Blind Bartimaeus

That We Might Receive our Sight

“And they came to Jericho: and as He went out of Jericho with His Disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, sat by the wayside begging” (Mark 10:46).

This blind man sat on the side of the road begging for help to all those that passed. He was unable to help himself due to his blindness. We too were in need of help. We were “poor in spirit” before the Lord found us. This world cannot give us what we need. Our help can only come from Heaven. We too are beggars along the path of life in need of the sustenance the Lord offers to all those that recognize their true condition.

“And when he heard it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, Jesus, though Son of David, have mercy on me” (verse 47).

The ministry of our Lord was well known in Israel at this time. Word of His healing of every sort of illness had spread far and wide. In fact, our introductory verse tells us that “a great number of people” were traveling with the Lord at this time. Undoubtedly, Bartimaeus had heard about Jesus. Blind and all alone in the darkness that was his life, he would now see his hope of being healed by Jesus become a reality. Bartimaeus wasted no time crying out to the Lord when He heard that Jesus was passing by. He acknowledged Him as the Messiah by addressing Him as the Son of David. This was a great day for Bartimaeus, one which he undoubtedly had hoped for for some time. We, like Bartimaeus, cried out to the Lord when the Gospel was preached in our hearing.

“And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me” (verse 48).

Bartimaeus could not be silenced and continued to cry out to the Lord. He knew that Jesus was the answer to the blindness that had made him a beggar. We also know that we were unable to help ourselves and we are like Bartimaeus, beggars. Martin Luther’s last written words found in his pocket after his passing were, “We are beggars, this is true.” We are not beggars in the sense of hopelessness, but in that we are unable to provide for ourselves what is needed, but must look to the Lord for everything. This is freeing because our worth is not tied to what we do, but to the gracious provisions of our Heavenly Father. He supplies our every need. We are in need of the mercy and Grace of the Lord at Salvation and every moment thereafter as we walk out our lives. The following from the hymn Rock of Ages says it well:

Rock of Ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in thee…Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to the Cross I cling. (Rock of Ages composed by Augustus Toplady – 1776)

“And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they called the blind man, saying unto him, be of good cheer, rise, He calls you” (v49).

The Lord heard His cry for help and stood still. The need of one helpless soul had caused the Lord to stop and call Bartimaeus to Him. The Lord always hears the cry of those who come to Him acknowledging Who He is and admitting that He is the only one who can provide for their needs. When we have sorrow over our sin and see our true spiritual condition, the Lord will meet us in our need.  “Blessed are they who mourn (over their sin), for they shall be comforted (Matt 5:4).

And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus. And Jesus answered and said to him, What will you that I should do unto you? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight” (vs 50,51).

Bartimaeus rose up and, in faith, cast off his garment and came to Jesus. By faith he knew that this would be his last day sitting by the wayside begging. The Lord required Bartimaeus to tell Him what he wanted the Lord to do for him. When we come to the Lord admitting our true condition and admitting our need of His Mercy and Grace, the Lord hears us and will answer our need. We too cast off the garment of all we have trusted in and place our lives in the care of our Lord.

And Jesus said unto him, Go your way; your faith has made you whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way” (v52).

The Lord healed Bartimaeus of his blindness both physically and spiritually. This seems evident by Bartimaeus after his physical healing “following Jesus in the way.” Tradition says that Bartimaeus became a Disciple in the early church. Like Bartimaeus, we too will follow Jesus when we experience the goodness of the Lord. We are truly blessed to have found the way and to walk in it. From beggar by the wayside unable to free ourselves from our fallen nature to healed of our spiritual blindness and “following Jesus in the way.” Yes, Jesus called us to Himself that we might receive our sight.

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him” (Psalm 34:8).

Always Remember,

God Loves You!

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Here I Am, Lord – Tom Quinn Ministries – tqministries.com 2026