Tag Archives: Bartimeus

MARK’S GOSPEL…BARTIMEUS – 25

Bible Study, ,

“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. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus. “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him. The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.” “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.”

‭‭Mark‬ ‭10‬:‭46‬-‭52‬ NIV

Another of the stories we love, but much packed into it that can elevate our understanding and hone our faith. 

Jesus and His disciples, engulfed by a crowd of excited spectators enjoying the entertainment Jesus provided for them, were on their way out of Jericho. Sitting by the wayside was a “nobody”, a blind beggar with his begging bowl in his hands and his beggar’s cloak around his shoulders…a pitiful picture of poverty and despair. 

No one noticed him or cared about him as they rushed past, bumping and trampling him in their excitement until he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

Treating him as nothing but a nuisance, “Shut up,” they kept yelling at him, but he refused to be quiet. There was no way that he was going to lose this opportunity. 

Then the crowd came to a sudden stop. A voice rang out above the hubbub. “Call him!”

The people suddenly changed their tune. “So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.”

Let’s examine this little scenario. First, the beggar shouted, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” What was he saying? Son of David…he identified Jesus as the anticipated Messiah.

Google explains…

  • “Messianic Title: The title “Son of David” was a well-known reference to the Messiah, who was prophesied to come from King David’s line. 
  • Appeal to Authority: By calling Jesus the “Son of David,” the blind man was acknowledging Jesus’ divine authority and the messianic power to bring healing and salvation.”

Second, “Have mercy on me.”

Mercy, in Hebrew…” chesed” was an appeal to God’s covenant commitment His people. 

“And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin…”

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭34‬:‭6‬-‭7‬a NIV‬‬

Imagine that! In the face of the unbelief of the religious leaders and the superficial “faith” of the crowd, this despised, nobody, beggar recognised Jesus for who He was and called on Him in faith to do what he believed He would do!

Third, the man stood up, tossing aside his beggar’s cloak, his licence to beg, and pushed through the crowd to Jesus. In this gesture, he was declaring, “ I’m done with begging! I don’t need to beg any more.” So secure was he in the outcome of his faith that he cut loose from his past before it happened.

Now let’s look at Jesus’ response. The interaction between them was simple. Knowing full well the blind man’s need, Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to for you?” Such a simple but such a loaded question! The request offered the beggar the opportunity to ask for anything he desired. This was Jesus, Son of David, in front of him, opening a door to the world for him. 

His sight, uppermost in his mind, would mean real life for him. Everything else he desired would follow. So, his answer was simple. “I want sight, Lord! That’s all for now.”

And Jesus said, ”Go!” With a simple affirmation, “Your faith has healed you.” What did Jesus mean? Was faith the means by which he was healed or was his faith the gossamer thread that bound the man to Jesus along which the healing power flowed? Authority…Son of David! Faith…My sight! Done…Go! 

Amid all the foolishness of the religious elite and the common people, this blind beggar understood the truth and acted on it. 

And, in the hullabaloo, Jesus heard his cry!

What Do You Want From Me?

Christian Life, , , ,

WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME?

“He came to the outskirts of Jericho. A blind man was sitting beside the road asking for hand-outs. When he heard the rustle of the crowd, he asked what was going on. They told him, ‘Jesus the Nazarene is going by.’

“He yelled, ‘Jesus! Son of David! Mercy, have mercy on me!’

“Those ahead told the man to shut up, but he only yelled all the louder, ‘Son of David! Mercy, have mercy on me!’

“Jesus stopped and ordered him to be brought over. When he had come near, Jesus asked, ‘What do you want from me?’

“He said, ‘Master, I want to see again.’

Jesus said, ‘Go ahead — see again! Your faith has saved and healed you.’ The healing was instant. He looked up, seeing — and then followed Jesus, glorifying God. Everyone in the street joined in, shouting praise to God.” Luke 18:35-43 (The Message).

This story is a wonderful illustration of how faith interacts with the power of God. Luke has not identified this insignificant blind beggar, but we know from the other gospels that his name was Bartimeus. From God’s point of view he had a name; he had an identity; he was a person of value who had a disability which made him an outcast of society, but not of God. He was worthless to people, a parasite, but not to Jesus.

To the untrained ear, the sound of his voice begging for hand-outs mingled with the shouts of the rest of the crowd and was lost in the din, but not to Jesus. He always hears the cry of the needy, raised in hope and expectation.

Bartimeus was tiresome; he refused to be put off by the heartless people around him who ordered him to shut up. Why should he? He had a sudden hope and he wasn’t about to let the opportunity to be freed from his blindness be lost because of other people. Instead of keeping quiet, he yelled all the louder. It’s no wonder Jesus heard him! He didn’t hear his voice as much as He heard his heart.

Isn’t that just like Jesus! The gospels record many similar incidents — Jesus responding to a heart cry. The outer covering of the crying heart didn’t matter to Him — lepers, prostitutes, tax collectors, blind, lame, sick, deaf, rich, poor, Pharisee or sinner; He heard and responded to them all.

The interaction between the blind man and Jesus was very simple — no long prayers, no beating about the bush, no reasoning or explanations, just a simple question, ‘What do you want from me?’ and an equally simple response, ‘Master, I want to see again.’ Interaction over, transaction done! ‘Go ahead — see again!’

How tragic that we, in the tradition of those who have gone before us, are perpetuating the terrible distortion of the gospel, which we call Christianity. We have turned this simple exchange between Jesus and us into a rigmarole, with religious paraphernalia, elaborate rituals, and teachings that twist and distort the simplicity of a partnership with Jesus in submission to Him and in the company of His redeemed people.

When I watch some of the goings-on on so-called Christian TV, sadly I ask myself, ‘Is this why Jesus came?’ and my heart bleeds for the people who are sucked into the deception and who are missing out on the beauty and simplicity of a union and communion with Jesus that shifts all the weight of living onto His shoulders.

Jesus sternly rebuked the disciples for getting between Him and the little children whom mothers had brought to Him for His blessing. Being drowned with a millstone around their necks was a better option than to hinder anyone from coming to Him, He said. What about the leaders who mindlessly perpetuate all the nonsensical practices that take ordinary people’s attention away from Jesus? He came to set us free, not to tie us up in endless deviations from His pure and simple truth.

My plea to the people of God is this: Don’t let people shut you up and keep you away from getting close to Jesus. All that matters is that you and He keep interacting so that you can walk close to Him in the confidence that you are hearing and listening to each other.

He will do the rest!