Blind Bartimaeus

The story of Bartimaeus is found in Mark chapter 10. Jesus is with His disciples in Jericho. There’s a large crowd of people around Him. Bartimaeus was sitting by the side of the road begging. When he heard that Jesus was passing by, he began to cry out, “Son of David, Jesus! Mercy, have mercy on me!” Jesus heard him, stopped, and said, “Call him over.”

Bartimaeus threw off his coat and came to Jesus. Jesus said, “What can I do for you?” Bartimaeus said, “I want to see.” Jesus said, “Your faith has saved and healed you.” In that instant, he received his sight.

There are so many parts of this story that I love. I love that Jesus heard him. He always hears when we cry out to him. But He didn’t just hear him, He stopped and Jesus saw him.

Another part of the story I love is when Bartimaeus threw off his coat. How long had he been wearing that coat, waiting for a miracle? The act of throwing it off tells us he is done with the past and ready for “a new life.”

That’s what Jesus does for us. He stops, listens, and give us “new life!”