Mark 10:46-52
46 Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (which means “son of Timaeus”), was sitting by the roadside begging. (Mark 10:46)
Only about 25 kilometers from Jerusalem, Jericho was an important trading center.
Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, was “a blind man… begging.” He sat at the exit of Jericho. This was the busiest spot, the place through which the most people passed, the main thoroughfare of the city. In those days there were no welfare benefits or social services, and Bartimaeus was forced to beg. He sat in his place every day. Because of this he was the first to learn all the news, the gossip, and the scandals. One day someone told him about Jesus. Perhaps it was one of the Jerusalem merchants who passed by there every day. He told him about that prophet from Nazareth who claimed to be the Son of God. Bartimaeus heard about the miracles Jesus had done, about his words, and this awakened faith in him. In the first ten chapters of the Gospel according to Mark alone, nineteen cases are described in which Jesus performed miracles of healing. Perhaps they told him about that blind man from Bethsaida whom Jesus had healed a little earlier (Mark 8:22-26). And then Bartimaeus said to himself, “If only the Son of David would pass by here just once, I would be free from my blindness.” Surely Bartimaeus then began to pray to God: “God, I beg you, bring Jesus to Jericho. I believe that he truly is yours, a man of God, and if I ask him, he can perform a miracle and heal me of my blindness!”
One day Bartimaeus heard a commotion. Some great crowd was coming out of Jericho. At first Bartimaeus may have been glad, thinking that if so many people were passing by, he would surely be able to beg a lot of money. In the next moment, however, curiosity got the better of him and he cried out, “Who is passing by? Who is passing by?” Then suddenly he heard an unexpected answer: “Jesus the Nazarene, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.” Hearing that name, Bartimaeus was stirred. God had answered his prayer. In that moment something turned within him, and he understood – “Now or never!”
47 When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” (Mark 10:47)
Can you hear that hoarse, beggar’s voice crying out to God at the top of his lungs: “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
48 Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” (Mark 10:48)
Suddenly remarks began to reach Bartimaeus from every side: “Quiet down there! Shut your mouth! Do you know who this is? He is the Son of God. He is holy – do you really think he will bother with some ragged beggar like you? Stop shouting! Stop pestering him!” But no one and nothing could stop Bartimaeus. He was firmly resolved to receive healing, and to receive it now, in this very moment. So “he shouted all the more.” And then, suddenly, something unexpected happened.
49 Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” (Mark 10:49)
This was a surprise to everyone. Jesus, the King of kings, stopped for the sake of one blind beggar and called him to himself. The crowd was keeping Bartimaeus from understanding what had happened, and he kept on shouting. But at the very moment he was filling his chest with air for the next cry, he heard hurried footsteps. Someone stopped in front of him and said to him, out of breath, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you!”
50 Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus. (Mark 10:50)
Today blind people carry a white cane. And the moment you see such a white cane, you know you are dealing with exactly such a blind person. In those days in Palestine the blind had no such canes, but they were distinguished by their garment. They wore a special cloak that certified that they truly were blind and had the right to sit in busy places and beg. The fact that, as he rose, Bartimaeus threw off his cloak was a testimony of his faith that he would no longer be blind. Something within him cried out, “I will not be blind any longer! Jesus will heal me, and I will no longer have any need of this cloak!” Bartimaeus flung his cloak aside, jumped up, and ran forward through the crowd. Reaching Jesus, he stopped and sensed the presence of God. At that same moment the crowd abruptly hushed its noise, to hear and to see what Jesus would do. The eyes of everyone were fixed on him.
51 “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him. The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.” (Mark 10:51)
In that moment something happened to Bartimaeus’s eyes. He received his sight, and the first thing he saw was the eyes of Jesus.
52 “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road. (Mark 10:52)
Usually, when Jesus healed someone, he told them to follow him. But this time he said to Bartimaeus, “Go!” Instead of leaving, however, Bartimaeus followed Jesus. He wanted always to see the first thing he had seen when he received his sight – the eyes of Jesus.