Like so many of the stories in the Bible, we tend to read them almost flippantly and then just move on. I have treated the story of blind Bartimaeus (Mark 10:46-52) in much the same fashion. It dawned on me while recently reading it that it provides some prominent lessons in those few short verses.
I chose the word “dawned” intentionally because it connotes the feeling of a sleeper awakening. I don't know about you, but I sometimes think that I walk through this life in a perpetual slumber while right before me is the abundant life that Jesus referred to.
The words of life and the life conveyed through Him can be experienced right here and now if we would only take the time to learn the lessons.
In Bartimaeus’ story, the topics of faith, courage, and being a true disciple are all pointed out for us. In the narrative, Jesus was leaving Jericho and making His way to Jerusalem. This would be His last trip there, and He was but a week away from the Cross.
We are told that a “great multitude” was following Him as He left the old city. Seated along the side of the road was a blind man called Bartimaeus, and because of his blindness, he had resorted to begging to sustain himself.
He must have been extremely curious about the commotion caused by the mass of people. Jericho was always busy, but not to the degree it was that day. He was informed that the great influx was because Jesus of Nazareth was approaching.
He undoubtedly recalled hearing the stories about Jesus healing the afflicted everywhere He went. You can sense hope rise instantly and exponentially in Bartimaeus, a hope he has never had before.
The prospect of being healed stirred up excitement and anticipation. He immediately began trying to get Jesus’ attention. He started yelling for Jesus to have mercy upon him and called Him by His prophetic name, “Son of David.”
He created such a raucous himself that members of the crowd following Jesus began trying to quiet him. I can picture many trying to shush him, likely even physically covering his mouth to stifle his cries.
One can sense the irritation emitting from the crowd as he becomes more and more vocal. I can see Bartimaeus fighting with them, pulling their hands off his mouth, and every time a hand is moved away, him uttering another cry out for Jesus.
We are told that their attempts to quiet him only caused him to cry out for Jesus more. When Bartimaeus’ cries reached Jesus, “Jesus stood still and commanded” that Bartimaeus be called (v. 49).
Jesus, a week away from His own sacrifice, was, as always, completely selfless and focused on the needs of another. Upon receiving notice that Jesus was calling for him, Bartimaeus abruptly arose, “throwing aside his garment,” and went to Jesus (v. 50).
When he came before Jesus, Jesus 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” (v. 51).
It was this last sentence that got my undivided attention, specifically the verbiage, “he received his sight, and followed Jesus” (v. 52).
What I gleaned from these verses was how much our faith affects this life we now live. Over and over, Scripture speaks of one’s faith in relation to healing, and it is our faith that determines what we will receive from Jesus.
If you have little faith, you will receive little. But think for a moment, didn’t He say that if I have faith as a mustard seed, I could move mountains? It is a tragedy to think that my faith sometimes doesn’t even measure up to the smallest of seeds.
An interesting contrast is Bartimaeus’ healing, which was “immediate,” to another blind man healed in Mark 8:22-26. In comparison, Bartimaeus’ faith was evidently as large or as greater than the mustard seed.
It also intrigues me that the Son of Timaeus (Bar-Timaeus) is mentioned by name in Mark’s gospel. Could it be that this is because he was known in the early church; thus, the recipients of Mark’s gospel would have known him?
What greater recognition could there be than to be known as a follower of Jesus among other believers?
The second thing I took away is to be bold, courageous, and shamelessly pursue Jesus. Let nothing stand between you and Him.
Even when the world, the crowd, and quite possibly the pew warmers sitting on either side of you are telling you to shut up and be still, pursue Jesus, pursue Him loudly if necessary.
When Jesus healed Bartimaeus, He simultaneously gave instructions to him to “go his way.” Verse 52 tells us that “immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road.”
Bartimaeus’ way was to go the way Jesus was going. No hesitation, no forethought, nothing but focus upon Jesus and His “way.”
It is profound to me that just a few short verses prior to Bartimaeus’ story, we find the story of the rich young ruler in 10:17-22.
He, too, was told to “go his way,” and what is more, he was provided detailed instruction on how to get there, but he could not, or rather would not follow His instructions. He found that Jesus’ “way” was too difficult, it was too costly. His “way” turned out to be to turn away from Jesus.
Has Jesus ever told you to “go your way?” He beckons me every day, yet He still tells me that I may “go my way.”
I know that it is His hope that His way is the way I choose, but it is solely my decision whether I follow my own path or the “way” He has set before me. Like the rich young ruler, I seem to, all too often, choose the former and suffer the consequences.
The ramifications of not choosing His “way” are always painful in the end. Sure, there may be pleasure at first, even a form of happiness, but what is the cost of choosing my own way?
Even if it is not a sin and it is something that is considered a good thing if it is not His way, then it is not the best, and there will be suffering in the end.
For me, the greatest loss when I fail to choose His way is always that sense of separation from Him. I may not even be aware of it initially, but when it comes, woe unto me. I am sure you know what I am talking about.
But I ask, who is it more painful for, Him or me? Has He not known me from my mother’s womb? Actually, I was in His mind before the creation of the universe. He has known me from eternity past, so I ask, who is feeling the greater sense of loss?
Jesus continues down the road to Calvary while I watch from afar. I cannot see His face as He walks ahead. His back is turned to me. But I can see that His head is lowered, and He is greatly saddened.
I am so easily distracted from His way. We human beings are fickle, and we continuously break the heart of God. I must include that Bartimaeus’ blindness was not just physical. It was also spiritual.
Once he received healing and his eyes were opened, he knew that there was but one thing to do, which was to follow Jesus. Like Bartimaeus, it is only when my way is to follow Jesus that I find the completeness I seek.
That is when I can experience that oneness with Him that He spoke of. Infinite joy is only experienced in surrender to Him, and it is only the disciple, the one transforming into the likeness of His teacher, that is truly evidenced as being surrendered.
Jesus requires all of me, and there is nothing in Scripture that speaks of partial surrender. It is all or nothing. I can follow Jesus as Bartimaeus did, or I can go my own way as the rich young ruler.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, “Salvation is free, but discipleship will cost you your life.” He was correct. I ask, once you know the truth, once your spiritual blindness has been healed, how can you look to anyone or anything else but Jesus?
We are all eternal beings, but it is up to us where we will spend that eternity. One of those destinations is with Him, and the other is void of Him. I choose the former; I choose His way. I hope you do as well.
For further reading:
What Does the 'Blind Leading the Blind' Mean in the Bible?
7 Things We Can Learn from Blind Bartimaeus
What Is the Significance of Jesus Healing the Blind Man?
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