Mark 10:46-52 New International Version (NIV)
Blind Bartimaeus Receives His Sight 46 Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (which means “son of Timaeus”), was sitting by the roadside begging. 47 When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48 Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 49 Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” 50 Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus. 51 “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him. The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.” 52 “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.
Thursday - March 25
Jesus is still on his journey to Jerusalem with his disciples. A blind man hears that Jesus is passing by and cries out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” He has obviously heard about the great things that Jesus has done and that Jesus is someone important. “Son of David” was a statement of honor and hope. Could Jesus be the Messiah, the promised descendant of King David? The disciples did not want to stop and talk to a blind beggar on the side of the road, but now Jesus illustrates through his actions what he had been teaching. He stops and has blind Bartimaeus brought to him. Notice that Jesus asks the same question of Bartimaeus that he asked of James and John a few verses earlier in Mark 10:36, “What do you want me to do for you?” He does not want glory, honor, power, or success. He wants mercy and healing. He desires that God would notice him in his need and take pity on him. He desires that Jesus would bless him and Jesus does!
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