Have you ever believed something just on someone’s word? We do this all the time. We hear about situations with people, places they have gone, or reports from doctors. While we think seeing is believing, we sometimes look but don’t see what we think we are seeing. Some knock-off products look identical to the real thing, and we believe it is something it is not. Our eyes process what our brain tells them to. However, when there is no visual image for the brain to work with, we must visualize it in our brain’s sight unseen. When we are blind, we process it through hearing, feelings, touch, and word of mouth. This is the process that is happening in Mark 10:46-52. This event was also recorded in Matthew chapter 20 and Luke chapter 18. Matthew tells us there were two, while Luke only mentioned one. Mark speaks of one, but Mark reveals his name. He is Bartimaeus.
In verse 46, Jesus is headed to Jericho. As He walked, there were those sitting by the side of the road who were beggars out of necessity. For those who were not physically able to work, begging was their only means of support. We find Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sitting beside the road begging. In verse 47, his cry lets us know that he has heard of Jesus, and he calls Him by the name “Son of David.” We know from this that he is familiar with the Old Testament books of II Samuel, Isaiah, and Jeremiah, where Jesus is referenced to be the lineage of David.
Jeremiah 23:5-6 “Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.” He was convinced Jesus was the Messiah.”
Mark 10:46-47 “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. 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.”
Others were not confident that this was the Messiah; otherwise, they would have been proclaiming Jesus, just as Bartimaeus was. Instead, they told him in verse 48 to be quiet. Yet, this man’s faith caused him to cry out louder than before. He understands that any healing he might receive will be because of the mercy of Jesus. This man has eyes of faith. He had been looking for the Messiah, and to all who seek Him, they will find Him. Matthew 7:7 “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.”
Mark 10:48 “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.”
Jesus hears the cry of this man seeking Him. He stops and calls the man to Him. Bartimaeus gets up and goes to Jesus. His cry was heard, and his faith was about to produce more than he had ever imagined. With persistent faith, he pushes through the crowd, probably fumbling and reaching out to find his way, just as we would walking in the dark. The darkness of his life was about to change both physically and spiritually. Jesus asks him what he wants, and his reply is to allow him to see. Jesus tells him his faith had made him see. He does not leave and seek to enjoy all the sights he had missed, instead he chooses to follow Jesus. He chooses to use his eyes to gaze upon the beautiful Savior who had rewarded his faith with eternal life and physical sight.
Mar 10:49-52 “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. And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus. 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. And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.”
Are you blind spiritually? There is sight for those who believe and act upon that belief. Are you saved but not growing? Has your desire to fit in with the world blurred your spiritual vision? This man only had the knowledge of Jesus passed by listening to others. We have the word, and while we have not seen Jesus personally, we can have a clear picture of who He is and place our faith in Him. We can follow Him sight unseen and yet have a clear picture with our hearts and minds.
