How the Blind Can See
Mark 10: 46-52
It has been said, “There is no one so blind as he who will not see”. Our world is filled with blind people. Now, I’m not talking necessarily about physical blindness. There are many who see perfectly physically but live in absolute blindness to the Lord. They refuse to see the love of Christ. Many have heard the truth of Jesus but have never had their eyes opened to see their condition, or their great need. Jesus alone can touch blinded eyes.
Our text deals with a man who was physically blind but had a great desire to see. The text doesn’t reveal how long he had been blind, but we know he was unable to see. As much as he desired to receive his sight, there was nothing he could do to bring about healing. Through the encounter Bartimaeus had with Jesus, we see a great spiritual lesson that applies to all people. As we discuss the details of our text, I want to consider: How the Blind Can See.
I. His Condition (46) – And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging. As Jesus and His disciples were departing Jericho, they encountered Bartimaeus sitting on the roadside. Their initial encounter revealed much about the condition of Bartimaeus. We discover:
He was Blind – His life was filled with darkness, never seeing the beauty of God’s creation. He lived in total darkness, a life of bondage to his condition. There was nothing he could do about it; he was blind!
He was a Beggar – The blindness hindered his daily activities. He couldn’t hold a job or earn wages; thus, he was a beggar. He depended on the sympathy and generosity of others. No doubt the desperate situation of Bartimaeus brought much despair and uncertainty to his life.
His condition paints a perfect picture of those lost in sin, apart from Jesus. A lost man lives in complete darkness. He never sees the beauty of the Lord. He cannot see to find his way, stumbling along the pathway of sin. 2 Cor.4:4 – In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. The lost are also beggars. They have no means of providing salvation for themselves. They are simply beggars in need of the gift of salvation. I remember when I was a blind beggar, but thank God Jesus passed by!
II. His Cry (47-48) – And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me. [48] And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me. Bartimaeus couldn’t see what was happening, but he knew something was going on. He heard the commotion of the crowd. Can you imagine how he felt when he learned it was Jesus? He must’ve heard about Jesus, the One who had performed these mighty miracles. Jesus was coming! He had never met this Jesus, but he believed Jesus could help him. He began to cry out – Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me!
Now, there were those who tried to keep him quiet, but he cried out the more. He was determined to get to Jesus. He wasn’t about to lose his only opportunity. This was his chance, his moment to receive his sight, and Bartimaeus was determined to do all he could to receive the touch only Jesus could provide.
Is that not how each of us were? We were hopeless beggars until Jesus passed by. I had heard of Him, but I had never met Him. I knew what Jesus could do, but I had never called out to Him. Thank God, I realized my condition and cried out to Jesus. The world and Satan will try to keep you quiet. They will say – You don’t need to do that; just wait a while. We must cry out to Him while He is near; He may not pass our way again. Many have waited for another chance that never came. Isaiah 55:6 – Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near.
III. His Comfort (49) – And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee. The persistent cry of Bartimaeus was successful. Jesus heard his cry and called for him to come. Consider the joy he felt at that moment. Jesus, the miracle worker was calling for him. Jesus had taken time for a blind beggar; He was genuinely concerned with the needs of Bartimaeus.
If you have never met Jesus, He desires you to come. He is never too busy to hear the cry of one who seeks Him. He stands waiting for you to come. Do you realize there is nothing more important to Jesus than you? He paid a great price for you; He wants to provide for every need you have, including salvation! You might think you’ve gone too far; that your sin is to great, and He couldn’t possibly forgive you or meet your great need. Jesus can heal your brokenness, forgive your sin, and save your soul. Be of good comfort; He is calling for you. This could be the best day of the rest of your life.
IV. His Cure (51-52a) – And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight. [52] And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. Bartimaeus came to receive his sight. He desired healing more than anything. He came in faith and his faith brought healing. The phrase “thy faith hath made thee whole” literally means “your faith has saved you.” He came for physical healing and received spiritual healing as well. Jesus always gives more than we expect. He was never the same. He now saw with his physical eyes; but more importantly, he saw spiritually within his heart.
By the way, our spiritual vision is what matters! His faith was key to his cure. Had he not believed, he wouldn’t have been healed. When the Holy Spirit leads you to Christ, in faith, He will provide salvation. We must have faith. Eph.2:8-9 – For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: [9] Not of works, lest any man should boast. You will never again be the same. Salvation will change you instantly, completely, and eternally. Jesus is the only way; no one else can provide your healing. John 14:6 – Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
V. His Commitment (52b) – And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way. He was no longer a blind beggar, but a born again believer with a desire to follow Jesus. The Lord had done for him what no other could. He loved his Healer and was committed to serve Him.
I can assure you when Jesus saves your soul, you’ll want to follow Him. He will so completely change your life that you will desire to walk with Him and enjoy His fellowship. I have never gotten over what Jesus did for me. I deserved to die in my sin and spend eternity in hell, but by His marvelous grace I now am saved. The child of God has no business sitting by the side of the road begging for the “handouts” of the world. We belong to the King; we are heirs to the riches of heaven. He is more than able to supply every need we could possibly have. Jesus is more than enough!
Let me say, I am very concerned about those who claim to be saved but have no desire to serve the Lord. If your life hasn’t changed and there is no commitment to Jesus, you need to search your heart. It is a good possibility that you have never been saved. John 10:27 – My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. If you are saved by His grace, there will be a change. The old desires may still surface from time to time, but our hearts will have been transformed. There will be a genuine desire to serve the Lord and follow Him.
Conclusion: How is your vision today? Are you looking through eyes of faith or are you blind to the things of God? You don’t need church membership or “religion”, you need JESUS! Your blindness can only be healed by His saving grace. It will never get better on its own. You may be hopeful that things will improve, but they cannot without Jesus.
Maybe you have been saved by grace, but the cares and burdens of life have clouded your vision. You are no longer blind spiritually, but your walk with the Lord is not as it should be. Bring your burdens and cares to the Lord. He can provide the wisdom and strength you need to get back on track, living faithfully for Him.
