Blind Bartimaeus

“‘Go,’ said Jesus, ‘your faith has healed you.’ And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.” — Mark 10:52

Jesus and His disciples came to the city of Jericho. As they were leaving the city, with a huge crowd following them, they passed a blind man sitting by the side of the road. His name was Bartimaeus. He couldn’t work, so he sat there every day, begging for money from the people who passed by.

Bartimaeus heard the noise of the crowd. “What’s happening?” he asked. And someone told him, “It’s Jesus of Nazareth!”

Bartimaeus had heard about Jesus. And he began to shout as loud as he could, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

The people around him told him off. “Be quiet!” they said. “Stop making such a fuss!”

But Bartimaeus shouted even louder. “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

Jesus stopped. “Call him,” He said.

So they called the blind man. “Cheer up!” they said. “Get up! He’s calling you!”

Bartimaeus threw off his cloak, jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.

“What do you want Me to do for you?” Jesus asked him.

Jesus could see that the man was blind. But He wanted Bartimaeus to tell Him what he wanted.

“Teacher,” said Bartimaeus, “I want to see!”

“Go,” said Jesus. “Your faith has healed you.”

And immediately Bartimaeus could see! And the first thing he saw was Jesus. Then he followed Jesus along the road.

Did you notice what Bartimaeus called Jesus? “Son of David.” Do you remember God’s promise to King David, that a King from his family would rule for ever? The people had been waiting a thousand years for that King. Bartimaeus couldn’t see, but he could see something that many people with good eyes couldn’t: that Jesus was the promised King.

The crowd tried to make Bartimaeus be quiet. But he didn’t let anyone stop him from calling out to Jesus. And Jesus stopped. A huge crowd was following Him, and He was on His way to Jerusalem. But He stopped for one blind beggar by the side of the road.

Jesus always stops for the person who calls out to Him.

Read it in your Bible: Mark 10:46–52

Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me! Thank you that you always hear me when I call out to you. Please open my eyes to see you more clearly. Amen.