Jesus Provides New Clothes                                                                                                     D - 3

 

As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city (Jericho), a blind man, Bartimaeus (that is, Son of Timaeus), was sitting by the roadside begging.  When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began 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!”  Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” 

So they called to 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.” 

“Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.”  Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.

Mark 10:46-52 (NIV)

 

Jericho was an important city in the time of Jesus.  And on that day, there was a large crowd surrounding Jesus, looking, wondering, hoping, searching.  But not everyone who wanted to see him was able to; some could only pass the day begging by the side of the road, outside the city, far from all the action, feeling that they were far outside God’s reach, touch, and notice.  Like Bartimaeus.

We can assume that this blind man knew about Jesus, and knew that if the opportunity ever presented itself, he would jump at the chance and make the most of it.  He, more than the religious leaders, knew in his heart who Jesus was, and he saw Jesus with eyes of faith.

Imagine how loud that beggar must have been shouting to get attention, because the crowd itself was so boisterous!  A smelly, nameless, ignorant, useless failure of a man, reduced to begging for bread outside the city.  At first glance it seemed that he didn’t have much going for him; but then Jesus passed by.  Note the exclamation points used in the text; you can almost sense his urgency and determination, as well as his discernment and faith.

Note one other part of the story, easily overlooked.  When he got up to go to Jesus, he was seen “throwing his cloak aside”.  Why?  It was a sign, small but important, of him wanting to get rid of his old ways, the hopelessness, the depression, the darkness.  His old smelly, tattered, torn cloak represented that life, and he wanted a new life!  He came ready for a miracle!

Sometimes we can also feel like we are outside the city where Jesus is active, feeling unnoticed, obscure, blind, almost swallowed up by the crowd.  But even now Jesus is walking by, knowing what you and I need.  Stand up, ask him to be with you, and let him exchange hopelessness for the great expectations that he has for you. 

 

1) It says that many people in that crowd rebuked the blind man and told him to keep quiet.  How must they have felt about him?    

2) But how did Jesus feel about him? 

3) When he heard others telling him to be quiet, what did he do?  What does this tell us about his determination? 

4) Jesus asked this man what he wanted.  How much faith did the man have? 

5) How fast was the response of Jesus to the man’s request? 

6) How long might he have followed Jesus? 

7) If you asked Jesus, would He hear and help you like He did with this blind man?