The gospel text this week is from Mark 10:46-52. There is so much here in this text, so much to learn. What I find interesting is that the crowd, and the disciples were “following Jesus” but not really following Jesus. Had they been following Jesus, they would have stopped and cared for the blind beggar Bartimaeus.
Christians today have that same problem. We want to gaze at Jesus and be next to Him. But following Jesus means that we see, hear, and do. And this passage challenges us to do.
Below is the text in the New Living Translation
Jesus Heals Blind Bartimaeus
Then they reached Jericho, and as Jesus and his disciples left town, a large crowd followed him. A blind beggar named Bartimaeus (son of Timaeus) was sitting beside the road. When Bartimaeus heard that Jesus of Nazareth was nearby, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
“Be quiet!” many of the people yelled at him.
But he only shouted louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
When Jesus heard him, he stopped and said, “Tell him to come here.”
So they called the blind man. “Cheer up,” they said. “Come on, he’s calling you!” Bartimaeus threw aside his coat, jumped up, and came to Jesus.
“What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked.
“My Rabbi,” the blind man said, “I want to see!”
And Jesus said to him, “Go, for your faith has healed you.” Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus down the road.
