Blind Bartimaeus

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"Jesus of Nazareth is passing by" (RSV, Luke 18:37)

For how many years Blind Bartimaeus had taken up his pitch each morning outside the gates of Jericho we do not know.  On this particular day, which was to be the most memorable of his life, he would have got there early because it was Passover time and Jericho was astride the pilgrims’ route to Jerusalem from the north.  From the large crowds passing through he would be able to beg enough to keep him going when times were hard.

His blindness had sharpened his sense of hearing so that he could distinguish and interpret varying footsteps and tones of voice.  So it was that as the sounds of the passers-by flowed before him, he picked up a new note of excitement in an unusually large body of pilgrims approaching the city gate.  He raised his sightless eyes and asked what it meant, and two or three answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by”.


Jesus of Nazareth!  He had heard of him and thought of him as he sat there begging, weary day after weary day.  The news of Jesus’s astounding miracles had convinced him that Jesus was the Messiah, the Saviour-King of the line of David whom all awaited; convinced him too that if ever he was to receive his sight it was from Jesus that he would receive it.

At once, therefore, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”  (RSV, Luke 18:38).  It was not so easy, however, to get hold of Our Lord because those at the front of the crowd roughly told him to be quiet.  But Bartimaeus knew that it was now or never and he shouted at the top of his voice in an effort to make himself heard above all opposition.

Directly Jesus heard him, he stopped and called for him to be brought; whereupon Bartimaeus flung off his cloak so that nothing would hinder him, and came forward unaided (Mark, 10:49-50).  “What do you want me to do for you?” asked Jesus.  And he said, “Lord, let me receive my sight”.  And Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has made you well”.  “And immediately he received his sight and followed him, glorifying God…” (RSV, Luke 18:41-43).


For a long time Jesus had been little more than a name to Bartimaeus – and that, of course, had made no difference at all to the blind man.  It was only when Jesus stepped into his life as an actual person that his blindness was cured.  Even then it was a near thing, because Jesus passed Bartimaeus but once.  When he left Jericho that day, he never returned.

It may be that he steps into our life but once, and confronts us with the choice whether we will have him or not.  And even if he comes more than once, who can tell if he will ever pass our way again?

Until, however, we have made that effort of the will, and have at last made up our minds that our relationship with him is going to be all important, we are still blind to the true state of our real selves.  However much we may have heard about Christ, until our hearts are touched, and our wills jolted into action, we are still blind, blind to him and sitting by the wayside of life.


And then something happens, something which forces on us the choice – of a new kind of life altogether with Christ, or of making do without him.  It may be the revival of some influence from days gone by, or some trouble that brings one to the end of one’s resources.  But whatever form it takes, even then there may be many obstacles in our way.

Voices may be raised in protest, in opposition, in ridicule.  Pressure will be brought to bear on us to disregard the unconditional claims of Christ on ourselves and our lives.  Old sins, old temptations, the old fatal lethargy will bring forward plenty of reasons for keeping him at a safe and undisturbing distance.


And all the time he will not force himself upon us.  He requires from us that decisive turning of the heart and mind without which he continues to pass by until he has gone.

That has always been his way.  When on the Lake of Galilee he came walking on the water towards his disciples, he would have passed by them: only when they cried out did he stop and turn (Mark 6:48-50).

Again, after his Resurrection, as he walked with two disciples on the road to Emmaus, he ”appeared to be going further” until they constrained him, saying “Stay with us…” RSV, Luke 24:28,29).


But once we have asked him to take over our hearts and lives and have opened our inmost being to him unconditionally, then we see him as though for the first time.  With Job, we say, “I had heard of thee by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees thee…” (RSV, Job 42:5).  

So, when Bartimaeus threw aside his cloak and came forward, then in response to that action his blindness was cured and he found himself looking straight into the face of Christ.  Something similar happened at supper at Emmaus.  After the two disciples had invited Jesus to stay with them, then “…their eyes were opened and they recognized him…” (RSV, Luke 24:31).

That moment of spiritual recognition of Our Blessed Lord ushers in a close personal relationship with him, no less close, no less personal than if we actually saw him with our physical sight.  St Peter describes this relationship with Jesus Christ: “Without having seen him you love him; though you do not now see him you believe in him and rejoice…” (RSV, 1 Peter 1:8).


Such a relationship is the inner spiritual counterpart of Bartimaeus gladly following Jesus, glorifying God.  From then on one’s life is lived with Christ and ultimately for Christ.  Every temptation surmounted is surmounted as a proof of our love for him; every act of obedience is a personal offering of ourselves to him.

Such then is the choice which this life presents: to remain by the wayside of the world, absorbed in its cares and attractions: or, when Jesus of Nazareth passes by, to brush aside all opposition, to shake free from all hindrances, and to rise and follow in the way that leads to Jerusalem on high.