I loved being young and adventurous. I still have it in me these days, but there was something new and fresh back then…you could dream and imagine and think about things that were to come. I loved to believe that there were genies that lived in bottles and you could rub that bottle and poof, out comes a beautiful genie that has the ability to grant three wishes! If only I could get my hands on one of those magic bottles! Unfortunately, I grew up and the blurry line between fiction and reality was more defined. But what if you were granted one huge enormous wish to better your situation? What would you wish for? Some of you are already thinking that you would wish for a thousand more wishes. Isn’t that always what we chose as kids?

Let’s take a look at a story found in the gospels. It’s about a man who was poor, destitute, alone, and not respected by those around him. He was a beggar; but not just any beggar, he was a blind beggar! His name was Bartimaeus. He had nothing by worldly definition; however, he possessed something no one in the crowd had: a deep knowledge about the Son of David. This blind beggar had a faith that worked!

The account begins in Mark 10:46-52 as Jesus and his disciples are leaving Jericho. Blind Bartimaeus, is along the side of the road attentively listening to the ruckus that is being generated all around him from a large crowd coming his way. Instantly, all of this blind man’s physical senses are sparked. The minute his ears tune in and he becomes aware that it’s Jesus who is passing by; he literally begins to scream out with all he has. The original language and terminology used here in the Greek tells us that he screams out with a loud emotional animal cry. This makes most of the people in the crowd very uncomfortable. Can you picture the scene? A large crowd of over 1,000 people and a blind beggar trying to get the attention of Jesus who is passing by. Yelling out the name of Jesus was common, but this man takes it to another level. He knew his cry for Jesus was a life or death kind of outburst and he couldn’t afford to care what anybody thought. The people show their disdain for his behavior by shouting back to him to keep quiet because Jesus doesn’t have time for him.

Let’s consider the attitude of the blind beggar, Bartimaeus, and apply it to our own life. While scorners mocked him, he was unwilling to be silent. When they yelled at him, “Jesus doesn’t have time for you, blind beggar!” he cried out to the Lord even louder. This blind man had more tenacity than 100 men put together with an unbeatable determination. What if we were Bartimaeus? Looked upon as a nobody from everyone around us, insulted and passed over our entire life…would we feel intimidated and unworthy? Easily silenced? Or would we feel courageous and bold knowing what we knew about Jesus, that He could heal the blind, cause the lame to walk, deliver a soul from addiction, or give direction to the lost through his touch of forgiveness?

What’s so astonishing to me is that the blind beggar, Bartimaeus, didn’t let the crowd keep him from Jesus. The Bible says in verses 47- 48 that the blind beggar screamed out even louder! “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.” Oh my goodness, my heart feels for this guy! A seemingly nobody and yet, in the eyes of Jesus, more worthy than the entire crowd following him. For him to use this messianic term, “Son of David,” showed he had knowledge that Jesus was the one sent from heaven above. He knew this Jesus could change his life instantly. He was persuaded that if he could catch the attention of this merciful man who was sent by God as he passed by, he could experience an unbelievable transformation in his life. The beauty of this passage is that nothing and no one was going to get in the way of himself and Jesus! Bartimaeus has a grand expectation about what Jesus can do for him.

What about us? Do we have this same kind of attitude and tenacity that puts Jesus right at our side always in our time of need? Are we pursuing Jesus with a boldness that cannot be quenched? You know there will be people who will try to pull you down, attempt to silence you from what is right, and try to keep you from loving and serving Christ. Don’t let anything get between you and Jesus, the Son of David! He is the Christ who can bring you from where you are in life to where you know you need to be and it’s only possible because He is able to do so. All you need is faith like the blind beggar and the unstoppable attitude that says nothing is going to get between me and Jesus!

Let’s look at the rest of this story. Jesus heard the man. Even amidst the crowd and the noise, Jesus heard the desperate cry of someone hurting and in need (And even today, Jesus hears the cries of the lonely, the outcast, and the broken; he hears you). Jesus turned to the man, stood still, and asked Bartimaeus, “What do you want me to do for you? What is your request?” Here was this beggar’s one time shot at asking the right question at the right time. He could have asked for new clothes, a bag of money, friends to help him along life’s dark path. But instead he asked for just one thing of the Son of David. “Rabbi, I want to see.” And here’s the best part… Jesus says, “Go! Your faith has healed you.” Wow, the word here for healed is derived from the Greek word, “sozo.” It implies to be saved AND healed at the same time. In other words, to be made whole. The faith of this blind beggar has brought him into the very presence of Jesus. Immediately, his eyes are opened and he is standing face to face before the greatest one on earth. I can see his tears, I feel his joy, I sense his love, I can picture him falling down at the feet of Jesus and crying out in deep gratitude that will last him a lifetime. Oh, if we could do the same.

Are you willing to scream out to Jesus right now? No holding back, even when the world is draining you, telling Jesus right now your needs, your addictions, those temptations that keep coming, and your fears. Then expressing to him how much you love him, thanking him for the great salvation you received when you called out to Him while you were lost, blind, and a sinner now saved by His miraculous grace.

“…And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.”

Dear Jesus, I love you. Heal me, see me, touch me, feel me, save me I pray. Let me grow in my faith in you like blind Bartimaeus. Let my faith bring me into your presence so I might be healed and freed from my darkness. Amen.