Pure Desperate Faith
Mark 10:46-52
Message #39
I think this is our fifth message in Mark Chapter 10 because this is a power-packed chapter. But listen, I want us to hear this again.
In this Gospel, Mark (by the Holy Spirit) puts events together (he orders them together) in order to tell a story – or get a critical truth across. It’s been true already once in this chapter in the contrast between how a child approaches Jesus versus how a rich person approaches Jesus.
And Mark started another “contrast teaching” last week in our message titled “Selfish Ambition.” Today, we see the second half – the “other shoe drops” half of the life-changing truth that Mark set us up for last message. These two messages together provide a stark contrast between selfish ambition and pure desperate faith.
One scholar, (James Edwards), who has focused on teaching Mark in seminary for many years says,
James Edwards
The healing of Bartimaeus is surely the sum and center of all that Mark desires to convey about faith and discipleship.
So, this is not just another healing “because Jesus is compassionate” story, and we will really see that as we contrast today’s text with the message from last week.
Last week, Jesus was on the road headed toward Jerusalem and the Cross. Today Jesus (and the crowd with him) reach Jericho and leave Jericho, the last city between Jesus and the Triumphal Entry.
Mark 10:46 (NLT)
46 Then they reached Jericho, and as Jesus and his disciples left town, a large crowd followed him . . .
Jericho is twenty miles and 3,500 feet in elevation below Jerusalem, and it is the last city before you go up to Jerusalem. It is also the last miracle that Mark records in his Gospel. So, this is it in the traveling ministry of Jesus. Next week is the Triumphal Entry and the beginning of Passion Week.
And a large crowd is now following Jesus because the fame of Jesus is at its peak. In the next section, this crowd will be shouting, “Hosanna!” and spreading palm fronds out for him.
So, Jesus and the large crowd following him are leaving Jericho, heading up to Jerusalem, and then Mark 10:46(b) says,
Mark 10:46(b) (NLT)
46 . . . A blind beggar named Bartimaeus (which means) (son of Timaeus) was sitting beside the road.
Bartimaeus is the only person healed by Jesus in Matthew, Mark, and Luke, whose name is recorded in the Word of God, which would typically mean something memorable is about to happen.
So, “Blind Bartimaeus” was sitting beside the road, probably with his cloak spread out, and people would throw a small coin or piece of bread to them as they walked by.
So, Bartimaeus is sitting beside the road. He’s on the outside. He’s on the fringe of what’s happening. He’s sidelined from society.
But one thing we quickly learn about Blind Bartimaeus; although he had 0/0 physical sight, he had 20/20 spiritual sight. We see it in his excitement when he hears Jesus is passing by.
Mark 10:47 (NLT)
47 When Bartimaeus heard that Jesus of Nazareth was nearby, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
In 2 Samuel 7, God promised King David that the Savior of Israel – the Messiah – would come from the lineage of King David, and so “Son of David” became a term for the Messiah.
And certainly, Bartimaeus had heard of the fame of Jesus of Nazareth of the miraculous healings wherever he went, and his teachings like one sent directly from God, and somewhere in those testimonies, Blind Bartimaeus had chosen to believe. He had chosen to see Jesus as The Messiah, though he could not see him physically.
And it’s the same with us. Somewhere between all of the historical and biblical knowledge about Jesus, we have to choose to believe. It’s not because of what we can “see,” but because we believe the testimony. We are blind spiritually until we choose to see. And when we choose to see, what happens to Blind Bartimaeus happens to us. It’s no different for us. We have information of the miracles, the miraculous compiling of the Word of God, over 25,000 archaeological finds that support the accuracy of the Word of God, all the historical evidence of the Resurrection – not to mention a thousand other minor things. At some point, still, we have to choose to believe without seeing. It’s by faith – not because we see, but because we believe.
And that’s not all we must do that’s the same as Blind Bartimaeus because Bartimaeus also begins crying out to Jesus, knowing the Savior would not pass that way again. Bartimaeus was desperate to have Jesus hear his cries for mercy.
And so, the people started doing what people start doing.
Mark 10:48 (NLT)
48 “Be quiet!” many of the people yelled at him . . .
What is wrong with you, Bartimaeus? Can’t you just quietly spectate here like the rest of us? Why do you have to be all, crying out to Jesus?
