Look to Jesus
The key verse for today is “Then Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road.” Mark 10:52
A story is told in Mark 10:45–52 of a blind man who was healed just outside Jericho.Bartimaeus was not the first person with blindness Jesus healed in His ministry. But here's something significant that we can learn from this character.
What was so special about Blind Bartimaeus? Nothing but Faith. He was an outcast, a beggar, and a blind man, but his faith has withstood the testimony of time. The story of blind Bartimaeus is a testimony to one man’s determination to be healed. He refused to be silenced when others tried to quiet him as he cried out to Jesus.
As Jesus walked through Jericho, Bartimaeus, son of Timaeus heard that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. The blind Bartimaeus called out to Jesus. Look at verse 10:47. 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!" - Mark 10:47.
Even before Bartimaeus had met with Jesus, he believed Him to be the Messiah. Jesus, "Son of David" was the promised Messiah. The Messiah would be a descendant of David whose kingdom would last forever.
Though people tried to get him to be quiet, Bartimaeus was completely focused on Jesus. His cries got the attention of Christ who asked Bartimaeus to be brought to Him. When Bartimaeus realized that Jesus had stopped to talk to him, he threw off his garment and went to Jesus.
He told Jesus his greatest desire; he wanted to see (Mark 10:51). Jesus spoke the word, and blind Bartimaeus received his eyesight. His faith, Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well (Mark 10:52). Jesus didn’t have to touch Bartimaeus for him to receive his sight.
Bible scholars believe that blind Bartimaeus may have spread his over garments in front of him to collect alms for any coins that were given to him. If that were the case, then his garment was a tool of his trade. Without his cloak, he would have had difficulties collecting the alms that were given to him.
Some scholars believe that when blind Bartimaeus threw off his cloak, it was a show of faith. He believed Jesus would heal him, and because he would no longer be blind, there would be no need to have that particular tool of the trade.
Now, what are the lessons we can learn from the story of Blind Bartimaeus? What does the story of the blind Bartimaeus teach us?
1. Shout for Jesus
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! Mark 10:47
I have always loved how enthusiastic or eagerly Bartimaeus called to Jesus. When he heard that Christ was nearby. He knew he had one chance to be healed. Being blind, Bartimaeus wouldn’t have been able to walk nimbly through the crowd, looking for Jesus. He had one resource, and that was his voice.
But people tried to silence him. Some Bible translations say people rebuked him. Rebuked. That’s a strong word. Bartimaeus didn’t allow anyone to silence his voice. When we are chasing hard after God, we shouldn’t let anyone silence us either. The Bible says, Call upon Him and He will answer you and show great and mighty things which you do not know. (Jeremiah 33:3).
We should not allow anyone to prevent you from expressing your faith or beliefs in Jesus Christ. It means that you should stand firm in your convictions and continue to speak out about your faith, even if others try to silence you or discourage you.
In many cases, people may attempt to silence your voice because they disagree with your beliefs or because they don't want to hear about Christianity. However, if you feel a strong connection to Jesus and want to share your beliefs with others, it is important to stand up for yourself and not be intimidated by those who may oppose you.
Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; Come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. Psalm 100:1-3
2. Relationship with Jesus
God is a relational God. He wants us to have an intimate relationship with Him. Jesus answered and said to him, "What do you want Me to do for you?" The blind man said to Him, "Rabboni, that I may receive my sight. (Mark 10:51)
This can’t happen if we don’t keep our eyes firmly fixed on Him and don’t let anyone or anything distract us. When blind Bartimaeus called out to Jesus, He stopped. The Savior of the World, the awaited Messiah, the Teacher of the Twelve Tribes of Israel, stopped. Then he waited. He waited for someone to tell Bartimaeus that he had been called. He waited for the blind man to make his way to him. He waited to hear blind Bartimaeus’ request. Jesus stopped for a man that many people wouldn’t have given the time of day.
In a society where physical ailments were believed to have been a punishment for sin. God, Immanuel stopped and waited for the blind man to make his way to Him.
Like blind Bartimaeus, we need to focus on God and Him only. We have a race to run, and we can only do that when we pay attention to the path set before us and do not allow ourselves to get distracted by what other people say to us or say about us.
3. Overcome with Jesus
One of my favorite passages of Scripture is Hebrews 12:1-2. Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. We are encouraged to lay aside every obstacle or anything that will block us from God. Like blind Bartimaeus, we have to make a decision to pursue God even when things get in our way.
This verse teaches us that we should identify and eliminate anything that is hindering our relationship with God, whether it is a sinful habit, an unhealthy relationship, or any other obstacle that distracts us from God's purposes for our lives. By laying aside these obstacles, we can run with greater freedom and agility, unencumbered by the things that would hold us back.
However, it is important to note that this process of laying aside obstacles is not something we can do on our own. It is only possible through the power of God's Holy Spirit working in us that we can identify and overcome the things that are blocking us from God. As we surrender ourselves to God and allow Him to work for us, He will give us the strength and wisdom we need to lay aside every obstacle and run the race of faith with endurance.
Blind Bartimaeus’ story should be our story. We should be so desperate for Jesus that we chase after Him despite what others say to us. We should want to be with God so much that we don’t allow any obstacles to get in our way.
4. Focus on Jesus
Then many warned him to be quiet; but he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" - Mark 10:48
I once heard a Pastor ask, "When has the majority ever been right?" It’s a lesson I’ve pondered often. In the story of Blind Bartimaeus, we saw the people try to silence him when he cried out to Jesus. However, Bartimaeus did not let their discouragement stop him. Instead, he cried out all the more, demonstrating his persistent faith and his desperate need for healing. This teaches us that sometimes we may face opposition or discouragement when we pursue our faith, but we should not let it silence us. Rather, we should continue to cry out to Jesus and trust in His mercy and love.
So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called. Then they called the blind man, saying to him, "Be of good cheer." "Rise; He is calling you." Mark 10:49
But when Jesus stopped to speak to Bartimaeus, these same people tried to encourage Bartimaeus. I’m sure some of them were the same people who had rebuked him earlier. The lesson we learn from Bartimaeus? We can’t listen to the crowd. The crowd is changeable. They are responding to external stimuli, which are prone to change. If we are going to follow our purpose, we have to base our decisions on a standard that doesn’t change.
God never changes. For I am the Lord, and I do not change. Malachi 3:6. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Hebrews 13:8. He’s the one we should use as our measuring stick for what’s good. Our actions should be based on what He says, rather than what the world dictates.
Conclusion:
The story of Blind Bartimaeus teaches us important lessons. We should shout for Jesus and not let anyone silence our voice when we are chasing after God. We should have a relationship with Jesus and keep our eyes firmly fixed on Him, not letting anyone or anything distract us. We have to keep our eyes focused on God and keep doing the things that draw us closer to Him. We should also have faith like Bartimaeus and believe that Jesus can heal and transform us. Even in the face of discouragement, we should continue to trust in Him.
It’s easy to make excuses for the things we know we should do but are not doing, but there will be a time when God shows up in our space. Like Bartimaeus, we should be determined to be healed and throw off anything that holds us back from approaching Jesus with faith. Let us learn from the example of Bartimaeus and keep our eyes on Jesus, who is the author and finisher of our faith.
Will you be ready to leave everything behind, and follow Him? Or will you be hindered by all the stuff you’re holding on to in this life? Are you willing to accept the truth and allow it to set you free? Or will you remain spiritually blind because it’s familiar? What lesson from the blind Bartimaeus will you enact in your life today? Amen.
