The Sight of the Blind

Legend has it that a blind person once asked St Anthony of Padua, “Can there be anything worse than losing your eyesight?” The saint’s simple response was, “Yes…losing your vision.”

Last time we looked at the story of Zacchaeus the tax-collector, and this week I thought we might look at another famous supporting actor in the life of Jesus, the blind man Bartimaeus. He is fairly unique as he is one of only a few people Jesus healed which we have a name for, and his name is a mixture of languages – meaning literally ‘Son of Timaeus’ a notably Greek name. This is how his story goes…

…as he left Jericho with his disciples and a large crowd, Bartimaeus (that is, the son of Timaeus), a blind beggar, was sitting at the side of the road.

Have you noticed that often Jesus is on his way to some place or has just left it when some encounter happens? Our lives can feel a little that way at times, but along the path, if we have sight – if we can see – the meaning of our journey might just be revealed, perhaps the journey might even be the purpose. God promises to meet us on the journey, wherever we may be – sometimes unexpectantly and sometimes when it is the last thing we want. There is still a time for all things, including sorrow and hardship, but always remember that from the toil of sowing comes the abundance of the harvest. God does not want to leave us behind. He wants to give us all the salvation that is promised to us. Bartimaeus was not about to be left behind either.

When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout and to say, “Son of David, Jesus, have pity on me.” And many of them scolded him and told him to keep quiet, but he only shouted the louder, “Son of David, have pity on me.”

The funny thing here is that it is the blind man who recognises Jesus for who he is – the son of David. The prophesy of the coming messiah clearly stated that he was to be from the house of David. So Bartimaeus, despite having no physical sight, still had a more deep, interior understanding of who this man Jesus was, and what he could do.  Even when scolded, rebuked, and hushed, he kept calling out, unwilling to stand back and be silent for something he knew he wanted to be a part of. His faith in Christ meant that he did not care what people thought, he didn’t worry if it was unpopular or that nobody else was doing it, he didn’t mind if he was singled out. He knew the truth, and this brought the desired response. 

Jesus stopped and said, “Call him here”. So, they called the blind man. “Courage,” they said, “get up; he is calling you.” So, throwing off his cloak, he jumped up and went to Jesus.

Jesus meets us on the journey but requires something from you in return – to come to him. It would be easier for Bartimaeus for Jesus to approach him, after all, he was blind. Yet, look at the response. On being beckoned, he immediately throws away his means of comfort and support to approach with ecstatic joy – jumping up in his enthusiasm. His cloak not only covered him, but it was traditionally the item of clothing where he would gather his charity from the people who supported him. He knew that everything was about to change, and he was more than willing to let this old life go by. Unlike the rich man, who could not give up his worldly possessions to follow Jesus, this man would. This was the level of his faith…to give up all he knew and to stumble forward blindly (literally in this case), fully focussed on the vision of the hope promised – a life of abundance, a life lived to the full. This would take courage…but he now knew he was called by name…and nothing was going to stop him.

Then Jesus spoke, “What do you want me to do for you?”

Arguably, one of the most obvious questions Jesus even asked – right! What do you think a blind man would want? Yet sometimes God just wants to hear it from our lips. He knows everything we want before we even ask, but he still want us to make that supplication. So, what would you want if Jesus stopped on the road, called you to him, and asked you the simple question, “What do you want me to do for you?” Pause for a moment on the immensity of this question!

“Rabbuni,” the blind man said to him “Master, let me see again”.

This blind man addresses Jesus as Rabbuni, the Aramaic form of Master or Teacher, and it is only used here and in John 20:16 when Mary of Magdala calls Jesus this when she finally recognises him after the resurrection – i.e. she recognises him as the risen Jesus, as the Son of God. What does this tell you about the ‘sight’ of Bartimaeus?

Of course, Bartimaeus wants to be healed of his blindness. After a moment or two, he states clearly, “let me see again”. He had already shown insight greater than most of those who had seen Jesus with their own two eyes, who had followed him and listen to him speak many times. When Jesus would appear after the resurrection to the doubting Thomas, he would offer his hands and side for Thomas to touch and believe. He then said to him, “You believe because you can see me. Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe.”

Bartimaeus’ story is one of irony. Physically unable to see, he was completely aware of the true reality hidden from those who walk through this world with a deeper more pervasive blindness. A blindness of love, compassion, kindness, hope, joy. A blindness of faith. Sight would allow him to see and interact with this world but would not give him the ability to see and believe.

Jesus said to him, “Go; your faith has saved you”. And immediately his sight returned, and he followed him along the road. 

Yes, Jesus cured his blindness, but the sight that was restored was beyond the physical. What is revealed to him makes Bartimaeus become a follower Jesus.

This invitation and revelation are constantly being offered to us – God forever calls to His people to come to him. So, when we make our journey to Jesus and he asks the same of us, I pray that we too ask to see, to cure the blindness of our minds, hearts and souls, and then follow Him. Yet the question remains – would we have faith enough to save ourselves if asked by Jesus, “what do you want?”

Dr Nathan Leber