Article March 17, 1934 Issue

Bartimaeus

LILIAN SPARKES

According to a concordance, Bartimaeus signifies "the son of the perfect." Blind, sitting "by the highway side begging," he is typical of the condition of all mankind, until the human consciousness is illumined by the light of Christian Science. He was not cognizant of the fact that in reality he was a "son of the perfect," an heir of God, good. Until the time when he was told that Jesus was passing by, as recorded by Mark, Bartimaeus apparently had made no effort to arouse himself, but had merely been sitting beside the highway seeking for supply materially, depending on the bounty of the passers-by.

What had he heard of Jesus of Nazareth that caused his apathy to vanish, and brought forth that eager cry for help, "Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me"? Had not the same sweet message of hope reached him that comes today through Christian Science to many a one in bondage? Jesus sent the assuring message to John the Baptist, "The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them."

What a joyous message for all humanity is the assurance that God is Love—a message unchanged and unchangeable throughout all time! It was voiced by the Psalmist of long ago in the words, "Bless the Lord, O my soul, ... who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies.... The Lord executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed." And today the words of Mary Baker Eddy proclaim the same glad truth in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 494): "Divine Love always has met and always will meet every human need."

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