Bartimaeus Believed – Mark 10:46-52

A text – Mark 10:46-52    

46 They came to Jericho. As he and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside. 47 When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48 Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 49 Jesus stood still and said, “Call him here.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart; get up, he is calling you.” 50 So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. 51 Then Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man said to him, “My teacher, let me see again.” 52 Jesus said to him, “Go; your faith has made you well.” Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way.

A reflection:

Bartimaeus was a blind beggar. But he was alert and certainly knew the gossip, as people who spend long days by the roadside often do. They know who comes, who goes, who is generous, who is not. They certainly know when the traffic is heavier or lighter, and they know that extraordinary people draw a crowd. It did not take him long to ask, from his spot along the roadside of Jericho, who was drawing the crowd that day.

Instantly he went into action, shouting for Jesus, Son of David, to have mercy on him. It wasn’t a cry for healing, but for mercy. He could not be silenced. He knew Jesus could heal him, and he asked for mercy. The moving crowd around Jesus was probably propelling Jesus and the disciples along, but Jesus stopped. He told his disciples to bring Bartimaeus to him. I can certainly picture the next verses. The disciples hardly had time to get the words out of their mouths when Bartimaeus flung his coat off, sprang up, and came straight through the crowd to Jesus, probably unaided. Like a magnet or a homing pigeon. He knew where he was going. He knew Jesus was the Messiah. He believed.

Jesus asked what Bartimaeus wanted Jesus to do for him. Bartimaeus, who had never met the Lord before, called him My Teacher and asked to see again. Jesus told him to go on his way; Bartimaeus’s faith had made him well. Bartimaeus immediately could see, and he followed Jesus. Jesus restored his sight, but Jesus himself said it was Bartimaeus’s faith that had done it.

When we believe, when we rely on God and we make it known that we believe, then God is overjoyed and restores our entire relationship with God. Last week our texts were about throwing ourselves into God’s arms, clinging to God, and God’s granting us protection. Bartimaeus stops an entire crowd to beg mercy of Jesus, the Son of David, and his belief in Jesus restored not only his sight but his relationship with God. The images make me grin from ear to ear. In the middle of tumult and chaos, God wants us. All we need do is trust, and God blesses us.

A prayer:

Lord God, Thank you for loving us. Thank you for the story of Bartimaeus and his faith in Jesus. Help us to remember that, in the middle of chaos and weariness and the often enormous selfishness of the world, we need only say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy upon me,” and Jesus will do it. Help us to fearlessly ask for your help and know it will be given. Help us to feel your peace. Amen.