Jesus Heals Blind Bartimaeus

Beside the road. Jesus and His disciples came to Jericho, and a great crowd went with Him as He left the town (10:46). Jericho is the same town where Jesus met Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-10). Sitting by the road was “blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus.” God's Word gives us his name and his father's name. To Jesus he was not just a blind man in a crowd. He was a person with a name. Not his fault. Bartimaeus could not see, so he “sat by the road begging.” Being blind was not his fault. Being sick does not mean God is angry with you. Jesus cares about people who are sick or hurting, and He hears their prayers. He heard. “And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out” (10:47). He could not see Jesus, but he could hear, and he could call. Son of David. “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” God had promised King David that a King would come from his family, and God would make His kingdom last forever (2 Samuel 7:12-13). The Son of David was that promised King. Bartimaeus called Jesus by that royal name. Have mercy. Mercy is kindness and help given to someone who has not earned it. Bartimaeus did not tell Jesus why he deserved help. He simply asked for mercy. What this means for you. You do not have to see Jesus to call on Him. You can tell Him what you need right where you are, and ask Him for mercy. He hears you.

Leaving Jericho (10:46). “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.” Jesus was on His way up to Jerusalem. Matthew 20:30 tells of two blind men, and Luke tells it as Jesus “was coming near Jericho” (Luke 18:35); Mark gives the name of one of them. A name (10:46). God's Word records his name and his father's name. In a great crowd, a blind beggar is named. Every person matters to God. Not his fault. Being blind was not his fault. Does being blind or sick mean God is angry with someone? No. When the disciples asked about a man born blind, Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him” (John 9:3). Krazō (10:47). “He began to cry out.” The Greek word is krazō (say: KRAHD-zoh), to shout with a loud voice. He could not see Jesus, so he used what he had: his voice. Son of David (10:47). God promised David, “I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom” (2 Samuel 7:12). The promise reached past Solomon to a King whose throne God would establish “forever” (7:13). Son of David is the name of that promised King, and a blind beggar said it out loud about Jesus. Have mercy (10:47). He asked for mercy: kindness to someone in need who has no claim on it. He brought no payment and no list of good deeds. He brought only his need. For you. Everyone comes to Jesus this way, with a need and a cry for mercy. You can call on Him from wherever you are.

Bartimaeus could not see. He sat by the road and begged. Being blind was not his fault. Being sick does not mean God is angry with you. Then Bartimaeus heard that Jesus was passing by. He did not stay quiet. He called out to Jesus in a loud voice. He called Jesus the Son of David. God had made a promise to King David long ago. A King would come from David's family and rule forever. Bartimaeus called Jesus by that royal name. Then he asked Jesus for mercy. Mercy is kind help that we do not earn. You can ask Jesus for mercy too.

Bartimaeus could not see. Being blind was not his fault. He called out to Jesus, the King God promised. Jesus cared about him.

Be quiet! “Then many warned him to be quiet” (10:48). Many people in the crowd told him to stop shouting. All the more. “But he cried out all the more, ‘Son of David, have mercy on me!’” (10:48). The more they told him to stop, the louder he called. He used the very same words again. He would not let anyone stop him from asking Jesus for help. Jesus stood still. “So Jesus stood still” (10:49). Jesus was walking toward Jerusalem, where He would give His life. A whole crowd was around Him. Still, He stopped for one man who was calling for help. When it is hard to pray. Sometimes people may laugh at us for praying, or say God is not listening. Sometimes an answer takes a long time. Bartimaeus shows us what to do. Keep calling on Jesus, and keep trusting Him. What this means for you. When praying is hard, keep praying. If friends do not understand, keep trusting Jesus. He hears every prayer, quiet or loud.

Many warned him (10:48). “Then many warned him to be quiet.” A blind beggar's cry was shouted down by the people around him. All the more (10:48). “But he cried out all the more, ‘Son of David, have mercy on me!’” Pressure from others made his cry louder, not softer. He did not change his words to please the crowd. He prayed the same prayer again. Stood still (10:49). “So Jesus stood still.” Jesus was on the road to Jerusalem, where He would be condemned, killed and raised the third day (10:33-34). Nothing could turn Him from that road, yet one cry for mercy made Him stop. Coming boldly. Some people may say prayer does not matter, that you are too young, or that God is too busy. None of that is true. Believers are invited to “come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). For you. When others discourage you, or when an answer is slow, keep praying. The Lord who stood still on the road to the cross still hears the people who call on Him.

Many people told Bartimaeus to be quiet. They scolded him. But Bartimaeus did not give up. He shouted even louder than before! He kept calling to Jesus. Then Jesus stopped walking. Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem. Still, He stopped for one man. Jesus heard one voice in a big, noisy crowd. Jesus hears us too when we pray. Sometimes other people may not understand our prayers. Sometimes we have to wait a long time. Do not give up! Keep praying to Jesus. He always hears you.

People told Bartimaeus to be quiet. But he called to Jesus even louder! Jesus heard him and stopped.

