A Complicated Relationship
My relationship with snow is…well…complicated.
The sight of big fluffy flakes falling from the clouds and covering the ground brings out the kid in me. Thoughts of sledding, snowball fights, and climbing through huge drifts dance in my head.
On the other hand, snow equals work. As a member of the local media, just the very hint of flakes in the forecast can mean brutally long days either standing along the side of the road or monitoring the supply of bread and milk at some grocery store.
If You Can’t See, You Can’t Go
If you don’t park your car in the garage, you’re not driving anywhere after the storm until you clean off your windshield. Many times brushing away the pile of powder leads to cracking away the thick sheet of ice underneath.
Ever been in this situation WITHOUT a snow scraper? Good luck. You need help. Otherwise, you’re not going anywhere anytime soon.
The bottom line? If you can’t see, you can’t go.
Stuck on the Side of the Road
So what does a frozen, snow covered windshield have to do with Mark’s story of Jesus? Well, I’m so very glad you asked. I hope you’ll soon see more clearly.
In Mark 10:46-52, we meet a guy named Bartimaeus who can’t see where he’s going and is unable to clear his view. Bart is stuck on the side of the road. Fortunately our Savior comes to his rescue and gives him a view like he’s never had before.
Previously on the Gospel of Mark
If you’ve been following along in Mark’s Gospel, you know Christ and His crew are heading down the home stretch to Jerusalem (10:32). He’s tried three different times to reveal who He is and what will happen when they get there (Mk 8:31; 9:31; 10:33). And all three times the disciples swung and missed (Mk 8:32-33; 9:32; 10:35-39).
Heading Uphill
We pick up the action on the outskirts of Jericho. This puts the Messiah and His men just 15 miles from their final destination. It’s all uphill from here. Literally. Pardon me while I nerd out geographically.
The guys have been walking along the Jordan River. It’s about five miles east of Jericho. The elevation there is approximately 1,000 feet below sea level. When they hit Jericho, they’re arriving at the lowest city in the world! It’s 864 feet below sea level.
Going up to Jerusalem
The last leg of the trip to Jerusalem may be short but it’s incredibly steep. With an elevation of 2,474, you climb almost 3,300 feet in those last 15 miles. That wears me out just typing it!
That’s why we see countless verses in the documents of both the Old and New Testament talking about going up to Jerusalem. No matter which direction you go, you have to go up to get there. The trip from Jericho is no exception.
Jesus Visits Jericho
Mark describes it this way. “Then they reached Jericho, and as Jesus and His disciples left town, a large crowd followed Him” (v46). Yup, Jericho. The place God made famous for knocking down its walls (Josh 6).
Despite writers mentioning it more than 60 times in the 60 books of Scripture, this is the only time we read of Jesus visiting Jericho. And we can find this visit documented here as well as in two other Gospels (Mt 20:29-34; Lk 18:35-43).
A Biblical Contradiction?
When we compare the three versions of the story, there appears to be a huge difference. Matthew and Mark say this happens as they’re leaving town (Mt 20:14; Mk 10:42). Dr. Luke writes that it goes down as “Jesus approached Jericho” (Lk 18:35).
Aha! The Bible contradicts itself!! It seems those skeptics were right along!!! Yeah, not so much. Biblical scholars and archaeologists see no problem here. It simply depends on which Jericho you’re talking about.
Which Jericho?
They could be talking about Old Jericho. You know, the one where the walls came a-tumblin’ down back in the OT. Or it could be New Jericho. When the people rebuilt the city, they did so just down the road.
Which one is it? The old one or the new one? It really doesn’t matter. Sure sounds this meeting happens between the two, just on the outskirts of the city.
Blind Bart
Mark quickly pans from Jesus to someone just ahead of Him. “A blind beggar named Bartimaeus (son of Timaeus) was sitting beside the road” (v46).
The dude is visually disabled. The Greek word τυφλος/tuphlos tells us he’s without eyesight. It can also describe someone who is unable to understand or really see what’s going on. We’ll find out in a second that Bart sees better than the rest of the crowd.
