mercy on me, not waiting for anything, not stopping to reason, but throwing himself at the feet of Jesus.
Coming also means crying what shall I do to be saved, confessing sins to God and to those wronged, making thorough work for repentance, and seeking pardon from the sin-pardoning Saviour in order to be rescued out of the snare of the devil and grasp the crown of life. God then touches the heart with new tenderness and leads to a sense of long-perverted obligations to him. Through God's grace, the one who seeks Jesus earnestly for mercy receives clearer sight and a gift more valuable than earthly riches. The verse means the sick can be brought to Jesus the great Physician in the arms of faith with earnest crying for mercy, and those who come this way are comforted and feel the healing power of God. It calls for laying aside all medicine and relying alone on the great Physician, holding faith for entire restoration, seeing the salvation of God yet expecting to see and feel more, with peace like a river, triumph in God, unspeakable gratitude for tokens of his love, and dedicating oneself anew to God.