FRONT-PORCH GOSPEL: The touch of the Master’s hand

Welcome all to the “front porch.”

Matthew, Mark, and Luke all record a powerful story of the faith of a blind man named Bartimaeus (Bart-i-me-us). Jesus is making his final trip to Jerusalem. It is an extremely emotional trip for the Lord, as He is only a week away from Calvary, and His “face is set” toward Jerusalem for Him to accomplish the greatest feat in the history of man.

The law of Moses requires all boys and men twelve years old and upward to go to Jerusalem three times a year for their three major feasts, this one being Passover. But those people who cannot go up to Jerusalem line the sides of the street to celebrate with those who were making the pilgrimage.

On this day – as Jesus comes to the city of Jericho – the crowd is more rambunctious than usual, because a young Galilean of whom they had heard so much is passing by – “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by,” writes Luke. I hope He passes by all of our lives, don’t you!

Here is where the story takes some interesting twists. When we compare the three different accounts of the story, we see some interesting differences, so much so that some skeptics will claim contradictions in the Bible. There are two difficulties, in particular. The first is whether they are entering or leaving the city of Jericho, and the other is the number of blind men involved.

Note Mark’s account: “And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho, his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus... sat by the highway side begging” (10:46).

You’ll note in Mark’s account that this event takes place as, “they went out of Jericho.” Matthew and Mark both record that Jesus is leaving the city – but Luke says the event occurs as Jesus “was come nigh unto Jericho.” So, two writers have Him leaving the city, one has Him entering. Of course, you can see where biblical skeptics point at that seeming-discrepancy as a contradiction.

There are a number of possible explanations for the difference, maybe the best being that there were two Jerichos, the old one (destroyed in the days of Joshua) and then the rebuilt city.

Truth is, the Bible is ‘silent’ about the matter and doesn't give us an explanation. But the main point is that the Bible is inerrant and there is an explanation, whether we know it or not.

The second difficulty some see is that Mark only mentions Bartimaeus – but Matthew and Luke say there are two blind men.

Again, something some might consider a contradiction. We know it’s not, and this case is actually a little more clear cut than the first. You see, where there are two, there is one. The fact that Mark focuses on the one does not contradict the other two accounts.

So, this story gives us a good example of the importance of the “silence” of the scriptures.

While we find these points interesting, something that is key here is that probably most of the differences in religious teachings are related in some way to the mishandling of the silence of the scriptures. The question we have to weigh carefully is, “Does silence in the scriptures permit or prohibit?”

Stay tuned, and we’ll take a closer look at that question soon, here on the “front porch.”

Coach Steven Bowen, a long-time Red Oak teacher and coach, now enjoys his time as a full-time writer and preacher of the gospel. In addition to his evangelistic travels, he works and writes for the Church of Christ of Red Oak at Uhl Road and Ovilla. Their worship times are 10 a.m. Sundays and 7:30 pm. Wednesdays. Email coachbowen1984@gmail.com or call or text 972-824-5197.