Mark 10:46 – Then they reached Jericho, and as Jesus and his disciples left town, a large crowd followed him. A blind beggar named Bartimaeus (son of Timaeus) was sitting beside the road. 47 When Bartimaeus heard that Jesus of Nazareth was nearby, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”  48 “Be quiet!” many of the people yelled at him.  But he only shouted louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”  49 When Jesus heard him, he stopped and said, “Tell him to come here.” So they called the blind man. “Cheer up,” they said. “Come on, he’s calling you!” 50 Bartimaeus threw aside his coat, jumped up, and came to Jesus.

51 “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked.  “My rabbi,” the blind man said, “I want to see!”   52 And Jesus said to him, “Go, for your faith has healed you.” Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus down the road. (NLT)

Today we have two lessons in one from this familiar, but powerful, passage of Scripture.  First, let’s consider the crowds who came out to see Jesus.  While we are told that they followed Jesus, I believe that for many it was nothing more than curiosity.  If they really ‘followed’ Jesus, then they would have done everything they could have done to get Bartimaeus to Jesus.  In Mark, chapter two, we are told of some ‘followers’ of Jesus who were so determined to bring their paralyzed friend to Jesus that they dug a hole in the roof and lowered their friend to him (Mark 2:4).  In this passage, we are told that the followers of Jesus yelled at Bartimaeus, telling him to be quiet.  In other words, they came to see Jesus, not to be bothered with someone who was in need.

I believe that when Christians refuse to be bothered by others in need, we are more blind than Bartimaeus!  When we refuse to recognize the human need that surrounds us, we are no longer ‘following’ Jesus.  When we fail to see that serving others is serving God, we have become merely a fan of Jesus, not a follower. 

The second lesson – do you find it just a bit curious that Jesus asks Bartimaeus what he wanted Jesus to do for him!  I mean, come on Jesus, he’s blind!  Yet, Jesus asks for a reason.  If we would truly see as Jesus would have us see, then our lives would radically change.  Jesus does give Bartimaeus his sight, and note what Bartimaeus does: “Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus down the road.” I’ve often wondered just how far down that road Bartimaeus followed.  Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem, and to the cross.  Did Bartimaeus follow him all the way to the cross?  In my mind I like to picture Bartimaeus bringing all the blind and sick people he could find to Jesus.  I like to picture him actually ‘following’ Jesus, and not behaving as the crowd in Jericho.

I don’t know how far Bartimaeus followed Jesus, but I do know how far Jesus wants us to follow.  Jesus wants us to follow all the way to the cross, the place where we crucify our worldly desires.  Jesus wants us to bring to him all who are in need.  Jesus does not want us to be a fan of his, but rather a follower.

Today, let’s follow Jesus!  Today, let’s truly see who needs to be seen.  Today, let’s bring others to Jesus. 

Posted by Ramón Torres