“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 is introduced as “a blind beggar, the son of Timaeus” who was sitting by the roadside when Jesus passed by. His blindness made it impossible to earn a living for himself. He was “just” a poor beggar. He did not even have a proper personal name, but was simply called “son of Timaeus”. The impression that Bartimaeus was looked down upon, is strengthened by the people’s reaction when he started to cry out to Jesus: “Many rebuked him, telling him to be silent.” Blind beggars should not attract attention.
However, Jesus did not ignore Bartimaeus. He asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?”. That was not a difficult question… This blind man had a deep desire: “Rabbi, let me recover my sight.” This request was not just a desperate cry for mercy, but also a sign of strong faith. Bartimaeus believed that Jesus was the Son of David who could do the impossible. He “saw” far more than the majority of the crowds! His faith was not put to shame. Jesus healed him, and Bartimaeus followed Him on the way. He was no longer a beggar sitting by the roadside, but had become a follower of the Son of David.
What is your deepest desire? Did you share it with Jesus?