But when a person knows that they’ve got to reach the Savior because they so badly need the mercy of God in their lives, they are no longer spectating – they are no longer watching – and they are going to cry out to Jesus until they receive the mercy of God they need.
And so, we read in Mark 10:48(b),
Mark 10:48(b) (NLT)
48 . . . But he only shouted louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
And the more the people try to silence him, the louder he shouted, “Jesus, have mercy on me!” This is a man who knows his current condition, and he knows the only one who can save him is passing by – right now. This is his chance – maybe his one and only chance – and he is determined to reach the Savior.
And God will always hear that cry for mercy – always. And a genuine cry for God’s mercy will always stop the Lord in his tracks.
Romans 8:26 says that the Holy Spirit in us cries out to God in language that we can’t even understand. He helps us pray. When your heart is breaking, and you’re crying out to God for mercy, it’s a pure, desperate faith, and God hears it.
It stops him in his tracks. When he hears our pure desperation, God will stop.
Mark 10:49 (NLT)
49 When Jesus heard him, he stopped and said, “Tell him to come here.” . . .
The Son stood still for this blind beggar’s cry for mercy. And if you will put yourself in this blind beggar’s place, knowing our condition, that we are helpless and hopeless without the Savior, the Son will stand still for you too. Jesus stopped – he stood still – and he called this blind beggar to himself.
Bartimaeus chose to believe what he had heard about Jesus. Then, when Jesus was near, Bartimaeus began crying out to him for mercy, and he would not stop. Then, Jesus called Bartimaeus to himself. And then, Bartimaeus heard the call.
Mark 10:49(b) (NLT)
49 . . . So they called the blind man. “Cheer up,” they said. “Come on, he’s calling you!”
“Come on Bartimaeus, the Lord is calling you!”
And when you cry out to Jesus with unrelenting determination, and then you hear the Lord calling you, you do just what Bartimaeus did.
Mark 10:50 (NLT)
50 Bartimaeus threw aside his coat, jumped up, and came to Jesus.
To a beggar, his coat (cloak) was (for sure) his most valued possession, and he willingly threw it aside in order to run to Jesus. (Just like Paul says in Philippians 3, I willingly suffered the loss of all things for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord. It means “I threw everything overboard.”) This is what Bartimaeus is doing; he just had less to throw overboard. All he had to throw aside was his coat.
He jumped up – stumbling around – led by those who had come to him – heart pounding until finally he was face-to-face with God in the flesh, and I’m sure Bartimaeus could sense Jesus in front of him. But Jesus was looking right past those sightless eyes right into Bartimaeus’ soul. And then we read in Mark 10:51,
Mark 10:51 (NLT)
51 “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked . . .
Mark that, because it is the exact same question Jesus asked two of his Disciples last week. Again, Mark 10:51.
Mark 10:51 (NLT)
51 “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked. “My Rabbi,” the blind man said, “I want to see!”
The word translated “My Rabbi” is Rabboni. It is the same term Mary used at the tomb when she recognized Jesus. It’s unique because it expresses a “personal relationship” with The Teacher (which is why in the NLT it equals “My Rabbi”).
And so, Blind Bartimaeus says, “My Savior – My Teacher, I want to see.”
Have we done that?
Have we cried out (relentlessly) to the Lord for his mercy? Have we heard his call, and have we come to him?
And have we said to him, “My Savior and My Lord, I want to see.” I want to see you more clearly, Lord. I want to see your ways (and your Kingdom) more clearly. I want to see you; I want to know you.
Blind Bartimaeus knew exactly what he needed from the Lord. He knew his own true condition, and he knew he needed to be healed and saved by the Lord.
And the Lord responded.
Mark 10:52 (NLT)
52 And Jesus said to him, “Go, for your faith has healed you.” Instantly the man could see . . .
Bartimaeus, your faith has healed you…
The word translated “healed” is SOZO. It means to heal or save.
Your faith has healed you. Your faith has saved you.
and instantly the man could see . . .
And the very first thing he saw was the face of Jesus.
So, Bartimaeus was healed, and he was saved. And then verse 52 says,
Mark 10:52(b) (NLT)
52 . . . and he followed Jesus down the road.
