Title: The Healing of Blind Bartimaeus

Scripture Reading: Mark 10:51-52
“So Jesus answered and said to him, “What do you want Me to do for you?” The blind man said to Him, “Rabboni, that I may receive my sight.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road.”

Main idea: “Seek the LORD while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near” (Isaiah 55:6).

Blind Bartimaeus
The Lord and His disciples had come to Jericho and on the way to Jerusalem. As Passover was approaching a large crowd, was following Jesus. The procession, then, consists of Jesus, The Twelve disciples, and a large crowd. As they passing by, a blind man named Bartimaeus was sitting by the roadside, begging. Although Bartimaeus cannot see Jesus, he can hear the crowd. Upon inquiry he learns that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. Upon receiving the news, he immediately cries out, “Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me!” (Mark 10:46). Not only Bartimaeus was blind but he was also a beggar, two circumstances that often went hand in hand. For his sustenance he had to depend on the generosity of the people.

His Persistence in difficulty
“Many warned him to be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” (Mark 10:48-49). He realized that if help was going to come from any source, it would have to come from the Son of David. Bartimaeus recognized our Lord as the Son of David. It was ironical that while the nation of Israel was blind to the presence of the Messiah the Son of David, a blind Jew had true spiritual sight! Bartimaeus’ confession was, according to Mark, the first public acknowledgement of the Christ, after Peter’s private confession at Mark 8:27. It was a good thing that Bartimaeus sought the Lord that day because the Savior never passed that way again.

Blessing Bestowed on him
“So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called” (Mark 10:49-50). Jesus reveals Himself throughout the Gospels as being not only powerful but also merciful. No one is too insignificant to Jesus to command his attention. A leper, a woman with a hemorrhage, little children, and now a blind beggar all received Jesus’ grace.  “Then they called the blind man, saying to him, “Be of good cheer. Rise, He is calling you” (Mark 10:49). The same word, “He is calling you” had been spoken to Mary (John 11:28-29). The one who addressed her was Martha, her sister. There is a similarity in the two accounts. Both of these people whom Jesus was calling were in deep trouble: Bartimaeus, was blind; Mary and Martha had lost a dear brother. Even today, in such circumstances of life, yes and always, Jesus is calling you, Jesus is calling me, for he is a wonderful Savior. He calls us in order to comfort, to help, to cheer, and, as in this case, to heal.

Bartimaeus respond to the call
Bartimaeus, without a moment’s hesitancy, jumps to his feet, throws aside his loose, foot-catching outer garment, and rushes off to Jesus (Mark 10:50). “Jesus answered and said to him, “What do you want Me to do for you?” (Mark 10:51). This is the same question He has just asked James and John in Mark 10:36. They asked for the best seats in the kingdom. Bartimaeus, in stark contrast, has a much more humble request: “Rabboni, that I may receive my sight” (Mark 10:51). “Rabboni” is an emphatic personal form of “rabbi,” and means “my Lord and Master” (John 20:16). To be sure, Jesus already knew what Bartimaeus wanted, but he wants him to ask for it. So also it is true in general that even though the heavenly Father is well acquainted with the needs of his children, he nevertheless tells them to “open your mouth wide” so He may fill it (Psalms 81:10).

Bartimaeus experiencing the power of Jesus
“Then Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road” (Mark 10:52). Faith is God’s gift to us (Eph 2:8), it is nothing less than astounding that Jesus in several instances praises the recipient of the gift for exercising it! When Jesus refers to the man’s faith, Jesus is not saying that the man has earned anything. Grace is the divine hand that extends healing. Faith is the human hand that reaches out and receives it. The blind man’s faith is his absolute confidence in God’s power to do the “impossible” through Jesus (Mark 10:27). The Greek verb sōzō, meaning both “heal” and “save.” Bartimaeus is healed physically, but even more, the eyes of his heart are enlightened he received salvation (Eph 1:18). “Call upon me in the day of trouble; and I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me” (Ps 50:15; 1 Cor 10:31).

Bartimaeus
Bartimaeus means (h1247 and h2931) son of Timoeus. Bartimaeus is the only recipient of healing whose name is recorded in the gospel of Mark, suggesting that he became a disciple and was known in the early Church. Some early church traditions say Bartimaeus would follow Jesus all the way to His passion and later become a major figure in the church at Jerusalem.

Application
Our Lord heard his cry just like He hears ours. Jesus listened to his request just as He listens to ours. Psalm 17:6 says, “I call on You, God, because you will answer me; listen closely to me; hear what I say.” Psalm 54:2 says, “God, hear my prayer; listen to the words of my mouth.” Like Bartimaeus we were all blind until Jesus gave us sight. We were poor beggars until He saved us as our ransom. Jesus had time for Bartimaeus. Praise God Jesus had time for you and me! Reach out to Him today. The familiar song “Amazing Grace” — “I was once lost but now I am found, Was blind, but now I see” — understands conversion as a move from blindness to sight.

Let’s pray together
Heavenly Father, I thank you that you had time for Bartimaeus. I thank you when we call upon You, You will answer us, Lord. In Jesus Name Amen.