Blind Bartimaeus

Mark 10:52

“Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.

Blind Bartimaeus was a beggar long the road from Jericho to Jerusalem. We don’t know much about Bartimaeus. We don’t know if he was born blind. We don’t know if he became blind later. What we do know is that Bartimaeus had great faith. Being blind, Bartimaeus probably didn’t travel much. He probably never moved very far from his spot along the road, but Bartimaeus listened. He listened to the people who passed him as he sat begging, and he heard the stories about Jesus. He probably heard about the miracles Jesus was performing. He may have heard about His teachings.

Whatever he heard, Bartimaeus recognized something about Jesus that few of his fellow Jews recognized. Bartimaeus recognized Jesus’ identity. When he heard that Jesus was coming along the road, he began to cry out “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” By addressing Jesus as the Son of David, Bartimaeus was basically saying: “Jesus! I know you are the promised Messiah! Have mercy on me!” It was this cry that Jesus responded to. It was this acknowledgement of His identity that made Jesus stop. and ask Bartimaeus to come to Him.

When the people told Bartimaeus that Jesus was calling for him, he demonstrated faith again. The Bible story says that he threw aside his cloak, jumped to his feet, and came to Jesus. This man was blind. He couldn’t see with his physical eyes, and yet he jumps up and comes to Jesus. He is so sure that Jesus can heal him that he doesn’t even hesitate. He runs to Jesus. This is the faith that Jesus is talking about when He says: “Your faith has healed you.” Bartimaeus gains his sight and follows Jesus.

Do we have this kind of faith? Do we have the kind of faith that recognizes who Jesus is in spite of our spiritual blindness? Do we have the kind of faith that causes us to jump up and seek after Jesus for healing and sight? Do we have the kind of faith that endures once we receive what we’re looking for and follows after Jesus? That’s the kind of faith that heals us. In the Greek that word for “healed” means “saved.” It takes this kind of faith to gain salvation.

Father, I thank you for your Son Jesus Christ. Sometimes, Father, I can be spiritually blind. Help me to have the faith that jumps up and runs to Jesus. I want a faith that sees who Jesus really is, who runs to Him for healing and spiritual sight. I want a faith that endures and follows after Jesus. I don’t want to be the kind of person who only comes to you when I want something and then goes about my business as if nothing has changed. I want the kind of faith that seeks relationship with you. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.