The Cry of Blind Bartimaeus

"What do you want me to do for you?", Jesus asked him.

"Lord, I want to see", he replied.

It has been a while since I updated this blog. This reflects how busy my life has been. Also, I have diverted my free time to a new hobby - photography. But today, I would like to take time to share a meditation on Luke 19: 35-43. Note that the same account is also reported in Matthew (20:29-34) and Mark 10: 46-52. Matthew records that there were two blind men, while Mark and Luke mention only one. This is probably the same event, but Mark and Luke singled out the more vocal of the two men (ref: LAB). In Mark, we learnt the name of the beggar is Bartimaeus (the Son of Timaeus).

As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” He called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy (pity) on me!” Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?”

“Lord, I want to see,” he replied. Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God.

Contemplation

1. Every miracle is a sign! (i) That the Kingdom of God has come with power, (ii) God’s compassion revealed in Jesus Christ. Note Jesus has more compassion than any of his followers have. Jesus stopped! To care for the blind.

2. Misery is the object of mercy. Honestly, we lacked depth in our worship/prayer because we’re not deprived. M. Henry wrote, "there are many occasions where deprivation and sickness will for a while supply the outer circumstances…" Beggars, usually disabled in some ways, have little hope of escaping their degrading way of life. He shamelessly cried out for Jesus’ attention. But we are too respectable to make a scene - we don’t like drawing attention to our lack or openly admit our needs. We prefer to work within our comfort zone. Recall that “the wine has run out!” was the setting for the first miracle by Jesus.

3. It is good to be inquisitive. Those who want their sight should make so much better the better use of their hearing. When they cannot see with their own eyes, should by asking questions, make use of other people’s eyes.

4. He did not let the opportunity slip. This is a divine appointment. Rebuked, but he shouted all the more!

5. Seeing with your eyes doesn’t guarantee seeing with your heart! The blind man called Jesus “Son of David”, which is a title for the Messiah (Isaiah 11:1-3). This means that he understood Jesus to be the long-awaited Messiah. What irony! A poor and blind beggar could see that Jesus was the Messiah, while the crowd who see Jesus physically couldn’t see this. Note they called him “Jesus of Nazareth”.

6. He received double healing: (i) physical healing – he received his sight; (ii) spiritual healing – your faith has healed you. It is wholeness, not just health that is our deepest need. Desire a spiritual blessing, not just a physical blessing. C.f. Luke 17:11-19. “Where are the other nine?” The leper who returned to praise God has a deeper experience than the others. It is not enough to come to Christ for healing, but when we are healed, we must continue to follow him; that we may do honour to him, and receive instruction from him – M. Henry

Exercise: Feel the whole story from Bartimaeus' perspective: the long years of despair and frustration; the quickening spark of hope based on stories he would have heard; the courage and desperation behind his full-throated shout for help; his total disinterest in respectability and social proprietary - if he could be healed...

Let yourself be Bartimaeus, cry out to God for the healing you need. Respond with trusting openness, like Bartimaeus, to his power to break into difficult parts of your life.

reference: LAB, M. Henry commentary & R. Warren's An Affair of the Heart