Blind Bartimaeus

 The story of blind Bartimaeus is fascinating. There are so many interesting points that pop up while reading it, and I wanted to share a few thoughts that came to me. All verses are ESV unless otherwise stated. 

 
Mark 10:46-48  And they came to Jericho. And as he [Jesus] was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside. 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!” And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”  
 
It is interesting to note that by all available standards and mild-mannered social rules, Bartimaeus was acting very disorderly. He was disrupting the normal flow and schedule. There is a time and place for everything, surely, but sometimes our need is so great that we cannot afford to let the opportunity pass by. How bad do you want it? Is maintaining the status quo more important than our need? 
 
We need the spirit of Bartimaeus to get a hold of us. We must want to get a hold of God so badly that we lay down our self-possessed and sophisticated image of ourselves and be willing to "act-a-fool" if that's what it takes in order to enter into the presence of God. Bartimaeus didn't care what other people thought of him. He had a need that needed to be met, and no person was going to stop him, not even himself with his own personal pride or ego.  
 
Mark 10:49-50  And Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart. Get up; he is calling you.” And throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. 
 
The fact that a blind man threw off his cloak and hastily came to Jesus meant that he had faith he would be healed. If Bartimaeus expected to stay blind, he would not have thrown off his garment because he would most likely never find it again. We must have faith that God hears and will answer our prayers. 
 
Another point is when Jesus called Bartimaeus, the call was for that moment and if Bartimaeus took too long to respond, Jesus may have continued on without healing him. When God calls you, no matter if for personal need or for ministering to people, the call is for now.  
 
God is the God of yesterday, the God of tomorrow, and the God of today, but we as humans are so very limited and can only experience God in the present. So when He moves in the now, we must be ready to stop everything and jump up to answer the call without hesitation. There is no time to dilly-dally or second-guess ourselves.  
 
Mark 10:51  And Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” And the blind man said to him, “Rabbi, let me recover my sight.”  
 
It may seem funny at first that Jesus, who was well-known throughout the land as a healer, was asking a blind man what he wanted Him to do. It should be obvious, right? Yes, it is obvious, but that isn't the point.  
 
Jesus knew what the man wanted. He knows everything, but He wanted Bartimaeus to speak what he wanted done, because by speaking it and asking for it, Bartimaeus was confessing in faith that he believed Jesus could heal him. 
 

James 4:2b 

…You do not have, because you do not ask. 

Matthew 7:7-8 

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 

Psalms 34:4 

I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. 

 
Mark 10:52 And Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way. 
 
Jesus ends up healing Bartimaeus, and the reason why boils down to faith. Time and time again, Jesus would heal people based on their faith, not if they were worthy or deserved it. They didn't earn it. We can't earn it, but if we believe, that is enough to be healed.  
 
Some final thoughts, which have become a prayer of mine: 
 
We take many things in life for granted. But one thing we cannot afford to take for granted is the presence of God. Never let us lose our awe and appreciation of being able to enter into His presence. I will do what it takes to get to Jesus, I do not care how I look or who is watching. 
 
I will cry out like Bartimaeus. I cannot and will not have You pass by without receiving a touch from You. God, I need you to fill me. Fill me till I overflow, like a cup running over. Fill this unworthy earthen vessel.  

I need to get a hold of You, God. No flesh will glory in Your presence, so I lay down my pride, my ego, myself on this altar. I must decrease, so that You may increase.  
 
I will seek the Lord while He may be found. God, here I am. Don't pass me by. I will reach out and get a hold of you, even if just a touch of your garment. And I won't stop till I get to You.