Blindness: Siloam and Bartimaeus.

P.B [Oct. 23, 2019]
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We have two important considerations - as regards to spiritual enlightenment and insight. 

The figure for spiritual ignorance in the scriptures is blindness. 

Blind men serve as signature models and types for signifying spiritual blindness across the world (as far as things of God are concerned).

We now consider two blind men, at different points and for different reasons - or, for us to appreciate two important points.

In John 9, we have the blind man of Siloam (as I call him). Here, blindness again refers to spiritual darkness that is inbred within the instincts of fallen humanity. In this condition - the first spark of divine enlightenment and insights is shed when a man is raised to reckon the glory of Jesus as the *Sent One* (Siloam). The blind man is asked to wash himself in the waters of Siloam (for Siloam is as it is interpreted, 'Sent') - the spiritual significance of this instruction is profoundly evident - the blind man is lost humanity in spiritual darkness, the waters of Siloam refers to the power of the Spirit (of God), and the Siloam refers to the testimony of the Spirit of God communicated to the blinded humanity (or the specimen man), that Jesus is the *Sent* One i.e. Jesus is the Son of God sent by the Father.

When fallen man in spiritual blindness accepts this testimony of the Spirit concerning Jesus as the Sent One (by the Father) i.e. by the aid of the power of the Spirit, then the man is enlightened and given spiritual sight. 

John 9 features the first radical shift of enlightening power granted to a lost man in sin about the deity of Jesus the Lord. Here, begins spiritual birth, and produce. This is the first enlightening event - the power of insight as regards to the Person of Jesus Christ.

But this is not all - there is something more than being enlightened about the *Person of Christ*: yes, it is the enlightenment about the *Work of Christ*. For this we must turn to the blind Bartimaeus of Mark 10.

Blind Bartimaeus carries the typical representation of spiritual fall and imbecility and blindness under the bondage of the law (Jericho city besides which Bartimaeus sat along - Jericho represents the curse under the law, whose waters are healed by Elisha - the figure of grace in Christ).

The Lord heals Bartimaeus and tells him, ' *Go* , thy faith has healed thee' (v52). The word *Go* is special for us - it is the liberty of grace that unshackled Bartimaeus from Jericho and the lifestyle of begging*

*Begging is a sign of deuteronomical curse under the law (Leviticus). Jericho and Bartimaeus signify blindness and bondage under the law.

But when the Lord brought freedom to Bartimaeus - when grace meets the curse of bondage, there is spiritual enlightenment affected in the response to follow Jesus towards Jerusalem* 

Bartimaeus followed Jesus on the way - v52. The command *Go*, as much as it had conveyed the expressions of grace - has in one sense allowed for only one way, and that is the way to follow Jesus to Jerusalem, for suffering and redemption!

In Mark 10:32-33, we have the decision on the part of the Lord to travel to Jerusalem, for the ultimate suffering of the cross. It is on this travel journey towards Jerusalem, for the redemptive purposes of God's grace, that blind Bartimaeus after being healed, *follows* Jesus on the way - the spiritual enlightenment to own the redemptive designs of prophecy, of Christ in His obedience to suffer.

This is the second great enlightening power that is granted to us - to mentally follow Jesus into the mystery of His sufferings at Jerusalem (i.e. the cross without). We can not do so literally - but spiritually we can backtrack two millennia, and pass along with Jesus the Lord, into His great redemptive sufferings. It is this mental comprehension of Christ sufferings - their need, purpose and scope of relevance: this is spiritual enlightenment, and the true healing of blindness. In other words, to appreciate Christ' work on the cross - to spiritually enter into the thoughts relating to the perfect substitutionary work of the Lord Jesus is enlightenment, (I mean spiritual enlightenment)

The blind man of Siloam speaks of enlightenment as regards to the *Person of Jesus* (i.e. as sent by the Father - His deity ). 

But the case with blind Bartimaeus is different - it is that he already owned the Lord as Son of David (Mark 10:47)  i.e., Bartimaeus already entered into the appreciation of the Person of Christ as divine and blessed according to the Davidic covenant', but now he is short of appreciating the *work of Christ*. The moment he is healed - he follows Jesus on the way towards Jerusalem. This is enlightenment about the work of Jesus (not just His Person).

We honour these two great and sublime truths: the Person of Christ and the work of Christ. Like the blind man of Siloam, we are enlightened about the Person of our Lord. Like the blind Bartimaeus, we are enlightened to mentally follow Jesus in His path to redemptive sufferings and agonies.

It is remarkable to note that when the Lord commands Bartimaeus to *go*, Bartimaeus instead follows Jesus - signifying liberty in grace propels our steps towards following Jesus into His sufferings - towards Jerusalem, towards the cross - for it is at the cross, that we have the secret of grace and mystery of divine purposes revealed against the bondage of law and power of evil.

To enjoy liberty in grace is to visit the cross, for that is the only way, for intelligible faith to discern and enjoy. Bartimaeus followed Jesus towards Jerusalem (not till Jerusalem - but towards, signifying appreciated faith of redemptive designs).

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