We do not know
how long Bartimaeus had been blind. We probably do not even know his given
name. We meet the son of Timaeus on the road outside Jericho as Jesus is
traveling toward Jerusalem. The time of public ministry is past. The great miracles
of the Galilean work are done. Jesus is focused on the cross, and he is
marching resolutely to do the Father’s will decreed from the foundation of the
world.
Suddenly a blind
man, Bartimaeus, begins shouting at him, and despite the best efforts of some
in the crowd to quiet him, he cries out even more (Mark 10:46-52). Jesus
stopped but did not walk over to him. In what may appear callous but was
certainly not cruel, the Light of the world called the man sitting in darkness
to come to him. “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked. “Teacher,”
the blind man answered, “let me recover my sight.” The uniquely Messianic
miracle, never done before Christ – giving sight to the blind. It is a work no
prophet or miracle worker in the Old Testament could ever do. The Father
reserved this work for his Son, the one who came to give sight to those blinded
by sin.
The Lord told
Bartimaeus, “Go, your faith has made you well.” What would Bartimaeus do now?
The life of a blind man in first century Israel was hard. There were no
government programs or disability checks. For the first time since he lost his
sight Bartimaeus could go wherever he wanted, do as he pleased. He could work.
He could take care of himself. He could raise a family. When Jesus healed
Bartimaeus, he not only gave the blind man sight; he gave him a whole new life.
The next part of
the story chokes me up. “Immediately Bartimaeus recovered his sight and
followed Jesus on the way.” What would you do? Where would you go? Apparently
Bartimaeus knew right away. He joined the crowd traveling with Jesus. He stepped
alongside the apostles and disciples and walked with Jesus as he traveled on to
Jerusalem, to the cross, to fulfill the Father’s plan. Jesus gave him life, and
Bartimaeus gladly gave it right back to the Lord.
I wonder where
Bartimaeus spent the next several days. Did he join the disciples as they met with
Jesus in the Temple? Did he eat with Jesus in the evenings in Bethany? Did he
hear the chief priests shout for Jesus’ blood? Did he stand at the foot of the
cross as the Christ died? Was he among the five hundred who saw the risen Lord?
We will never know on this side of eternity what Bartimaeus did and saw after
that day. But we know where he went. We know how he used his new ability to
see. We know he followed Jesus on the road.
Those
of us who are believers are just like Bartimaeus. We were blinded by our sin,
helpless, hopeless, sitting on the side of the road with nothing to offer,
begging and waiting for someone to help. Then Jesus walked by and called us to
himself. He gave us strength to stand and the ability to come. He gave sight to
our eyes and a new life. May we, like Bartimaeus, use the sight and life Jesus
gave us to follow the Lord on the way. -JME
