versations that the legendary Jesus Christ was in
Jericho. He heard that He had surprised everyone
by having a private meal with that outcast Zaccheus
(Luke 19:1-10). And Bartimaeus knew that as Jesus
headed toward Jerusalem, He had to pass this way,
past his begging station. There would be crowds and
that might make for a profitable day. But then his
mind went beyond a few coins. Jesus healed people,
Bartimaeus had heard, blind people among them.
Could it be that something better could be hoped for?
man, Bartimaeus, was sitting by the roadside beg-
ging. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth,
he began to shout, `Jesus, Son of David, have mercy
on me!'" (Mark 10:46,47).
done these things if He was the promised Messiah.
So he addressed Jesus as the Son of David, heir to
the throne, the promised One of God.
quiet" (vs. 48).
of change it was because Jesus would hear his plea.
And so, the blind beggar Bartimaeus did the most
fervent, the loudest, the most desperate begging of
his whole life. He would not be turned away by a
crowd of people who had their eyesight, who had not
spent an hour sitting in the dust sweltering in the
sun, who had not had to endure the comments and
the heartlessness of people who saw only one more
blind man on the road. " ... but he shouted all the
more, `Son of David, have mercy on me!'" (vs. 48).
stopped because He heard his cry. Jesus stopped be-
cause He saw his need. Jesus stopped and now the
would have an audience with Christ.
man, `Cheer up! On your feet! He is calling you!" (vs.
49). Bartimaeus' desperate cries must have been
heartrending, must have left his darkened eyes over-
flowing with tears. But now it was time to rejoice.
"Throwing his cloak aside" (vs. 50). Bartimaeus didn't
need his "beggar's uniform" anymore. He knew that
his life was about to change. He had no use for the
ragged cloak. He flung it aside as the last vestige of
his old life.
uation explained for Him, but for Bartimaeus to
frame the words that represented what he dared not
think possible before. "Rabbi, I want to see" (vs. 51).
healed you'" (vs. 52). In that moment the eyes that
had stared blankly into darkness awakened to the
light. The sound of voices was now married to moving
lips. The Lord whose voice he heard was now in full
need the staff to
feel
need to count his
steps anymore.
He didn't need
road. And because the Bible mentions him, he must
have been known to the readers of Mark's gospel
written decades later. It was as if Mark was saying,
"This is the story of Bartimaeus, the follower of Jesus,
who took his first steps as a seeing man and has
never turned back."