Restoration: The Story Of Blind Bartimaeus

Restoration: The Story of Blind Bartimaeus

Mark 10:46-53 NKJV

Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqgAwTh5a6k

“Now they came to Jericho. As He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the road begging. 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!’ Then many warned him to be quiet; but he cried out all the more, ‘Son of David, have mercy on me!’ 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.’ And throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus. So 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.’ 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 10:46-52 NKJV)

Bartimaeus was a blind man who sat by the roadside begging. He must have been blind for a long time, and that’s because the word, ‘blind,’ was attached to his name as a title; and in the gospel account he is referred to as Blind Bartimaeus.

When Bartimaeus heard that Jesus was passing by, He recognized the opportunity, so he started shouting to get Jesus’s attention so that he could be healed.

The people around him tried to shut him up, but the Bible says he shouted out all the more, and even louder. Eventually, he got Jesus’s attention, and Jesus asked for Bartimaeus to be brought to Him. Jesus then asked what he wanted, and he said he wanted to receive his sight. Jesus then told him to go his way because his faith healed him. And afterwards he followed Jesus.

Although this story of Bartimaeus healing took place around two thousand years ago, the lessons are still valid.

And so, let’s look at this story of God’s restoration though the healing of Blind Bartimaeus.

Seek the Right Knowledge

“And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth.” (Mark 10:47a NKJV)

Even though Bartimaeus was blind, his other senses were working just fine. And what Bartimaeus heard was the noise of a crowd coming his direction. It seems like when he heard this, he asked someone close by who or what was causing all this commotion. When he heard that it was Jesus, he began calling out to Him.

Now, while Bartimaeus was physically blind, he was mentally alert to his surroundings. Imagine if he had not been alert, he would have missed his miracle! And it was the answer he got from his question that presented an opportunity of a healing.

Unfortunately, this is not the testimony for many Christians today, as they are totally oblivious to what is going on around them. We are not only blinded by the lies of the enemy, but we are also blinded by what we are hearing as to what’s going on around us, and a lot of that is because what we are hearing is being filtered through someone else’s opinion and/or point of view and not from God or His word.

You see, we need to be seeking our knowledge and get our information from God’s word as to what is happening, because it has been and continues to be the most reliable source of knowledge and truth.

Because the truth of what is going on is mainly found within the pages of the Bible, and not from our local, national, or world news sources, and definitely not from social media sites, even if they do pander to our political leanings.

And so, to seek the right knowledge to we need to go to God and His word, so we don’t miss the opportunities that He presents to meet our needs.

Now, when Bartimaeus asked about the noise, he was told that Jesus was passing by. And so he cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” (Mark 10:47b NKJV)

From his utterance and shout, we can see exactly what Bartimaeus knew. He knew that Jesus was the Messiah, especially by his use of the name, or title, for the Messiah and applying it to Jesus, and that is, “Son of David.”

This title for the Messiah can be found in God’s promise to David.

“When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever … And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever.” (2 Samuel 7:12-13, 16 NKJV)