The Blind Bartimaeus

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Article • The blind Bartimaeus

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The blind Bartimaeus In Mark 10:46 we read: Mark 10:46 «Now they came to Jericho. As He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the road begging.» Who knows how many years was Bartimaeus blind. Most probably all his life. For all his life without any visual contact with the environment, he was sitting there, by the road, begging. For sure, he must have heard what Jesus did to other blind men and how they received their sight. Really, how much he must have longed to be one of those that would meet Him. And he was: Mark 10:47 «And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, HE BEGAN TO CRY OUT AND SAY, «JESUS, SON OF DAVID, HAVE MERCY ON ME!»« «Jesus, have mercy on me» Bartimaeus cried out. «Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks» says the Scripture (Matthew 12:34). You will not cry out to the Lord when your heart is closed to Him. The voice - its tone, sound, content - reflects the heart. Bartimaeus was longing for the Lord, and the Lord was there. The others started murmuring: «Why Bartimaeus makes so much noise?» However, he was no longer listening to them: Mark 10:48 «Then many warned him to be quiet; but he cried out ALL THE MORE, «Son of David, have mercy on me!»«

Bartimaeus was desperately looking for the Lord. He would cry out to Him, till he was heard. And Jesus heard him. Bartimaeus' cry made Him to stay still. A whole multitude was following Him, but the cry of this blind beggar was so valuable to Him. It was like He was looking for it. So He stood still and called him: Mark 10:49-51 «So Jesus STOOD STILL and commanded him to be called. Then they called the blind man saying to him, «Be of good cheer. Rise, He is calling you.» And throwing aside the garment, he rose and came to Jesus. So Jesus answered and said to him, «What do you want me to do for you?»« The Lord stands still at the cry of those that call Him. For Him, each and every soul is very valuable, regardless of color, race or position. He does not look at names and titles but at human hearts and all, without any exception, need Him the same. Till they meet Him they are blind, and all that meet Him, receive their sight. As Acts 26:18 says Acts 26:18 «to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God» Only the Lord can give the light of life. Only the appointment with Him can make a soul to receive its sight, and only his dwelling at a man's heart can make it alive and bright. Turning to Bartimaeus: Mark 10:51 «The blind man said to Him, «Rabboni, that I may receive my sight.» Then Jesus said to him, «Go your way; your faith has made you well.» And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road»

Bartimaeus could have one thousand doubts about calling on the Lord («what the people will say; I should first ask the priests to tell me what they believe about this Jesus; O, it is OK here; at least I survive»). However, do you know what the result would be? HE WOULD STAY BLIND FOREVER. Jesus will not heal all the blind but only the blind that want to receive their sight and thus cry out to Him. He passes by you. You can stay trapped in your thoughts and reasonings. You can think about it as long as you want and doubt if you desire. But my friend, you know what? You are going to stay BLIND forever. If you don't cry to the Lord YOUR soul - your own soul will never receive its sight, and not only that but you will never have a part in the eternal life. Because, when the Lord was passing by you you didn't invite Him; you didn't open the door to Him. Instead, you locked yourself in the chains of your pride and egoism and…. you were thinking about it. So, go ahead. Break these chains!! What is the good they gave you? CRY OUT AS THE BLIND BARTIMAEUS: JESUS SON OF GOD, HAVE MERCY ON ME. Then the Lord Jesus Christ will stop for you, yes for you personally, as he stopped for Bartimaeus. He will stop and give you what you so much need: THE LIGHT OF LIFE John 1:9-13 «That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. He was in the world and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, TO THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN HIS NAME: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God» Tassos Kioulachoglou