Call him. Jesus “commanded him to be called” (10:49). Jesus told the people to bring the man to Him. Good news. “Be of good cheer. Rise, He is calling you” (10:49). Be of good cheer means take heart and do not be afraid. The best news anyone can hear is that Jesus is calling them. He threw it aside. “And throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus” (10:50). He threw his garment aside, got up and came. When Jesus calls, the right answer is to come. A question. Jesus asked him, “What do you want Me to do for you?” (10:51). Jesus had asked James and John the very same question (10:36); they asked for places of honor, but Bartimaeus asked for sight. Rabboni. “Rabboni, that I may receive my sight” (10:51). Rabboni means my Teacher. Bartimaeus asked plainly for what he needed. Jesus is never bothered by honest, simple prayers. What this means for you. Jesus is calling you to come to Him. You can come just as you are and tell Him exactly what you need.

Commanded (10:49). “So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called.” Then the people around him passed on Jesus' call: “Be of good cheer. Rise, He is calling you.” Tharseō (10:49). “Be of good cheer” is the Greek word tharseō (say: thar-SEH-oh), to take courage. Jesus spoke the same word to His frightened disciples on the sea: “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid” (Mark 6:50). Courage comes from knowing that Jesus Himself is calling. His garment (10:50). “And throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus.” He answered the call at once. The question (10:51). “What do you want Me to do for you?” Jesus had asked James and John the same question in 10:36. They asked for glory; Bartimaeus asked for sight. Jesus already knew the man's need, yet He invited him to say it. Prayer does not give God information He lacks. It is trusting Him with our need. Rabboni (10:51). Rabboni (say: rab-BOH-nee) is Aramaic for my Teacher, a warm and respectful title. “That I may receive my sight” is a short prayer with a clear request. For you. Jesus still calls people to come to Him. You can bring Him your needs plainly, in your own words, and you can come with courage, because He is the One calling.

Jesus told the people to call the blind man. They said, “Cheer up! Get to your feet. Jesus is calling you.” Bartimaeus stood up quickly. He left his coat behind. Then he went to Jesus. Jesus asked, “What do you want me to do for you?” Bartimaeus said, “Teacher, I want to see again.” He told Jesus exactly what he needed. Jesus calls you to come to Him too. You can tell Jesus what you need. He cares about every need you have. No prayer is too small for Him.

Jesus said, “Tell the man to come here.” The man got up fast and went to Jesus. Jesus calls you to come to Him too!

Go your way. “Go your way; your faith has made you well” (10:52). Jesus spoke, and the man was healed. Faith that asked. Bartimaeus' faith was his trust in Jesus. It made him call out, keep calling and come when Jesus called. His faith did not have power of its own. It reached out to Jesus, and Jesus healed him. Immediately. “And immediately he received his sight” (10:52). There was no waiting and no slow getting better. The Lord who made eyes can make them see. On the road. He “followed Jesus on the road” (10:52). Jesus told him, “Go your way,” and the way he chose was the road behind Jesus. Luke adds that he followed Him, “glorifying God,” and the people who saw it praised God too (Luke 18:43). A promise for later. Jesus really healed, and He still hears our prayers today. He does not heal every sickness right now. But one day God “will wipe away every tear from their eyes” (Revelation 21:4). What this means for you. Trust Jesus with your needs, and then follow Him. Following Jesus means going where He leads, doing what He says and staying close to Him every day.

Go your way (10:52). “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” The verb is sōzō (say: SOH-zoh), to heal, to rescue or to save. Jesus said the same words to a healed woman: “Daughter, your faith has made you well” (Mark 5:34). Faith and its object. Faith is trust in a Person. Bartimaeus' faith did not heal him by its own strength; it reached out to Jesus, and Jesus healed him. His faith showed in what he did: he cried out, kept crying out, came at Jesus' call and asked plainly. Immediately (10:52). “And immediately he received his sight.” There was no slow getting better. Bartimaeus had called Jesus the Son of David, and the King healed him with a word. On the road (10:52). He “followed Jesus on the road.” That road led up to Jerusalem, where Jesus would give His life. Luke 18:43 adds that he followed “glorifying God.” Not every healing now. Jesus still hears prayer and still heals, but He does not promise to heal every body in this life. The full answer is coming: “Behold, I make all things new” (Revelation 21:5). For you. The man who called from beside the road ended the day walking behind Jesus. Bring Jesus your need, trust Him, and then follow Him.

Jesus said, “Go. You are healed because you believed.” At once Bartimaeus could see! Jesus made him well with only His words. Bartimaeus believed in Jesus. He trusted Jesus to help him. But his faith did not do the healing. Jesus did the healing. Then Bartimaeus followed Jesus on the road. He could have gone anywhere. He chose to go with Jesus. Jesus does not heal every sick person right now. But Jesus always cares. One day God will make everything new. Then no one will be sick or blind. We can follow Jesus too.

Jesus made the man see! Then the man followed Jesus. We can follow Jesus too.