Like Blind Bartimaeus
I’m confident God delights to hear and answer my prayers.

The next time you see a blind beggar sitting on the sidewalk, clutching his belongings with one hand and holding out a cup in the other, stop for a minute. Say hello, introduce yourself, ask his name, give him a couple dollars, and tell him the story of blind Bartimaeus. Then ask the man what he’d like Jesus to do and say a prayer. You’ll never be the same.

Scripture doesn’t tell us why Bartimaeus was blind—perhaps he lost his sight after a tragic accident. It doesn’t even tell us his first name—we just know he was the son of Timaeus and was sitting alongside the road with another blind man (Matthew 20:30) when he heard Jesus was coming!
Bartimaeus was desperate for a miracle and started shouting at the top of his lungs, “Jesus, Son of David, Messiah, have mercy!” The crowds yelled back, telling Bartimaeus to be quiet, but the beggar only shouted louder, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

Interestingly, Jesus doesn’t answer Bartimaeus. Instead, he commands the crowd: “Tell him to come here.” In response to Jesus’ command, Bartimaeus throws aside his coat—something a blind man would never do—and rushes toward the sound of Jesus’ voice. He knows exactly what he wants Jesus to do for him and believes—without a shadow of doubt—that his prayer of a lifetime is about to be answered!

Like Bartimaeus, you and I may find ourselves praying week after week, month after month, year after year, for God to answer one of our most heartfelt prayers. Let’s never stop asking (Matthew 7:7). Instead, with great confidence, let’s step out in faith and depend on the Lord’s answer.

FURTHER STUDY: Read further in Mark's gospel (10:46-53)

Detail from painting by Rosso Fiorentino, c. 1521

back

This excerpt is from the Living Faith™ Bible (Tyndale House Publishers)
Copyright © 2003, 2000 David and Renée Sanford