Let Me Recover My Sight



Mark 10:46–52
46 And they came to Jericho. And as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside. 47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48 And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 49 And Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart. Get up; he is calling you.” 50 And throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. 51 And Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” And the blind man said to him, “Rabbi, let me recover my sight.” 52 And Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way.

As Jesus makes the trip south into Jerusalem for His Passion, he has to pass through the region of Jericho. On that road, he is approached by “Blind Bartimaeus”. Bartimaeus calls out over and over, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” This is the only time in the Gospel of Mark that Jesus is called “Son of David”. We already know that Jesus is the Son of David, the One who sits eternally on the Throne of God, but the usage of that name by Bartimaeus tells us more about Bartimaeus than it does about Jesus.

Clearly, Bartimaeus is a Jewish man who believes that Jesus is the promised Messiah. With this title, we find a man who has faith. Jesus recognizes that faith and heals Bartimaeus. I am struck by the words that Bartimaeus speaks to Jesus. “Rabbi, let me recover my sight.” That resounds through my spirit. I am aware that the world and my own proclivities often dim my spiritual sight. There is an encouragement here to examine what causes those spiritual blinders to snap into position. When I allow them free reign, it doesn’t take long and suddenly, I’m plunged back into shades of darkness. Our only useful response must be “Rabbi, let me recover my sight.” But praise be to God, Jesus is always prepared to restore my sight and send me back out on my way.

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