Reflection on Mark 10:46-52 "Blind Dude receives His Sight"

“In faith there is enough light for those who want to believe and enough shadows to blind those who don’t.” (Blaise Pascal)

“Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (that is, the Son of Timaeus), was sitting by the roadside begging.” (Mark 10:46NIV)

The name Bartimaeus is combination of the Aramaic word bar (“son”) and the Greek term timaeus (“the honorable one”). And do you know where was this “Son of the honorable one” sitting? “By the roadside”! Occupation? Full-time beggar! Physical feature? Blind! Try to understand, during Jesus’s time, the presence of blind beggars like Bartimaeus on a roadside outside the city gates was a common sight in that day, as common as you see beggars along Pasar Seni and Petaling Street nowadays.


Bartimaeus had heard about Jesus of Nazareth and he knew that this prophet had performed many miracles, which include giving sight to the blind. If there was reality TV Show going on, He could be on the top lists of Jerusalem idol. His miracles may appear in Jerusalem Got Talents. And His pictures maybe the highlight of Jerusalem’s Times newspaper every week (especially during festival weeks!). No wonder Bartimaeus heard the voices of a crowd coming toward him as they talk about Jesus.

“When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he begin to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” (Mark 10:47-48)

 Bartimaeus understood that his opportunity to receive sight had come. In his mind, (because he can’t see) Jesus was none other than the Messiah. About 7 centuries earlier, the prophet Isaiah had prophesied that when the Messiah, the Son of God come, He would give sight to the blind. Desperately want to have Jesus’s attention, he calling Him over and over again. Just like my little cousin, who want his father to buy him a toy, refused to be silent and continued to ‘protest’ in front of the store. So it was with Bartimaeus, he call on Jesus for help and never gives up.

“Jesus stopped and said, ‘Call him.’ So they called the blind man, ‘Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.’ Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus. ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ Jesus asked him. The blind man said, ‘Rabbi, I want to see.’” (Mark 10:49-51NIV)

Jesus responds was expected but His question was outstanding. Mind you, His question was not like the Genie in the Bottle, in obedience-and-slave-kind of attitude, but Jesus’ “What do you want me to do for you?” was a question from a Master, slave to none, but out of love for His people. Bartimaeus had common answer for a blind man but never asked by anyone before said, “Rabbi (mean teacher), I want to see.” Then the Son of David, the Messiah, He who named is Jesus of Nazareth replied,

“Go,’ said Jesus, ‘your faith has healed you.’ Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.” (Mark 10:52)

Bartimaeus was healed. His eyes could see again. From darkness to light! From black void to blue sky, white clouds and green grass! From blindness to sight! His begging days had come to an end. He was healed because of his faith in Jesus, the Messiah, who had fulfilled the Scriptural prophecies of the old.

What can we learned from this?

 As for me, what speaks through the Word as I read and contemplate on it is that I learned to believe that through persistent calling on Jesus, He never turned away people who came to him in faith and perseverance. More than demonstrated to the crowd that He indeed was the Messiah, He proved that he is able to heal both physical (Indirectly through today’s medical knowledge, instruments, and prescriptions) and spiritual blindness (through His Word and the working of the Holy Spirit) for He is and remains the Savior of the World.

THINK BIG Jesus is more than a prophet.

START SMALL Take a small step of Faith in Him day by day.

GO DEEP When you ‘heard’ the Presence of God coming toward you by ‘the roadside’ of your life, call Him in Faith and Perseverance, He’ll gives you sight!