Ain’t Too Proud to Beg
He’s also a panhandler. The word in the original language for “beggar” (Gr. προσαιτης/prosaites) literally means to approach and ask. It’s the only way to survive in the First Century if you’re blind. Bartimaeus ain’t too proud to beg.
With no sight, no money, no power, and no job, Bart is on the outside of society looking in. He’s expendable. His only shot is to find a strategic spot and plead with travelers for a couple of bucks.
Helping Those Who Can’t Help Themselves
We’ve all pulled off the exit ramp to see someone holding a sign and begging for money. You know the drill. We avoid eye contact. Hopefully the light will change before they walk over to our car.
Do panhandlers make you uncomfortable? They should! They remind us that the world is horribly broken. I’m not going to do a drive-by guilting and ask if you give them any cash.
But let’s NOT ignore these people. Do we participate in serving and loving them at least in some way? Don’t feel safe helping the homeless on the side of the road? I get it. But do you share your resources with those who do? Asking for a friend.
Made in God’s Image
The author tells us the visually impaired panhandler’s name is Bartimaeus. That’s interesting for a couple of reasons. First of all, neither Matthew or Luke drop his name. Second, Matt tells us there are, not one, but two men begging along the road.
Read his name one more time. Bartimaeus. Instead of ignoring him, we look him right in the eye. He may be blind and begging, but he’s a person. He’s made in God’s image. He has as much value as anyone else who’s ever walked the planet.
Bookends of Blindness
It’s not Jesus’ only encounter with someone who can’t see in the second Gospel. Hans Bayer wrote the notes in the ESV Study Bible sees a strong bond between what we read here and the account in Mark 8:22-26.
He writes that the two healings of blind men are “literary bookends” surrounding Jesus’ three announcements that He is not only Messiah but He will be betrayed, murdered, and resurrected. Yet each time, they don’t see it.
Bayer believes it’s Mark’s subtle way of describing the disciples’ spiritual blindness to Christ’s true mission and how He has the power to open their eyes. Before we go any further, let me ask you who do you see Him to be?
Seeing Jesus
Our buddy Bart may be physically blind but he sees the radical Rabbi for who He really is. “When Bartimaeus heard that Jesus of Nazareth was nearby, he began to shout, ‘Jesus, Son of David,
have mercy on me!’” (v47).
That Guy from Gallilee
Put yourself in Bart’s sandals. Your eyes may not work but your ears certainly do. You hear the crowd approaching. The voices. The foot traffic. The chatter. The buzz.
Something BIG is going on. Someone BIG is heading your way. You grab somebody’s robe and ask who it is. They tell you it’s that Guy from Galilee that everybody’s talking about.
The Hero from Heaven
Stranded along the side of the road, Bart knows this is his chance. The Messiah is coming his way! He fills his lungs and screams above the chaos, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” (v47). It’s not everyday God puts a divine encounter like this on your calendar.
How do we know that Bart sees Jesus as the long promised Hero from heaven? He calls Him the Son of David. That’s the title reserved for the One who fulfills the promise God made to King David back in 2 Samuel 7.
Blind Bart actually sees Jesus for who He really is! The one who has come to rule and reign forever as both King and Messiah. We’ll soon see that the Lord clearly understands this panhandler proclamation as a bold act of faith.
Refusing to Be Ignored
Mark describes how the blind man screams above the noise of the crowd. The NLT translates the Greek verb κραζω/krazo as “shout." It means to cry out in a demanding voice or shriek.
It describes an incredibly unpleasant and piercing noise. Think smoke detector. Bart refuses to be ignored. Like Alexander Hamilton, he’s not throwing away his shot.
He screams for help to the only One who really can help. His desperate cry that Jesus “have mercy” (Gr. ελεεω/eleeo) on him is a 9-1-1 call for compassion. Bart’s not asking the Lord if He has a moment. He’s howling as loudly as he can, “HELP ME, PLEASE!!!”
