Apparently, blind Bartimaeus heard about Jesus but had never encountered him up until the incident recorded in our text. He persisted in shouting to Jesus even though the crowd tried to discourage him. After he called out twice to the Lord, he caught the attention of Jesus who instructed the man to be brought to him. Jesus asked a most profound question. “What will you that I should do to you?”
The crowd that was hovering around Jesus try to discourage the blind man. Isn’t that true of those who claim they follow Jesus but are instrumental in discouraging others to follow him? They may have good intentions. That was insufficient for the needs of the beggar. They tried to save face by telling him that Jesus called. Theirs was halfhearted good news.
When Bartimaeus was told that Jesus called for him, he threw off is beggar garment. He rose. He came to Jesus. Immediately, this is a beautiful image. We all must be willing to throw off our former garments before we can rise, before we can go to Jesus. The old life must be abandoned. The new life awaits in the groping toward Christ.
Jesus replied to the man’s call, “what do you want me to do to you?” Without hesitation, he said, “ Lord, that I might receive my sight.” Think of the reply that this man could have given Jesus! He could have asked that he did have to beg anymore. He could’ve asked for a luxurious lifestyle catered by others. In a vengeful attitude, he could have asked that a curse be placed on those who did not help him. But none of these things were true. He was hyper focused on what truly mattered. As we pray, let us sort out those things that are trivial or distracting so that we seek the Lord for what really matters.
Three things consequently happened. Jesus told him to go his way. However, the text says that instead he followed Jesus. He did not seek to be the center of attention. He did not go away satisfied physically. He valued his healing so much that he asked point-blank without hesitation and when he received it, he was compelled to follow Jesus, not going to his own destination. His way became Jesus’ way. Jesus’ way became his one way. (John 15:7) As a result, the people praised God.
When we seek God’s favor, we must have specific things in mind without praying in generalities. We must be willing to throw off our old life because the new life of sight cannot tolerate the old ways. Our following of Jesus must be a natural consequence of having been with him. There is no middle-of-the-road, there are not both sides of the street. Either we are serving him or we are not. Either we surrender to him or not. Either we have turned away from the old life or not. His reply to Jesus indicated a willingness for not just having sight but for becoming a new person in Christ.
Christian Writer 