Anchor Scripture: Mark 10:46–52
46 Then they reached Jericho, and as Jesus and his disciples left town, a large crowd followed him. A blind beggar named Bartimaeus (son of Timaeus) was sitting beside the road. 47 When Bartimaeus heard that Jesus of Nazareth was nearby, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” + 48“Be quiet!” many of the people yelled at him. But he only shouted louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 49When Jesus heard him, he stopped and said, “Tell him to come here.”So they called the blind man. “Cheer up,” they said. “Come on, he’s calling you!” 50Bartimaeus threw aside his coat, jumped up, and came to Jesus. 51“What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked. “My Rabbi, the blind man said, “I want to see!” 52And Jesus said to him, “Go, for your faith has healed you.” Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus down the road.
Mark 10:46–52 discussion:
- Jericho was a popular resort city in the Judean desert rebuilt by Herod the Great, not far from the Jordan River crossing.
- Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem (10: 32), and after crossing over from Perea, he would naturally enter Jericho. 10: 46
- Beggars were a common sight in most towns.
- Because most occupations of the day required physical labor, anyone with a crippling disease or disability was at a severe disadvantage and was usually forced to beg.
- Even though God’s laws commanded care for such people (Leviticus 25: 35-38), they were often ignored.
- Blindness was considered a curse from God for sin (John 9: 2), but Jesus refuted this idea when he reached out to heal this blind man.
- The fact that Bartimaeus called Jesus the Son of David shows that he recognized Jesus as the Messiah. His faith in Jesus as the Messiah brought about his healing.
- We do not know how long Bartimaeus had been blind, but it only took a moment for him to decide to call on Jesus for help. Jesus met many spiritually blind people— religious leaders, family members, people in the crowds. Though their eyes were fine, they could not see the truth about Jesus. But blind Bartimaeus had heard the report that Jesus was coming and boldly cried out for help.
- In coming to Jesus, we need Bartimaeus’s boldness. We must overcome our reticence and doubts and take the step to call on Jesus.
When life overwhelms us, we should remember what a difference a day can make. In the story of Bartimaeus, we have three steps toward a miracle/solution.
1. Speak Up (vv. 46–48)/Cry out, call on Jesus for help. The crowds tried to silence Bartimaeus, but it was no use: “Son of David, have mercy on me!” If we want to see God’s miracle, we must cry out to Him.
2. Cheer Up (v. 49). To the crowd’s surprise, Jesus stopped. The atmosphere changed dramatically. “Cheer up!” said the crowds. “Help is on its way!”
3. Rise Up (vv. 50–52). Immediately Bartimaeus rose up to meet Jesus, who
asked, “What do you want me to do for you?” Bartimaeus replied, “I want
to see.” The answer came quickly: “Go, your faith has healed you.”
Conclusion: If we want God’s miracles, we must be willing to partner with Him and
be willing to speak up, cheer up, and rise up. What a difference a day can make!
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