Will You PLEASE Shut up?!?
For folks in the crowd trying to get close to Christ, the blind guy’s shouts are getting under their skin. “‘Be quiet!’ many of the people yelled at him” (v48). The grammar in the original language lets us know that they don’t just tell him once, but over and over and over.
Put a sock in it, dude! Don’t bother Jesus! He’s got WAY more important stuff to do than talk to a bum like you!!
Pumping up the Volume
Instead of quieting down, Bart pumps up the volume. “But he only shouted louder, ‘Son of David, have mercy on me!’” (v48). I’m pretty sure this is what the guys in Spinal Tap would call “turning it up to 11.”
He screams the same thing one more time and doubles down on his desperate cry. Once again, Bartimaeus pleads for mercy from the Messiah. He knows that if Jesus is truly who he thinks He is, help is closer than it’s ever been.
Not out of His Way
The next thing you know, our Savior slams on the brakes. “When Jesus heard him, He stopped and said, ‘Tell him to come here’” (v49). The word the NLT translates as “tell” (Gr. φωνεω/phoneo) describes calling someone at a distance to come closer.
Despite a divine appointment with a Roman cross in Jerusalem (Mk 8:31; 9:30; 10:33-34), the Lord stops to talk to Bart. Jesus doesn’t go out of His way to help because helping people is never out of His way.
Couple of thoughts. First, is it out of your way to help somebody? Is my agenda so stinking important that I can’t take time for someone in trouble? Second, don’t make the mistake that the Lord has too much going on to be worried about you. He’s more than willing to drop what He’s doing to help. Just ask Him.
From “Shut up” to “Cheer up”
As soon as Jesus responds to Bart’s cry for help, the crowd’s attitude does a 180. “So they called the blind man. ‘Cheer up,’ they said. ‘Come on, He’s calling you!’” (v49).
They didn’t give a hoot about him until the Lord did. “Cheer up”? Just seconds before they’re telling him to shut up!
Bold and Daring
A couple of cool thoughts about the word translated here as “cheer up” (Gr. θαρσεω/tharseo). One, it means to be courageous, be bold, be daring, and have confidence. Funny how the crowd tells Bart to be bold…when he already was gutsy enough to call on the Christ for help.
Two, this Greek verb shows up a grand total of seven times in the 66 documents we call the Bible. Every other time we see it, Jesus is the one telling folks to bold and daring because of their faith in Him (Mt 9:2, 22; 14:27; Mk 6:50; Jn 16:33; Acts 23:11).
Chucking His Robe
Once the word gets to him, “Bartimaeus threw aside his coat, jumped up, and came to Jesus” (v50). Nobody had to tell this guy twice!
So why does Mark mention that Bart ditches his outer robe? Remember, he’s a beggar. His coat is one of few possessions. He’s willing to chuck it all in order to come to Christ!
What Do You Want Me to Do for You?
The blind man makes his way through the crowd. Can’t you picture the people guiding him in order to get to face to face with the Jesus? The buzz of anticipation builds. What’s the Miracle Worker going to do this time?!?
Jesus simply asks Bartimaeus, “What do you want Me to do for you?” (v51). The Lord opens the door for him to express His trust in who He is and what He can do. Forget getting three measly wishes from some genie. Imagine the Creator of the universe asking you how He can help!
Begging for Sight
Interestingly, this is the very same question He has just asked James and John (Mk 10:36). If you’ll remember, Christ didn’t give them the positions of power they wanted because they totally misunderstood His mission of servanthood.
Bart isn’t looking for anything like that. “‘My Rabbi,’ the blind man said, ‘I want to see!’” (v51). He wastes no time asking Jesus for the one thing he so desperately needs. He’s not begging for money. This time he’s begging for his sight.
Hanging onto a Promise
One of the prophesies about the coming Messiah is that He will be able to give sight to those who are blind (Is 61:1; Lk 4:18; 7:22). If you’re a visually disabled Jew, you can bet you’re hanging onto this promise with both hands.
