Notes on Mark

This account appears in Matthew and again in Luke.

In a few days he will see Jesus dying on the cross.

Are you blind? Or have you, too, seen Jesus dying for you? Look and live

10:52 your faith has made you well. Lit. “saved you.” Bartimaeus’ physical and spiritual eyes were likely opened at the same time. The outward healing reflected the inner wellness of salvation

Bartimaeus (Aramaic for “son of Timaeus”) heard the crowd and recognized that there was something different about it, so he asked who was going by. When he heard it was Jesus, he immediately cried out for mercy. He had heard about the miraculous cures Jesus had wrought, and he wanted the Master’s help. Nothing could keep him from getting to Jesus!

10:47 Son of David is a messianic title. Mark shows us the irony of a blind man who had spiritual insight, while many who could see—including the religious leaders—were spiritually blind.

10:49, 50 Mark’s account has all the graphic details of an eyewitness account—Jesus stood still; then Bartimaeus was suddenly throwing aside his garment to rise and meet Jesus. Mark also notes the changed attitude of the crowd—they began by deriding Bartimaeus but later encouraged him.

10:52 We know that Bartimaeus followed Jesus for at least a short time on the road. He went along with the surging crowd at Jericho. Did he, however, become a disciple of note? Mark’s mention of his name may indicate that he was known in the early church.

The Jericho of New Testament times, built by Herod the Great as the site for his winter palace, was about 5 miles west of the Jordan River, 1 mile south of the Old Testament city (Josh. 6; 2 Kings 2:4-5, 15-18), and 18 miles northeast of Jerusalem.

As they and a large crowd, probably Passover pilgrims en route to Jerusalem (cf. Ps. 42:4; Mark 14:1-2), were leaving Jericho, presumably the old city, they saw a blind beggar, Bartimaeus, an Aramaic name meaning the Son of Timaeus. Only Mark recorded his name, suggesting that perhaps Bartimaeus was known in the early church. He was sitting beside the road begging, a common sight near wealthy Jericho.

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.

Son of David, occurring here for the first time in Mark, designated the Messiah as David’s Descendant (2 Sam. 7:8-16) and became a recognized title of the Messiah-King (cf. comments on Mark 12:35-37; also cf. Isa. 11:1-5; Jer. 23:5-6; Ezek. 34:23-24; Matt. 1:1; 9:27; 12:23; 15:22; Rom. 1:3). Bartimaeus’ using that title probably indicated that despite his physical blindness he believed Jesus of Nazareth was Israel’s Messiah, in contrast with the blind unbelief of most Jews.

his outer cloak which was spread before him to collect alms, jump up, and come to Jesus.

Jesus’ question was not designed to get information but to encourage Bartimaeus to articulate his need and express his faith. Bartimaeus’ simple response, Rabbi, I want to see, declared his confident trust in Jesus’ ability.

Jesus acknowledged his faith: Go … your faith has healed (sesoken, “saved”) you. Faith was the necessary means, not the efficient cause of his healing (cf. comments on Mark 5:34). Bartimaeus’ physical “salvation” (i.e., deliverance from darkness [blindness] to light [sight]) was an outward picture of his spiritual “salvation” (cf. Ps. 91:14-16; Luke 3:4-6).

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.

St. Augustine says that there were two blind men; but that the one, better known, overshadowed the other. He also says that Bartimæus was a wellknown character, and that he was accustomed to sit by the wayside, not only blind, but as a beggar.

Ver. 48.—Many rebuked him, that he should hold his peace. They rebuked him, perhaps, out of reverence and regard for Christ, who might perhaps at that moment have been preaching to the people, and so might be disturbed by the blind man’s loud and noisy appeal. But the rebuke of the crowd gave additional energy to his entreaties; and he cried out the more a great deal, that his voice might be heard above them all. He was in good earnest, and would not be restrained. A useful lesson is here suggested to all. He who desires to serve God must overcome all earthly shame and fear; for, indeed, this unworthy feeling keeps back many from Christ.

Vers. 51, 52.—Our Lord well knew what he wanted; but it was necessary that he and those around him should hear from the lips of the blind man the confession of his need, and of his faith in the power that was present to heal him. And the blind man said unto him, Rabboni, that I may receive my sight.

