Jesus and a blind beggar named Bartimaeus
(From the Gospel of Mark, Chapter 10, verses 46-52)
One day Jesus and his friends were visiting people in a town named Jericho. Jericho was a dusty, hot place that was full of life. As Jesus and his friends walked around, they heard people talking, dogs barking, donkeys braying, roosters crowing, and children laughing. They saw women selling bright-colored cloth – all the colors of the rainbow! They saw men selling animals and vegetables. They saw children playing together.
Jesus saw a mother pick up her little boy when he got too tired to walk. He saw a man help his grandmother pick out food for dinner that evening. Everywhere he looked, Jesus saw people helping one another, working with one another, keeping one another company, and enjoying one another's company. And as he stopped to talk with the people he met, word began to spread through town that Jesus was visiting!
"Look!" someone said. "It's Jesus, the carpenter from Nazareth, the one who has been teaching and healing people."
"There he is!" said someone else. "Do you see him? They say he knows God in a special way. Do you think he could be the leader we have been waiting for? Could he be our next king, anointed by God, like King David?"
Jesus heard what the people were saying to each other. On his way out of town, he heard one more person shout, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me! Jesus, please!"
It was Bartimaeus, the blind beggar, who sat on the edge of the road that led in and out of Jericho. Bartimaeus was hoping that someone would throw him some money or food. But nobody wanted to be with Bartimaeus. Bartimaeus was filthy. The dust of the road covered him. The heat of the day had made him all sweaty. He was a mess!
"Be quiet, Bartimaeus!" someone yelled. "Don't bother Jesus!"
This made Bartimaeus cry out even louder. "Have mercy on me Jesus. Please, Jesus, I beg you: show me some kindness."
Jesus turned to a couple of his friends and said quietly, "Bring him to me."
They went to Bartimaeus. "Take heart," they told the dirty beggar. "Jesus is calling you. Come!"
This was the best news that Bartimaeus had heard in a long, long time. He got up, threw off his cloak, and came to Jesus quickly.
Jesus looked at Bartimaeus. He laid his hands on Bartimaeus' shoulders. "What do you want me to do for you?" he asked.
Bartimaeus didn't have to even think about his answer. "My teacher, let me see again," he told Jesus.
Jesus said to him, "Go. Your faith has made you well."
Immediately, Bartimaeus could see. And from that day on, the beggar followed Jesus wherever Jesus went.
Questions to think and pray about:
Have you ever been dirty and sweaty? How did people treat you?
I wonder what Bartimaeus saw when he looked at Jesus.
I wonder what Bartimaeus saw as he followed Jesus.
Do you know someone who might like to know about Jesus? What could you do to help that person begin to know Jesus as a friend?
What would you say if Jesus asked you, "What do you want me to do for you?"