Remember the analogy I proposed back in the beginning? You’re trapped alone inside your snow-covered and snowbound car on the side of the road. You can’t see. You can’t move.
Triple-A from the Trinity
Suddenly Someone with has come to your rescue. He taps on your door and asks how He can help. This is Triple-A straight from the Trinity!
Did the Son of God answer him immediately? Or was there a moment of silent anticipation to see what He would say? Bart and the crowd hold their breath waiting for Christ’s answer.
Your Faith Has Healed You
The Lord gives Bartimaeus the answer he’s been waiting years to hear. “And Jesus said to him, ‘Go, for your faith has healed you’” (v52).
Notice how Christ commends the beggar’s belief in Him and actually commands him to get moving. The crazy thing is that Bart could already see Jesus WAY better than anyone else in the
crowd…including the disciples!
The Object of Our Faith
It’s Bart’s trust in who Jesus is that cures his blindness. It’s NOT the strength of his faith which heals. It’s the strength of the OBJECT of his faith that does the trick. And it’s only faith in Jesus who provides the ultimate healing.
“Your faith has healed you.” Sound familiar? That’s because two other times our Savior heals using these very same words. There’s the woman with the long history of hemorrhage (Mt 9:22; Mk 5:34). And those ten men suffering from leprosy (Lk 17:19).
Mark’s Favorite Word
No surprise that it happens again here. “Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus down the road” (v52). Once again we see Mark drop his favorite word (Gr. ευθυς/euthus), one the author uses at least 40 times. The NLT translates it here as “instantly.”
In the blink of an eye, the Lord gives Bart physical vision to match the spiritual sight he already possessed. It’s an outward picture of what’s already happened to his soul.
Ready to Roll
Jesus doesn’t just wipe off his windshield but He clears every window. Now the man is no longer stuck on the side of the road. He sees clearly and is ready to roll!
After curing his blindness, Christ wishes Bart well and tells him to do whatever he wants. And what he wants to do is hang out with his Healer. “He followed Jesus down the road” (v52).
The Lord’s way became Bart’s way. This may seem obvious but when we follow Jesus, we go where He goes. We do what He does. We love whom He loves.
A Front Row Seat
Imagine what Bart would witness over the coming days! He’ll get a front row seat for Jesus’ ticker tape parade into Jerusalem (Mk 11:1-10) and all the stuff that follows during what we’ve come to call Passion Week.
Bart will see Christ clear the temple courts (Mk 11:15-19). He’ll watch as the Lord delivers some of the most powerful teaching of His earthly ministry (Mk 12:1-44). He’ll witness one of Jesus’ own team members will turn on Him (Mk 14:10-11, 43-49).
He’ll see with his own eyes Jewish leaders conspire with Roman authorities to arrest, torture, and murder Messiah (Mk 14:53-65; 15:1-39). And there’s a pretty good chance Bartimaeus is there behind the locked door in that upstairs room and witness our risen Savior making His surprise appearance (Lk 24:36-49; Jn 20:19-23).
Blind Spots
Jesus’ healing of the blind beggar named Bart is one of the most famous stories in the New Testament. But what does it have to do with those of us who follow Him today?
The fact of the matter is that every single one of us who have placed our trust in Christ still have blind spots. Oh, you don’t have any? Guess what. You do. You just don’t see them. That’s why they call them “blind spots.”
Opening Your Eyes
Let the Son of God open your eyes to the people all around you. See them as He sees them. Their hurts. Their hopes. Their pain. Their dreams.
He’ll also let you see yourself as He sees you. Tim Keller puts it like this. “We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus than we ever dared hope.”
Cleaning Your Windows
Allow the Lord to keep cleaning your windows. Ask Him to clear the obstructions. Only then can He point us in the direction we need to go.
That’s the point of David’s prayer at the end of Psalm 139. “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends You and lead me along the path of everlasting life” (Ps 139:23-34).
We can’t go anywhere until we can see. Just ask Bartimaeus.
©2019
Jay Jennings
