Skip to main content

212. Blind Bartimaeus Receives His Sight

Matthew 20:29-34, Mark 10:46-52, Luke 18:35-43
Key Verse:  "Jesus of Nazareth is passing by."
Luke 18:37B

That's all Bartimaeus needed to hear. This was his moment and he was going to make the most of it.  I think that for our purposes, we will set Matthew's account aside. We have discussed Matthew's literary trick of doubling before. I prefer Mark's version of the event today mostly because Mark gives the blind man a name.

So often, the characters that have danced across our pages remain nameless. So often, we learn of their condition and the method of healing that took place, but the name is kept for only God to know. Today, however, Mark gives our subject a name. I like that. It makes him stand out somehow. Also, it would be good to note that, if the chronological outline that I am following is at all correct, then this healing is the last (explicit) one to take place before Jesus goes to the cross. He will have much more to say, and several gospel accounts mention that he does more healings at the temple, but Bartimaeus receives the last physically descriptive blessing of our Lord before His passion begins. I know that He will restore a soldier's ear, at Gethsemane, but I think of that as part of the drama of the Passion.

What do we know about Bartimaeus? Well, the word, "Bar," means "son of," so, as Mark explains, Timaeus is his father. Did Bartimaeus and his father become followers of Christ, so that their names would be familiar to the readers of those days? We don't exactly know, but it is possible. What is still significant is that this blind man did not have a first name of his own. Society did not recognized him as a man of value in his own right. So even as an adult, he was still just Timaeus' son. You know how people talk about the less fortunate ones, "Oh, that's Bartimaeus. Timaeus' son." Feeling sorry for Timaeus!

We know that Bartimaeus was determined, just as others were to be with Christ. I just picture this poor man sitting at the side of the road, yelling at the top of his lungs, his prayer for Jesus to notice him. All the others, the ones who could already see, found him annoying. What if Bartimaeus had listened and quieted down so as not to be a bother? He probably would have stayed as he was and Jesus would have passed by, but Bartimaeus didn't listen to the naysayers! He kept yelling his prayer and Jesus noticed.

Bartimaeus had faith. He knew that he wasn't acting like a madman! "Faith is being sure of what you hope for," (Hebrews 11:1) and Bartimaeus hoped to receive his sight. He knew that the one man who could honor his request was near him so he continued to pray with a faith that could not be discouraged.

"What do you want Me to do for you?" Jesus asked when Bartimaeus made it to Him. Again, Jesus asked. He didn't assume, but gave Bartimaeus the opportunity to make his request. We often wonder, if God knows what we need, why doesn't He just give it to us?  Why do we have to ask? Surely, here, Jesus knew what Bartimaeus wanted, but out of respect, to create a connection, Jesus asked, "What do you want Me to do for you?"

"Rabbi, I want to see." Bartimaeus responded. It was a simple request. There was no flowery speech to try to impress, just the honest truth, and Jesus responded in kind.

"Go," said Jesus. "Your faith has healed you." No mud in the eyes, no instructions, no two stages of healing, just simple grace, "Go, your faith has healed you."

"Immediately, Bartimaeus received his sight and he used it to follow Jesus along the road." (Mark 10:52 adapted) Bartimaeus didn't use his healing to go off and use it for his own pleasure. He used it to keep his focus on Jesus and follow Him. Would you have done similar?

God blesses us every day with many blessings with the intent that we will use those blessings to stay close to Him and give Him glory. If we are using them on ourselves, then we may be guilty of abusing them. God loves it best when we live an attitude of gratitude to Him and use His blessings to stick closer than a brother. (Proverbs 18:24)

"A little dramatization of this story"

Hymn: Jesus of Nazareth Passes By

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

211. The Sons of Thunder's Request

Matthew 20:20-28 , Mark 10:35-45 , Key verse: "Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all." Mark 10:43B-44 In our readings for yesterday, in which Jesus outlined what was about to happen to Him, for His disciples, the passage in Luke ends: "The disciples did not understand any of this. It's meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what He was talking about." ( Luke 18:34 ) Now, we see just how truly clueless they were. Jesus had laid out a plan before them of pain and suffering and death and now James and John are focused on a promotion. The disconnect is so obvious. It's really not important to know whether James and john came up with this request on their own or if their mother put them up to it. The request was made and James and John thought that they could handle the responsibility that would come with it. What is that saying, "Fools rush in where angels fe...
Post a Comment
Read more

204. Come Like a Child

Psalm 127 , Matthew 19:13-15 , Luke 18:15-17 , Mark 10:13-16 Key Verse: Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." Matthew 19:14 The attitude of the disciples isn't much different than the attitude of many people, even Christians, today. Instead of seeing children as a blessing from the Lord, too many regard them as a burden to bear that gets in the way of our own selfish happiness. Family size is determined by what we think we can afford rather than openness to God's blessing, trusting God to provide. Satan hates children. Children represent innocence. The sooner he can corrupt and or damage a child, the happier he is. This is why Jesus warned in Matthew 18:6: "If anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drown in the depths of the sea." To corrupt or damage ...
Post a Comment
Read more

174. Pleading for the Fig Tree

Proverbs 27:18 , Luke 13:6-9 Key Verse: He who tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, and he who looks after his master will be honored. Proverbs 27:18 We have here three main characters: a master, who acquired the tree in hopes of eventually enjoying its fruit, a servant, who looks to the tree to reflect his care and attention, and lastly, the tree itself. The master has the right to expect his investment to pay off. The servant, who has obviously put much effort into the tree, would also like to see fruit. The servant's interest is not only to show his own talent in gardening, but because he wants to please his master. Both the servant and the master are dependent upon the tree to do what it was designed to do. Their little parable is an interesting way for Jesus to finish off His exhortation to, "repent or perish."  God is the Master. He had a purpose for you before you were even born. ( Jeremiah 1:5 & Psalm 139:16 ) He planted you on this earth to ful...
Post a Comment
Read more