Three men had been stranded on an island for ten years when they discovered a bottle which had washed up on the shore overnight. In their struggle to claim the precious cargo all three rubbed the bottle. Instantly a genie appeared. Unable to determine the proper ownership of the bottle the genie decided to grant each man one wish.
The genie asked the first man, “What do you want me to do for you?”
The man replied, “I haven’t seen my children in ten years. They are so grown up by now. I want to return home as if these ten years had never passed and be able to play with my children again.”
“Granted”, the genie said and immediately the man was at home swinging and laughing with his children.
The genie asked the second man, “What do you want me to do for you?”
The man replied, “I have missed my mom’s cooking so much but I am afraid she has passed away by now. I want to return home as if these ten years had never passed and be able to have supper with my mom.”
“Granted”, the genie said and immediately the man was at his mom’s house eating fried chicken and corn-on-the-cob.
Suddenly their was a rush of wind and they found themselves back on the island with their companion.
“What happened?”, they asked.
“Well, the genie asked me ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ and I said ‘It’s sure lonely without those other guys here.’ So here you are.
Last week we discussed a woman who had a medical problem that had been on going for twelve years. This bleeding had made her unclean by Jewish law; therefore, she had been an outcast from society. She had not been allowed in the temple to atone for her sins for twelve years. Everything and everyone she would meet would be declared unclean. She was financially bankrupt from medical bills and was dying. Her only hope was Jesus.
If you remember, Jesus was in the midst of a great crowd of people pressing in on him in hopes of getting his attention. It was in this atmosphere that she reached out and touched Jesus. Suddenly He felt power go out from him. For the first time something unclean had touched something clean and had become clean. She was instantly healed.
Soon Jesus would hear of the death of John the Baptist. Shortly afterwards Peter would witness and participate in Jesus walking on water. Soon Peter along with James and John would see Jesus’ earthly body transfigured into a heavenly body. Jesus would predict his own death and make it known that He is the Son of God. He would raise his friend Lazarus from the dead. The religious leaders begin their plot to have him killed.
So it is in this setting that we meet our next character. Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem for Passover where He will be arrested and crucified. As He goes, He reaches Jericho.
Mark 10:46-47 “Then they reached Jericho, and as Jesus and his disciples left town, a large crowd followed him. A blind beggar named Bartimaeus (son of Timaeus) was sitting beside the road. When Bartimaeus heard that Jesus of Nazareth was nearby, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
This man deserves a closer look. His name is actually not known. We have always referred to him as “blind Bartimaeus.” But that was not his name. Bartimaeus meant “son of Timaeus.” The name Timaeus meant, “Honor” and it was not a Jewish name. Timaeus was a Greek name. Therefore, it is possible that the beggar’s father was a Greek perhaps married to a Jewish woman. Like so many others, we have seen the beggar would not have lived to achieve his father’s expectations. Son of honor may have been an embarrassment to his father and certainly one who seems to have been cursed according to Jewish tradition.
As we have read, the beggar is sitting outside of Jericho on the road that led to Jerusalem. He is unable to work. There were no welfare programs or charitable institutions that would help him. Someone would have taken him there daily. Perhaps it was a friend or maybe someone who got a portion of the money that the beggar collected. Each day he would be placed there at the side of the road and each evening he would have been taken back home. His entire life was based on the dependency of others.
This day was different. The crowd was much larger than usual. He could hear excited voices. And one name seemed to be said repeatedly, “Jesus. Jesus. Jesus.” Being on the main road day in and day out, he would have heard travelers talking about this miracle worker. He would have heard about the lepers being healed, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. He would have heard about demons fleeing and the dead being raised.
The beggar realized that this was the day of his greatest opportunity. Just like the woman with the bleeding, he realized this would be the opportunity to be healed. Unlike her, he could not make his way through the crowd. All he could do was to allow his voice to mingle with others. Like everyone else, he called him by name, Jesus. But he added “Son of David.” This was a term set aside for the Messiah, the savior of the Jews. He was yelling, “Jesus. You are the Messiah. Have mercy on me.”
Mark 10:48 “Be quiet!” many of the people yelled at him.
But he only shouted louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
Why did the people tell the beggar to be quiet? One reason may have been due to their legalism. Any infirmity may have been considered a punishment by God. Look at this question that Jesus was asked. John 9:2 “Rabbi,” his disciples asked him, “Why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents’ sins?” There would have been those in the crowd saying by their actions “You deserve being blind because of sin. Leave Jesus alone.”
Perhaps some were embarrassed by his appearance. He would not be able to wash his clothes properly or even clean himself. Perhaps they felt Jesus would judge them for the lack of care of someone as unfortunate as the beggar.
A couple of weeks ago Debbie and I were in Charlotte for the night. As we were walking along, we sit down for a moment on a bench close to a restaurant/bar. A rather nicely dressed young man approached us and began to share his hard luck story with us, which ended in a plea for money. At the time, neither Debbie nor I had any cash on us so I said “Sorry, I can’t help you.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I glimpsed a man standing in the doorway of the business. He seemed to be an employee. He was making his way toward us as the young man left. I am rather sure his intent was to strongly suggest that we not be bothered.
However, what if I wanted to sit for a while and talk to this young man? What if I wanted to hear his story? What if I wanted to give him some money for whatever reason? I wonder if I would have been in trouble. I wonder if I would have been chastised for desiring to help another person.
