Mark 10:46-52 ‘Now they came to Jericho. As He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the road begging. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Then many warned him to be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called. Then they called the blind man, saying to him, “Be of good cheer. Rise, He is calling you.” And throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus. So Jesus answered and said to him, “What do you want Me to do for you?” The blind man said to Him, “Rabboni, that I may receive my sight.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road.’
Consider what life must have been like for a blind man back in Biblical times. There were no social services or therapies that gave someone a chance to thrive in society. Their life was one of hardship and survival, begging for your daily bread.
Bartimaeus lived near Jericho, which was 15 miles northeast of Jerusalem. The road between the two towns was well traveled, and it was on this road that Bartimaeus was begging. He probably heard the rumblings of the travelers and the excitement building.
As Jesus passed Bartimaeus, he yelled out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Imagine the tone of his shout out. His persistence; his desire to have Jesus hear him. Even when others tried to quiet him, Bartimaeus shouted all the more.
Bartimaeus had never seen Jesus, literally or figuratively, but he new Him by reputation and trusted that Jesus could heal him.
Questions to consider:
- In our hardship and trials, do we ‘shout out’ to Jesus? What is our tone? Is it one of urgency and persistence?
- When someone tries to quiet us, do we stop or do we cry out all the more?
- Do we trust Jesus even though we have never “seen” Him? To trust Jesus means we need to know Jesus, or know of Him.
The beauty of this story for me is two-fold: that Bartimaeus trusted Jesus to heal Him, and when Jesus called to Bartimaeus, he threw off his garment and joined Jesus.
The throwing off of the garment is often mentioned in sermons and studies. I have read that the government would issue a cloak to beggars. It served as their identity as a beggar and also provided protection against the dust and elements of sitting on the road.
Throwing off the garment (the beggar’s cloak), symbolizes leaving the past behind and following Jesus. We all have a beggar’s cloak to some degree or another. Something that defines us and limits us outside of God’s plan and desire for our lives. Trusting in Jesus and the Holy Spirit’s guidance in our lives, allows us to throw off our garment. What is your garment? Are you ready to throw it aside?
I love it that Bartimaeus threw his garment aside before he even received his sight!
Jesus said to Bartimaeus, “What do you want me to do for you?” Of course Jesus knew what Bartimaeus would say, but Jesus wanted him to speak out loud his request. That is what Jesus wants us to do as well. He knows our hearts. He knows our pain. He knows our hardship. He knows our strongholds. Still, He tells us to come to Him and tell Him our wants, needs, desires, plans…
Matthew 6: 8-13 “Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom(J) come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”
Jesus prayed. We are to pray as well. This creates a trusting dependence and deeper relationship with God.
Finally, Jesus said to Bartimaeus, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” Where did Bartimaeus go? Jesus’s way…
Song of the Day: ‘Tis so Sweet to Trust in Jesus A hymn sung by Casting Crowns
Side note:
(From Wikipedia) “‘Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus” is a popular Christian hymn with music by William J. Kirkpatrick and lyrics by Louisa M. R. Stead. The lyrics were written in 1882. They appeared in Stead’s Songs of Triumph.
It is said that Louisa M. R. Stead wrote the lyrics after she watched her husband drown and die.[citation needed]
Story behind the song.
According to the story: It was a beautiful sunny day. Louisa M. Stead, her husband, and her daughter Lily, decided to go for a picnic. They went picnicking on Long Island Sound. While having their picnic, the Steads heard a scream. It was from a young boy. Mr. Stead ran to the rescue. Louisa Stead and young Lily watched helplessly as Mr. Stead and the boy drowned. Their troubles were not over yet, however, and without her husband, Mrs. Stead became very poor and destitute. Yet God never left her. He provided for her always and she and her daughter made it through. Louisa learned to trust God, and thus the words to the song ‘Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus.’ Shortly after this incident, Lousia and her daughter Lily moved to South Africa where they became missionaries. The song is included in many hymnals and has been recorded by many artists.