He left his life as a blind beggar, and he followed Jesus down the road.
And Bartimaeus saw the Triumphal entry, and he saw the horror of the Cross, and he saw the triumph of The Resurrection. And instead, some scholars believe instead of “Blind Bartimaeus: - “Seeing Bartimaeus” became a vital part of the Jerusalem church.
Blind Bartimaeus did everything right.
He recognized his own need
He recognized Jesus as the Savior from God
He cried out to Jesus with unrelenting persistence
He responded when Jesus called him
He left his old life behind to follow Jesus
And Blind Bartimaeus is an awesome example of exactly how we should come to Jesus and how we should follow Jesus.
But there’s more that we can learn from this text. There’s a critical comparison here that it seems Mark is trying to get across to us. Look again at verse 51 where Jesus says to Bartimaeus,
Mark 10:51 (NLT)
51 “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked. “My Rabbi,” the blind man said, “I want to see!”
Bartimaeus says,
I’m blind, and I want to see
I’m lost, and I want to be found
I’m sidelined in life, and I want to follow Jesus
The simplicity of his desire and the persistence of his faith are absolutely moving.
But now, look back up at Mark 10:36 where Jesus asks James and John – two of his top leading Disciples – the same question.
Mark 10:36 (NLT)
36 “What is your request?” he asked.
The keywords in these two verses are exactly the same, so they can be translated exactly the same. And so, as Mark often does, he’s stringing two events together in order to show us an incredible contrast.
When Jesus asked Blind Bartimaeus this question, it’s clear that Bartimaeus wanted desperately to be healed, to be saved, and to follow Jesus. When Jesus asked two of his leading Disciples the exact same question, it’s clear the Disciples wanted power, prestige, and glory. Who do you think was really blind in these two situations?
Was it the blind man crying out in his brokenness and his lostness to be saved, and healed, and to be able to follow Jesus? Or was it the arrogant leaders of the Disciples who wanted power, prestige, and glory?
Often, when we get “too comfortable” in ministry, we begin to lose understanding of our intense need for salvation and God’s grace. We forget that when Jesus called us, we were spiritually blind beggars sitting on the side of the road. And when we forget who we are and where we’ve come from, our requests to the Lord can easily become requests of selfish ambition, which is exactly what we saw from James and John last week.
Don’t do that. Don’t do that. Never forget you are blind or were blind to spiritual life, and Jesus made you see you were lost, and Jesus found you. You were sidelined, and Jesus called you to follow him.
And Jesus asks you, “What do you want me to do for you?” tell him nothing more, Jesus, than for you to save me and heal me, and allow me to follow you every day of my life. Mark has given us an incredible contrast of how not to come to Jesus and how to come to Jesus.
Please hear me when I say Blind Bartimaeus got it right. Let’s pray that we will too.
In this Gospel, Mark (by the Holy Spirit) puts events together (he orders them together) in order to tell a story – or get a critical truth across. It’s been true already once in this chapter in the contrast between how a child approaches Jesus versus how a rich person approaches Jesus.
And Mark started another “contrast teaching” last week in our message titled “Selfish Ambition.” Today, we see the second half – the “other shoe drops” half of the life-changing truth that Mark set us up for last message. These two messages together provide a stark contrast between selfish ambition and pure desperate faith.
One scholar, (James Edwards), who has focused on teaching Mark in seminary for many years says,
James Edwards
The healing of Bartimaeus is surely the sum and center of all that Mark desires to convey about faith and discipleship.
So, this is not just another healing “because Jesus is compassionate” story, and we will really see that as we contrast today’s text with the message from last week.
Last week, Jesus was on the road headed toward Jerusalem and the Cross. Today Jesus (and the crowd with him) reach Jericho and leave Jericho, the last city between Jesus and the Triumphal Entry.
Mark 10:46 (NLT)
46 Then they reached Jericho, and as Jesus and his disciples left town, a large crowd followed him . . .
Jericho is twenty miles and 3,500 feet in elevation below Jerusalem, and it is the last city before you go up to Jerusalem. It is also the last miracle that Mark records in his Gospel. So, this is it in the traveling ministry of Jesus. Next week is the Triumphal Entry and the beginning of Passion Week.
