“And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me. 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. And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee. And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus. And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight. And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way,” Mark 10:46-52.

Bartimaeus, son of Timaeus was known only as the “blind beggar.”

All people around him saw was his condition, the challenge he was facing for so long, possibly from as far as he himself could remember.

But Bartimaeus had a name that would precede him which meant “honorable” and a gift of faith that superseded his disability.

This man may have known that his current condition was not his final destination, the affliction he was faced with should not be dictating to his destiny, his unwavering faith therefore created the strength he needed to in him to prevail, pick up his bed and walk.

For though he was blinded physically his spiritual sight was perfect.

Romans 10:17 declares, “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”

He no doubt must have heard of The Messiah’s great miracles which he had performed and was hence determined that He, like the woman with the issue of blood, like the lepers would reach out and touch him, if He cried out that he too would be healed.

He knew by revelation who Yeshua was as he cried out “thou Son of David, have mercy on me.”

He knew that if he as a poor man cried then the Lord would hear and deliver him from his troubles.

His troubles of being ridiculed and embarrased, his troubles of being ostracized, immobilized, characterized and criticized, possibly mocked and scorned.

This Bartimaeus, through the harsh rebuke from the crowd to shut up, be still, be quiet persevered and pushed through the naysayers, the destiny blockers for his miracle, for his own personal encounter with God.

The people who themselves were spiritually blind could not see that there was more to Bartimaeus than there mortal eyes could see, they did not perceive that divinity was about to meet humanity and change this man’s story.

It was the faith and persistent cry of blind Bartimaeus that would ultimately move Yeshua with compassion to send for Him and ask, “What thou that I should do unto thee?”

Are you like blind Bartimaeus being faced with a spiritual disability and deficit, in a bed of affliction and waiting for the Master to pass your way?

Are you like him begging for alms, for comfort, desperate for change?

Are you being deemed unworthy of the blessings and divine provision of God because of your circumstances, maybe your past, your genealogical lineage, your home?

The same people that are supposed to be spiritual are no more than religious and being a stumbling block in your way?

Jesus wants you TODAY to push past those limitations and cry out to him.

He wants you to look to HIM who is the Author and Finisher of your faith, to see and acknowledge that He Is the I AM, your healer, your Deliverer, the Horn of your salvation.

He lifts the poor from the dust and the beggar from the dunghill and wants to lift you up today if you would only lift your faith.

Faith is believing even when you’re not seeing.

Bartimaeus could not see, but his faith, his belief in what God could do made him to…

 

Shalom
~ Syreeta Thomas

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Syreeta Thomas

 

 

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