Mark 10:46 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
Mark 10 tells us the story of blind Bartimaeus. He had a big problem that should be obvious. His problem was that he was blind. That was not just his problem, it became his very identity. In fact, the Bible says he was Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus. “Bar” means “son” and “Timaeus” means “filthy.” His name was “son of filthy.” Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus is almost redundant. Here is a man whose name really was a description of him. It may not have even been his real name, and if it was, it was certainly a description. Sometimes we have problems that are not just problems. They are the sum and substance of our entire life at that moment. It is our very identity. That is where this man was.
Bartimaeus came face to face with Jesus and the Bible tells us the story of what happened. When you read what happened, it encourages us to cut through the clutter. Jesus certainly did. In verse 49 Jesus commanded that Bartimaeus be called. The people said, “Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee.” So, Bartimaeus called out to Jesus, and Jesus called Bartimaeus. Jesus cut through the clutter of the large crowd and called this one man.
I’d like to suggest that we can learn from this one man about cutting through the clutter ourselves. That is what real prayer does. First, Bartimaeus acknowledged Who Jesus is. Verse 47 says, “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.” He knew that Jesus was the Son of David, the Messiah, more than merely a good teacher. He was who He claims to be. Bartimaeus cut through the clutter by acknowledging the One Who could actually help him.
We find that he heard. He didn’t see that Jesus was coming, but even a blind man can hear. There was a crowd surrounding him that was full of noise and clatter, yet he used what he had. He didn’t have all the senses that people around him had, but he had enough sense to hear Jesus and respond by asking for help. Even beggars can beg. Bartimaeus sat by the side of the highway begging because he could do nothing else, but he could do that. He had been begging for scraps, but now he was asking for sight because he had someone who could do something that others could not. Bartimaeus responded with what he had.
He was also persistent. Verse 48 says, “And many charged him that he should hold his peace.” They wanted him to be quiet, but he cried the more, “Thou son of David, have mercy on me.” Here is a man who was not going to be stopped. He was not going to allow a crowd of people who were shushing him to stand between him and the deliverance that Jesus could give. So, he cut through the clutter. He was persistent.
He was specific. Verse 51 says, “And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee?” What do you suppose? Here is a guy whose very identity is blind son of the filthy. Of course he wants his sight! But Jesus wanted Bartimaeus to speak specifically about what he wanted. Bartimaeus called out, “Have mercy on me.” Well, all of us need mercy. Do you need sight? You might, but probably not. So, what kind of mercy do you need? That is being specific, and that is what Jesus compelled him to be.
Then, Jesus healed him. Verse 52 says, “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.” Jesus said, “Go thy way,” and Bartimaeus responded by following Jesus “in the way.” That is gratitude. He knew what his need was, he was specific about it, he wasn’t going to be put off, and he gave gratitude to the one Person who could answer his need; that is Jesus.
Prayer helps narrow the issue and narrow our gratitude to the One Who can do something about our needs. Prayer makes a difference because Jesus makes a difference. Today, learn from blind Bartimaeus, even a beggar can beg and cut through the clutter.