There were six occasions on which our Lord is recorded to have healed the blind: St. Matthew (9:27; 12:22; 21:14); St. Mark (8:24; 10:46); St. John (9:1). St. Chrysostom says of Bartimæus, that as before this gift of healing he showed perseverance, so after it he showed gratitude.

The healing of the blind beggar Bartimaeus is significant because it is the final healing that Mark reports and it enters as an interruption into the events of Jesus’ Passion. Mark sets the scene when Jesus is leaving Jericho on the last leg of His journey to Jerusalem, just fifteen miles away. Passover is approaching and the road is jammed with pilgrims chanting on the way to the Holy City. Alongside the road is another crowd—parade watchers, curiosity seekers, and those who are too poor, sinful, diseased, or handicapped to make the journey to Jerusalem. By now, the size of the crowd following after Jesus has swelled to “a great multi-tude” (v. 46). Putting all the dynamics of milling, moving people together in a festival atmosphere must have filled the air with a tingle of triumph. After all, the news that the young rabbi who has challenged the religious establishment of the Jews is on His way to Jerusalem would create its own excitement. The promise of a confrontation always draws a crowd

Amid the cacophony of sound, a disrupting voice grates against the ears, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” (v. 47). Someone has told Bartimaeus—blind man, beggar, and public nuisance—that the passing of Jesus caused the commotion

But the blind man sees something that no one else has seen and cries all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” For the first time, Jesus is publicly called the Son of David. Whether Bartimaeus knows it or not, he introduces Jesus to Jerusalem and strikes the keynote for the triumphal entry. Jews in Jerusalem claim David as their father and his son as their Messiah.

Both the plaintive sound and the prophetic salute of Bartimaeus stop Jesus in His tracks. Presumably, His healing ministry has been left behind Him and all of His energy now has to be marshaled for His own suffering. Nothing can deter or interrupt Him—except a needy man crying for mercy.

with the command, “Rise.” A serious call to faith requires an act of will as well as a word of hope.

As a blind beggar, he has no place to go but up. The risk is minimal. As simple as it seems, the call to “Look up, get up, and go up” defines faith as an act of hope based upon limited information.

“Rise,” he abandons his sitting position as a beggar by springing up and standing like a man. Posture always gives clues to self-esteem. Never again will Bartimaeus be looked down upon as the scum of the earth.

What a sight it must have been to see the crowd open a path for Bartimaeus as he comes to Jesus! In one sense, faith has already made him a whole man. His feelings, his will, and his mind are healed.

The result of faith. Jesus meets the ready faith of Bartimaeus with the open-ended question, “What do you want Me to do for you?” (v. 51). Not long before, James and John had asked Him to grant them whatsoever they asked. The difference between Bartimaeus’s answer and the disciples’ request is the difference between faith and ambition. Faith asks for needs; ambition begs for wants. Bartimaeus needed his sight; James and John wanted the places of honor in the coming kingdom of God.

Desperate people do not permit the crowd to keep them from Jesus (see Mark 5:25–34)

“What do you want Me to do for you?” seems like a strange question to ask a blind man. (It was the same question He had asked James, John, and Salome, Mark 10:36.) But Jesus wanted to give the man opportunity to express himself and give evidence of his own faith. What did he really believe Jesus could do for him?

Bartimaeus models true discipleship. His plea for help, “Son of David, mercy me!” (10:47–48), is the cry of a dependent, childlike spirit (see 10:15). He asked Jesus not for a “glory seat” (see 10:37) but to see, and all disciples need eyes that see/perceive (see 4:12). By throwing aside his cloak, Bartimaeus evidenced readiness for mission (see 6:9). By following Jesus on the way to Jerusalem, Bartimaeus accepted the way of his suffering Lord. Finally, Jesus had a disciple who saw.

52. In reality it was the power of God that healed, but the man’s faith was the channel by which that strength could flow.

Jericho is a long way from Nazareth, but we have heard already how Jesus’ reputation as a healer has spread far beyond Galilee (3:7–8).

The blind beggar at the roadside was no doubt a familiar figure to the people of Jericho and around. Like the disciples in 10:13, they (p?????, not just the disciples this time) rebuke someone of no status who wants to gain access to Jesus—and like the disciples they are overruled.

Matthew 20:32–34 (KJV 1900)

32 And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you? 33 They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened. 34 So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.

Luke 18:42–43 (KJV 1900)

42 And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee. 43 And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.