And a large crowd is now following Jesus because the fame of Jesus is at its peak. In the next section, this crowd will be shouting, “Hosanna!” and spreading palm fronds out for him.
So, Jesus and the large crowd following him are leaving Jericho, heading up to Jerusalem, and then Mark 10:46(b) says,
Mark 10:46(b) (NLT)
46 . . . A blind beggar named Bartimaeus (which means) (son of Timaeus) was sitting beside the road.
Bartimaeus is the only person healed by Jesus in Matthew, Mark, and Luke, whose name is recorded in the Word of God, which would typically mean something memorable is about to happen.
So, “Blind Bartimaeus” was sitting beside the road, probably with his cloak spread out, and people would throw a small coin or piece of bread to them as they walked by.
So, Bartimaeus is sitting beside the road. He’s on the outside. He’s on the fringe of what’s happening. He’s sidelined from society.
But one thing we quickly learn about Blind Bartimaeus; although he had 0/0 physical sight, he had 20/20 spiritual sight. We see it in his excitement when he hears Jesus is passing by.
Mark 10:47 (NLT)
47 When Bartimaeus heard that Jesus of Nazareth was nearby, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
In 2 Samuel 7, God promised King David that the Savior of Israel – the Messiah – would come from the lineage of King David, and so “Son of David” became a term for the Messiah.
And certainly, Bartimaeus had heard of the fame of Jesus of Nazareth of the miraculous healings wherever he went, and his teachings like one sent directly from God, and somewhere in those testimonies, Blind Bartimaeus had chosen to believe. He had chosen to see Jesus as The Messiah, though he could not see him physically.
And it’s the same with us. Somewhere between all of the historical and biblical knowledge about Jesus, we have to choose to believe. It’s not because of what we can “see,” but because we believe the testimony. We are blind spiritually until we choose to see. And when we choose to see, what happens to Blind Bartimaeus happens to us. It’s no different for us. We have information of the miracles, the miraculous compiling of the Word of God, over 25,000 archaeological finds that support the accuracy of the Word of God, all the historical evidence of the Resurrection – not to mention a thousand other minor things. At some point, still, we have to choose to believe without seeing. It’s by faith – not because we see, but because we believe.
And that’s not all we must do that’s the same as Blind Bartimaeus because Bartimaeus also begins crying out to Jesus, knowing the Savior would not pass that way again. Bartimaeus was desperate to have Jesus hear his cries for mercy.
And so, the people started doing what people start doing.
Mark 10:48 (NLT)
48 “Be quiet!” many of the people yelled at him . . .
What is wrong with you, Bartimaeus? Can’t you just quietly spectate here like the rest of us? Why do you have to be all, crying out to Jesus?
But when a person knows that they’ve got to reach the Savior because they so badly need the mercy of God in their lives, they are no longer spectating – they are no longer watching – and they are going to cry out to Jesus until they receive the mercy of God they need.
And so, we read in Mark 10:48(b),
Mark 10:48(b) (NLT)
48 . . . But he only shouted louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
And the more the people try to silence him, the louder he shouted, “Jesus, have mercy on me!” This is a man who knows his current condition, and he knows the only one who can save him is passing by – right now. This is his chance – maybe his one and only chance – and he is determined to reach the Savior.
And God will always hear that cry for mercy – always. And a genuine cry for God’s mercy will always stop the Lord in his tracks.
Romans 8:26 says that the Holy Spirit in us cries out to God in language that we can’t even understand. He helps us pray. When your heart is breaking, and you’re crying out to God for mercy, it’s a pure, desperate faith, and God hears it.
It stops him in his tracks. When he hears our pure desperation, God will stop.
Mark 10:49 (NLT)
49 When Jesus heard him, he stopped and said, “Tell him to come here.” . . .
The Son stood still for this blind beggar’s cry for mercy. And if you will put yourself in this blind beggar’s place, knowing our condition, that we are helpless and hopeless without the Savior, the Son will stand still for you too. Jesus stopped – he stood still – and he called this blind beggar to himself.
Bartimaeus chose to believe what he had heard about Jesus. Then, when Jesus was near, Bartimaeus began crying out to him for mercy, and he would not stop. Then, Jesus called Bartimaeus to himself. And then, Bartimaeus heard the call.
