The Healing of Blind Bartimaeus at Jericho. (Mark 10:46-52)

I. Bartimaeus called Jesus Son of David.

46 Now they came to Jericho. As He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the road begging. 47 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!”48 Then many warned him to be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

A. Jesus’ Messianic title.

Up to this point whenever messianic language had appeared on someone’s lips, Jesus had commanded silence on the subject. As soon as Peter had said the word Messiah, Jesus warned the disciples not to say anything about Him to anyone else. The unclean spirits who cried out in recognition of Him received the same treatment.

This title is not used often in Mark. This could be, however, because Mark wrote to a largely Gentile audience. Bartimaeus was expressing faith in the one he knew could help him—the expected Messiah—and he begged for mercy.

B. Some people tried to stop Bartimaeus from seeking Jesus.

When many people kept rebuking (cf. Mark 10:13) him to silence him, he cried out more intensely. They probably regarded him as a nuisance and may have resented any possible delay. They may also have been opposed to what he was shouting.

But Bartimaeus did not let the crowds deter him, and he shouted all the more for Jesus to have mercy on him.

II. Jesus did not ignore Bartimaeus.

49 So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called.Then they called the blind man, saying to him, “Be of good cheer. Rise, He is calling you.” 50 And throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus.

A. Jesus directed that he be called.

This was a reproof to those (perhaps including the disciples) who were attempting to silence him. In Jesus’ determined movement toward Jerusalem He had time to serve someone in need

The crowd encouraged the beggar: Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you. This motivated Bartimaeus to toss aside his outer cloak which was spread before him to collect alms, jump up, and come to Jesus.

B. The garment mentioned, a (himation) or outer garment.

The cloak or outer garment may also have served as a pallet; and must have been priceless to Bartimaeus. It was something that not a lot of beggars owned, and yet he cast it away. “The blind man recognized that in this particular matter, his cloak could become a hindrance.

Mark may have wanted to symbolize the casting off of illness and other disability. Alternately, Bartimaeus’s action recalls Jesus’ instructions for disciples on mission (6:9). Certainly he wanted to emphasize immediate and ideal response. Compare Bartimaeus’s devotion in casting away his cloak with the rich young ruler, who could not bring himself to cast away anything he owned to gain what he wanted.

III. Jesus asked Bartimaeus what he wanted.

51 So Jesus answered and said to him, “What do you want Me to do for you?”The blind man said to Him, “Rabboni, that I may receive my sight.” 52 Then Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road.

A. Jesus wanted him to admit to a need.

We may think this an absurd question. Couldn’t Jesus see that the man was blind? After all, Bartimaeus could have been asking alms from Jesus. Bartimaeus called Jesus Rabboni. which means “teacher” or “master,” a title of deep respect. Bartimaeus did not hesitate to tell Jesus what he wanted: his sight.

This choice of address is perhaps significant, for this major section focused on Jesus’ teaching on discipleship (8:22–10:52). Equally significant is the request “I want to see.” Only Jesus, the Master Teacher, can give the needed insight.

B. Jesus pronounced that Bartimaeus’s faith had healed him.

Mark probably intended a double meaning. The man was healed physically and saved spiritually. The latter is implied by the fact that he began to follow Jesus.

Bartimaeus pictured discipleship clearly. He recognized his inability, trusted Jesus as the One to give him God’s gracious mercy, and when he could “see” clearly he began to follow Jesus.

Bartimaeus’s healing highlights Jesus’ continued work of compassion and his ability to bring sight to those in darkness. It also dramatizes an example of faith. Unlike the rich man a few scenes earlier who had everything except spiritual insight, the blind man had nothing but saw clearly. He understood that Jesus, as Son of David, could heal, and that he had the power of God to bring renewal of life. Jesus commended the faith by which he spoke up in the midst of a crowd that wanted to silence him.