“Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’” (Mark 10: 46-47)
Bartimaeus was blind. He could not work to earn his own living and thus sat by the roadside to beg for money. His blindness made his situation pretty hopeless. But one day, Jesus came to his city and Bartimaeus had apparently heard that He could do miracles. Therefore, he cried out: “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus healed him and told him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” But read what Bartimaeus did when his sight was recovered: he did not go his own way, but followed Jesus (Mark 10:52).
This story is a beautiful picture of people who are saved by Jesus’ mercy — not necessarily from physical blindness, but from their spiritual blindness and hopelessness. If we cry out to Jesus for mercy, He will “make us well”. He will heal us from our sin and brokenness.
When we have experienced God’s salvation, we won’t just go our own way. We will begin to follow Jesus on his way. For a life in Jesus’ presence is better than a thousand elsewhere.
Have you experienced Jesus’ mercy for yourself?