Bible Studies

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Bartimaeus was a man born blind, we do not hear much about him, except that he did what most people fear to do - He called out to Jesus. He cried out in faith to ask for healing.

Bartimaeus’ life was one of darkness; he could hear just fine, he heard the people talking about him, thinking that their hushed tones were covered or that because he could not see he was also deaf and stupid. He heard the snickers of the boys when he was a child, and wistfully wanted to be part of the mischief. He had grown to be old - but somewhere along the way He had heard about a man who might in an off chance pass this way.

He had heard about Jesus. Someone had reported that He had healed people - cripples and the demon possessed, the lame were walking and the dumb speaking. The man would have been excited and speaking loudly.

Bartimaeus knew he could talk - loudly “Jesus, Son of David - have mercy on me!” His voice reeled across the road, loudly cutting through the throng of the crowd following Jesus.

Have mercy. This man had endured so much. He knew whom he was talking to. He believed perhaps that this man truly was the son of David, the prophesied coming King of Israel. Regardless he cried out “Jesus, Son of David - have mercy on me!”

Then the people around him, seeing him as weak and blind, shush him “Be quiet old man, can’t you see Jesus is here.” I can just imagine… the whole statement reeks of a lack of compassion and care.

Jesus however stops walking. His heart is compassionate toward the man. And he bids his disciples to call him over. Bartimaeus walks over - he knows this road, he knows his way around the town without help. I don’t believe he was useless - he was blind. But we tend to presume things about people when we cant really see what is true. They help him over to Jesus.

Jesus asks, “What is it you want me to do for you.”
Bartimaeus asks for the one thing he had been robbed of - his sight. What an amazing thing - the first sight that man saw was the face of the saviour.

I admire Bartimaeus greatly - he was a man of courage. He stood his ground, and called out to Jesus even when he was told to be quiet. He still cried out. For he knew this was his time.

Our lives can be very similar to Bartimaeus, we carry the wounds and scars, the limp and loss of sight or hearing that are perhaps not physical, but rather spiritual or emotional. To some extent we are sitting on the Jericho roadside, covered with dust, and a lousy mat for our comfort, people occasionally dropping small change into our jar to offer some restitution for their own sins. This betrayal of our dignity is not something we learn to live with, it is there and we survive, but oh how our hearts cry out for something else. If only I could see…

There have been times in our lives we have sat back into the shadows as Jesus has walked by us, pausing perhaps and gazing straight into our nook, before moving on.

However I would like to challenge you -
NOW is your time to stand up and cry out, now is your chance. Jesus is not going to pass you by without pausing to hear you - He isn’t going to push you down - as Isaiah says - a bruised reed he will not break. However you have to be the one to call out - to come. To reach out to Him. Once you do.

He can start to heal your brokenness.

So your challenge - cry out to Jesus - Pass my way again Lord.

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