46 Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (which means “son of Timaeus”), was sitting by the roadside begging. 47 When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
48 Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
49 Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.”
So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” 50 Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.
51 “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him.
The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.”
52 “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.
Question 1
Why do you think Bartimaeus is so eager to come to Jesus?
Question 2
What do you think is the reason Bartimaeus follows Jesus at the end of the story?
Very often in the book of Mark it seems that the people who see things most clearly are blind people! That’s the case again here. Bartimaeus couldn’t see anything and because of that he couldn’t work. The only way he managed to stay alive was by asking other people about things. Hearing that Jesus is passing, he begins to shout for Jesus. When Jesus calls him over, his response was so enthusiastic (verse 50). First, he throws his coat off. Remember, this man was very poor and therefore his coat was precious to him and important to keep him warm. Then he jumps on his feet and comes straight to Jesus. But Bartimaeus is not asking for money or food this time. He knew Jesus was different. Other people could give him money or food, but Jesus had the power to heal him. He had faith that Jesus could give him his sight back. But how could he be so sure?
Bartimaeus uses a name to call Jesus that we have not heard before, the Son of David. God had promised in the Old Testament that he would send another King who would come from the family of Israel’s most famous leader, King David. A blind Bartimaeus had seen quite clearly that Jesus was the Messiah, the one whom God had promised to be King of God’s people. He saw that God had sent Jesus to destroy sin, and to bring a new kingdom to power.
Once again, these verses ask us to search our own hearts. Have we accepted that Jesus Christ is the King of David’s lineage? Have we left the things that used to be important to us and ran to Jesus as he called us? Has Jesus dealt with our sin, and freed us to follow Him?
Question 3
In verse 48, Bartimaeus continued to call for Jesus despite the people around him telling him to be quiet. How should this affect our prayers?
Question 4
Is there a danger that we use Jesus to try to get what we want and then not follow and obey Him?
Pray
thanking God for sending his Son, the King, to deal with the problem of sin.
