Photo Credit: Shelly Duffer, Bobby Nicolescu
They came to Jericho. And as he [Jesus] was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a large crowd, Bartimaeus (the son of Timaeus), a blind beggar, was sitting by the road. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Many warned him to keep quiet, but he was crying out all the more, “Have mercy on me, Son of David!”
Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.”
So they called the blind man and said to him, “Have courage! Get up; he’s calling for you.” He threw off his coat, jumped up, and came to Jesus.
Then Jesus answered him, “What do you want me to do for you?”
“Rabboni,” the blind man said to him, “I want to see.”
Jesus said to him, “Go, your faith has saved you.” Immediately he could see and began to follow Jesus on the road. – Mark 10:46-52
Photo Credit: Free Bible Images
On Sunday, our pastor Cliff preached on the persistent faith of blind Bartimaeus. As you read in the passage above, this is a gripping story of a man who knew darkness too well. He also must have heard of the man Jesus. In this moment, in close proximity to Jesus, he cried out for help.
He must have sounded like a mad man in his desperation to be heard. Those around him tried to shush him, but he would not be silenced. He knew help was almost within reach…in the person of Christ. I can just imagine the pitch of his voice rising higher and higher, not caring if he sounded the fool. He was so focused on Jesus hearing him that he had to be told that Jesus had indeed beckoned him.
When he was brought near, Jesus asked him that incredible question, “What do you want me to do for you?”
“I want to see,” gasped Bartimaeus. I want to see!
…and Jesus gave him his sight.
[Catch Cliff’s sermon in its entirety via this week’s podcast. So powerful.]
We have times when we cry out to God to help us see. Or maybe we just want to see without having to face what keeps us blind…if we’re honest. Our God is a confessional God. When we are willing to say out loud what is going on in the darkness of our hearts, He will take the scales off our eyes.
Eyes opened, we will begin to see who God truly is, and who we are apart from Him. We will see clearly our need for Him and our need for one another. What comes after is what happened to Bartimaeus. He left the side of the road where he was bound in his blindness, and followed Jesus on the road.
When we can really see, there is nowhere else we would want to be.
Worship with me to the Christian band Ghost Ship‘s Son of David:
The blind won’t gain their sight by opening their eyes.
A king is coming to His city, and crowds around are following,
If I could see, I would follow too.
He heals the sick with His hands, as He walks by, they reach for Him;
If I could see, I would reach out too.
The blind won’t gain their sight by opening their eyes.
Son of David, have mercy on me! (x2) Son of David, I want to see!
Son of David, have mercy!
I cannot leave this gate since I cannot see my way, but I can stand and call His name.
No I could never leave this gate but I will stand and shout His name, and I will count on His grace!
Son of David, have mercy on me! (x2) Son of David, I want to see! Son of David, have mercy!
I was blind – now I see! Jesus saved me!*
Photo Credit: FaithHub
After Cliff finished the sermon on Bartimaeus, he had an altar call. For those unfamiliar with that, it is a call to action on the part of any in the church who sense their need for Jesus in that moment. It’s an opportunity to privately and publicly “get right” with God – dealing with some hard thing in our hearts, and setting a different course in our lives. This sort of thing seems unusual in the church today, but it is fitting. When we recognize our need, and realize that Jesus can, and wants to, meet us at that need…what would hold us back? Bartimaeus gives us an example of deep desperation and unbridled desire to get to Jesus. When he did, he was rewarded with sight…and a Savior.
Even as a believer, it is too easy to turn a blind eye…on our sin, on our neighbor, on the world. We could all use an altar call from time to time, where we shed our timidity, or self-importance and pride, and run to Jesus…
…and, like Bartimaeus…just keep walking, with our eyes on Him.
[Truth: I met that altar call with a heart deeply moved, a mind set on confession, and feet frozen in concrete. When we think of Heaven, God’s winsomeness and our eyes clear (1 Corinthians 13:12), every pretense will be gone. Silly self-consciousness won’t even be a memory. Maybe one day, in our church gathered, this side of Heaven, we will become “a people marked by confession”. Thanks, Cliff, for leading us in that way.]
*Lyrics to Son of David by Ghost Ship – written by Cam Huxford IV and Shay Carlucci
The Blind Won’t Gain Their Sight… – Shelly Duffer