Some may have been uncomfortable with the reference to Jesus being the Messiah. Remember there were those who were plotting to have him killed. There were those who felt He was demonic and got his power from satan. These people would have been insulted by Jesus being held to such high esteem.
Well, the blind beggar would not be stopped from his one opportunity. He shouted louder “Son of David, Messiah, Have mercy on me.”
Mark 10:49 “When Jesus heard him, he stopped and said, “Tell him to come here.”
So they called the blind man. “Cheer up,” they said. “Come on, he’s calling you!”
Remember last week how Jesus was in the midst of a great crowd but stopped when someone touched him? Remember how confused the disciples were when He asked the question “Who touched me?” Remember how we discussed that what the woman did was show her faith in action? Here is a man that shows his faith in words. And Jesus hears him.
Imagine the noise around Jesus as He walks along. People are pushing and talking among themselves. Perhaps some are asking questions. But in the midst of this noise, He hears “Messiah, Son of David” and it stops him in his tracks. Here in this crowd is someone who believes that He is the Messiah. Someone in this crowd is proclaiming him as the Lord. Someone is addressing him by his royal name and in doing so is worshipping him. However, Jesus does not go to him. Instead, He tells others to inform the beggar that He wants the beggar to come to him.
Notice the sudden excitement in the crowd. “Cheer up. He heard you. He wants to see you.” Why were they suddenly excited? I think knew they were about to witness an actual miracle while others hoped to trap him for their deadly scheme.
Mark 10:50 “Bartimaeus threw aside his coat, jumped up, and came to Jesus.”
Look at his reaction. He threw his coat away. The writer of the Gospel of Mark felt this was important to mention. I have read some thoughts on this coat.
One line of thought is that the Roman government gave beggars a special coat that would make them legitimate in their begging, a license to beg. He would have been casting aside his right to make a living. However, I cannot find any resources to authenticate that theory.
The coat however would have had several pockets for the beggar to place his funds as they were given to him. You might say it was a coat of many pockets. Throwing aside his coat would have also thrown aside any money he had collected and I am sure their were those who readily grabbed it up.
But more than likely it was all he possessed. It was what kept him warm at night. It was the only thing that was truly his. It was probably a bit cumbersome though and would have slowed him down. So when Jesus said, “Come to me” he threw it aside and jumped up.
The word does not say how he made it to Jesus. We are not sure if others guided him or he stumbled to him but he went.
Mark 10:51 “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked.
“My rabbi,” the blind man said, “I want to see!”
Isn’t it interesting that Jesus asked such a question? It is obvious what the blind man wanted, at least we think it is.
But what if his request had been “I want a shaded area to beg so I am not sitting in the hot sun?” Or “I want a better traveled area so I can collect more money.” “I want a new coat with deeper pockets to hold my money.” “I want people to have more pity on me so I will not be treated so harshly.” He could have given many answers to that question. However, he realized what he needed the most. “MY rabbi, MY teacher, the one I want to follow after, I want to see.”
With sight would come responsibility? No more begging. He would have to find a job. He would have to take care of himself. His entire life-style was going to change. But he knew it would be worth it.
Mark 10:52 “And Jesus said to him, “Go, for your faith has healed you.” Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus down the road.”
This day the son of Timaeus would join a group like no other. He would be forever known as a blind man who was healed by his great faith. He would join the ranks with a woman who had been sick with bleeding for twelve years but was healed by her faith. He would join the ranks with a man who had leprosy but was healed by his faith. He would join the ranks with a Roman officer whose servant was healed by his faith. He would join the ranks with four friends of a paralyzed man who was healed by their faith. He would join the ranks with a gentile woman whose daughter was healed by her faith.
And this blind beggar would be the last person healed personally by Jesus due to their faith. Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem and his crucifixion.
One other would be healed by the touch of Jesus. It would happen on the night of his arrest.
Luke 22:49-51 “When the other disciples saw what was about to happen, they exclaimed, “Lord, should we fight? We brought the swords!” And one of them struck at the high priest’s slave, slashing off his right ear.
But Jesus said, “No more of this.” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.” His last physical healing on earth was based on compassion for a slave and protection for his disciples.
What if Jesus was here physically today? What if He looked at you and asked “What do you want me to do for you?” How would you answer? Would you give him a list of problems in your life that needed to be solved? Would you ask him for a more successful career, a bigger home, a newer car? Would you ask him for a physical healing? What if like blind Bartimaeus you had one opportunity to let him know about the most pressing thing in your life. What would it be?
For many of us we would not be able to choose just one. If we did we would live with regret that we did not choose something else when that something else came up. The one thing we should all cry out for is “I want to see.” I am not talking about physical blindness but spiritual blindness.
There is a song we sing that says “Open the eyes of my heart Lord. I want to see you.” That should be our desire, to see Jesus high and lifted up.
Bartimaeus showed his faith through his words. We do that also. When we bemoan all of the circumstances in life that seems to overwhelm us, we are speaking our faith. When we join others in bitter complaining, we are speaking our faith. When we speak harsh words about others, we are speaking our faith. When we encourage others, we are speaking our faith. When we testify about Jesus, we are speaking our faith. When in the midst of the greatest hardship we can face we still praise him, we are speaking our faith.
When the world tells you to be quiet, be persistent. When your prayers are not be answered quickly, be persistent. Until you can see clearly, be persistent.
And always follow Jesus. Allow him to be your guide. When He calls you, respond. Don’t wait. Jump up. Go to him. Like the blind beggar, there may only be the one opportunity.
