“I WANT TO SEE!”
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. Mark 10:46-52
What did it mean for Bartimaeus to be noticed by Jesus? It seems that the only time he was ever noticed was to be silenced or to be chased away. His calls for mercy produced irritated voices telling him to shut up but he refused to be silenced. This was his one chance in a lifetime and he was not going to miss it. Jesus might miss it in the din of excitement the crowd was making.
What did Jesus hear? If the noise was anything like the din our indigenous people can make, there was no way He could have heard him with His natural hearing. Bartimaeus must have surely been on the edge of the crowd. He would not have risked getting mixed up with pushing, jostling people. But in the midst of the din, Jesus’ ears caught the cry for help. His heart connected with the desperate call and He stopped. “Bring him to me,” He commanded.
The attitude of the people changed dramatically. Instead of trying to shut him up, they now became patronising. Instead of ignoring him and treating him like scum, all eyes were on the blind beggar. Notice the reporter’s comment, “Throwing his cloak aside…” Why did he do that? Didn’t he need it any more or was it a symbolic act? Was he tossing aside whatever got in his way of getting to Jesus?
His cloak was his beggar’s licence to beg. When he threw it away, it was an act of faith in Jesus’ willingness to heal him. He would no longer need it when his sight was restored.
Willing hands now guided him through the path the crowd had opened up for him. Perhaps he knelt reverently in the dust, sightless eyes looking expectantly into the Master’s face. He heard the gentle voice, “What can I do for you?” and, without hesitation he responded, “I want to see.” Jesus only spoke, nothing else. No touch, no spit, no mud as at other times. “Go! Your faith has made the connection.” Instantly the darkness vanished, the mist cleared and he stared into the most loving, compassionate and gentle eyes he had ever seen. He was smitten forever. He not only saw but he SAW and he followed. Never did he want to be parted from Him again.