They came to Jericho. As he and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’ Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, ‘Son of David, have mercy on me!’ Jesus stood still and said, ‘Call him here.’ And they called the blind man, saying to him, ‘Take heart; get up, he is calling you.’ So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. Then Jesus said to him, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ The blind man said to him, ‘My teacher, let me see again.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Go; your faith has made you well.’ Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way.
Reflection
When I lived in Jerusalem I used to enjoy going to Jericho in the winter as it was guaranteed to be warm and dry. There is no such certainty with the weather here in Scotland.
Certainty is something we all want and, in the world today, there does not seem to be much to be certain about. How much will I be paying for gas, electricity, and food in a few months’ time? It all depends on world events that are way beyond my control.
Bartimaeus seemed certain that Jesus would hear him. Many in the crowd tried to stop him speaking but Jesus told them to call Bartimaeus to Him. Bartimaeus’s reaction seems to have been instantaneous, He “sprang up and came to Jesus”.
Jesus asked what he wanted and in many ways the answer would be what was expected, a blind man wanted to see. There was no hesitation by Jesus, just a simple statement “your faith has made you well”.
If we look at the world today so many people are spiritually blind, some simply deny the existence of God and others put their faith in a variety of false gods and false hopes. They have no certainty; they are searching in the wrong places. If they would follow the example of Bartimaeus and throw off all their false hopes they would find a welcome from Jesus.
I wonder what the reaction was of Bartimaeus’s friends and family when they met him and he could see. I’m sure they were amazed and pleased. When we see someone turn away from false hopes and turn to the one true God and their faith makes them whole we see a similar transformation, they were blind to the truth but now see that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6).
Prayer
Loving God I thank you for Jesus,
I thank you that He lived amongst your people.
I pray for those who do not believe the truth
I pray that their eyes will be opened
and that they will come to faith in Jesus
and find the joy of knowing you. Amen