Bartimaeus and Zacheous. Two very different people.
Bartimaeus was physically blind, Zachaeous spiritually blind.
Bartimaeus lived in poverty. Zacheous was wealthy but poor in spirit.
Bartimaeus begged for a living. Zacheous cheated for a living.
But despite their very different lives they both had a common denominator. They both recognized their need for a Savior!
Bartimaeus was despised by his fellow people. Born blind, it was believed that either his parents had sinned or he had sinned in the womb. So he had a lifetime of rejection, a lifetime of cruel jokes, a lifetime of hurt. But one day , he heard the Messiah was in town and he was desperate for a breakthrough. He didn’t care what others thought, he refused to listen to the voice he had heard all of his life, “You are unworthy.” He didn’t care that those around him tried to silence him. He risked being rejected once again. He cried out to Jesus and he got an audience with the Savior.
Zacheous was despised by his fellow people. He was a tax collector, thought of as a notorious sinner. Tax collectors were of Jewish heritage but worked for the oppressing government. Not only did they collect taxes for the government, they took extra for themselves. They betrayed their own. So Zacheous was rejected by his people. He was told that he was beyond redemption. But this day, Zacheous was desperate to see Jesus. So this very wealth, very distinguished man climbed a tree just to get a glimpse. In his desperation, he got an audience with the Savior.
Both men from different backgrounds, living on different sides of the track and Jesus saved them both. Both men willing to embarrass themselves, risked rejection to get a breakthrough. Both men came blind and left seeing. Both men came poor and left enriched. Both men had an audience with Savior.
No matter what side of the track you find yourself this morning – poor, middle class, rich, whether you are physically or spiritually ill, weather bad things have just happened to you or you have made choices that brought you to this point, you too, like these men, can get an audience with the Savior. Just cry out to Jesus. Go to him blind and you will leave seeing. Go to him poor and you will be enriched. Go to him in your pain, your hurt, your disappointment and leave healed and full of hope. He came for you. He died for you. He rose for you.
“for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.””
LUKE 19:10 AMP
http://bible.com/1588/luk.19.10.amp