He had been sitting by the roadside all his life begging for the tossing of a coin or two in his direction.  One day things changed for the blind man.  He heard that Jesus was coming and he got very excited.  This would be better than any coin toss!  He began to call out for mercy.  The crowd tried to muzzle him, but he was vehement and cried out more intensely.  Jesus stopped and spoke directly, face to face, eye to eye…”What do you want me to do for you?”  (Mark 10:51). Bartimaeus answered, “I want to see.”  Bartimaeus knew.

(“Mixed Media Portraits” by Pam Carriker)

Jesus said to Bartimaeus, “Your faith has made you well.”  I have always been fascinated with this story.  In the midst of a crowd that could not see Jesus as their Savior, Blind Bartimaeus had eyes to see the truth, the power, the hope of the Christ in our midst.  The Greek word for “made well” in the healing voice of Jesus is “made whole”, or salvation.

The following quote is from “Earth’s Echo” by Robert M. Hanna…

Bartimaeus opened his eyes and followed Jesus.

The last several years of his life my Dad had macular degeneration.  His eyesight waned but his vitality did not.  Yet one day I caught a glimpse of him trying to read a plaque that was hanging on the wall in my home.  He leaned in quite close and tilted his head so he might be able to see out of the corner of his eye.  I heard him softly, slowly, carefully reading the words…

A tear came.  I smiled.  SO TRUE!

Pondering…

What do you want to see?

nk