Mark 10:49(b) (NLT)
49 . . . So they called the blind man. “Cheer up,” they said. “Come on, he’s calling you!”
“Come on Bartimaeus, the Lord is calling you!”
And when you cry out to Jesus with unrelenting determination, and then you hear the Lord calling you, you do just what Bartimaeus did.
Mark 10:50 (NLT)
50 Bartimaeus threw aside his coat, jumped up, and came to Jesus.
To a beggar, his coat (cloak) was (for sure) his most valued possession, and he willingly threw it aside in order to run to Jesus. (Just like Paul says in Philippians 3, I willingly suffered the loss of all things for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord. It means “I threw everything overboard.”) This is what Bartimaeus is doing; he just had less to throw overboard. All he had to throw aside was his coat.
He jumped up – stumbling around – led by those who had come to him – heart pounding until finally he was face-to-face with God in the flesh, and I’m sure Bartimaeus could sense Jesus in front of him. But Jesus was looking right past those sightless eyes right into Bartimaeus’ soul. And then we read in Mark 10:51,
Mark 10:51 (NLT)
51 “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked . . .
Mark that, because it is the exact same question Jesus asked two of his Disciples last week. Again, Mark 10:51.
Mark 10:51 (NLT)
51 “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked. “My Rabbi,” the blind man said, “I want to see!”
The word translated “My Rabbi” is Rabboni. It is the same term Mary used at the tomb when she recognized Jesus. It’s unique because it expresses a “personal relationship” with The Teacher (which is why in the NLT it equals “My Rabbi”).
And so, Blind Bartimaeus says, “My Savior – My Teacher, I want to see.”
Have we done that?
Have we cried out (relentlessly) to the Lord for his mercy? Have we heard his call, and have we come to him?
And have we said to him, “My Savior and My Lord, I want to see.” I want to see you more clearly, Lord. I want to see your ways (and your Kingdom) more clearly. I want to see you; I want to know you.
Blind Bartimaeus knew exactly what he needed from the Lord. He knew his own true condition, and he knew he needed to be healed and saved by the Lord.
And the Lord responded.
Mark 10:52 (NLT)
52 And Jesus said to him, “Go, for your faith has healed you.” Instantly the man could see . . .
Bartimaeus, your faith has healed you…
The word translated “healed” is SOZO. It means to heal or save.
Your faith has healed you. Your faith has saved you.
and instantly the man could see . . .
And the very first thing he saw was the face of Jesus.
So, Bartimaeus was healed, and he was saved. And then verse 52 says,
Mark 10:52(b) (NLT)
52 . . . and he followed Jesus down the road.
He left his life as a blind beggar, and he followed Jesus down the road.
And Bartimaeus saw the Triumphal entry, and he saw the horror of the Cross, and he saw the triumph of The Resurrection. And instead, some scholars believe instead of “Blind Bartimaeus: - “Seeing Bartimaeus” became a vital part of the Jerusalem church.
Blind Bartimaeus did everything right.
He recognized his own need
He recognized Jesus as the Savior from God
He cried out to Jesus with unrelenting persistence
He responded when Jesus called him
He left his old life behind to follow Jesus
And Blind Bartimaeus is an awesome example of exactly how we should come to Jesus and how we should follow Jesus.
But there’s more that we can learn from this text. There’s a critical comparison here that it seems Mark is trying to get across to us. Look again at verse 51 where Jesus says to Bartimaeus,
Mark 10:51 (NLT)
51 “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked. “My Rabbi,” the blind man said, “I want to see!”
Bartimaeus says,
I’m blind, and I want to see
I’m lost, and I want to be found
I’m sidelined in life, and I want to follow Jesus
The simplicity of his desire and the persistence of his faith are absolutely moving.
But now, look back up at Mark 10:36 where Jesus asks James and John – two of his top leading Disciples – the same question.
Mark 10:36 (NLT)
36 “What is your request?” he asked.
The keywords in these two verses are exactly the same, so they can be translated exactly the same. And so, as Mark often does, he’s stringing two events together in order to show us an incredible contrast.
When Jesus asked Blind Bartimaeus this question, it’s clear that Bartimaeus wanted desperately to be healed, to be saved, and to follow Jesus. When Jesus asked two of his leading Disciples the exact same question, it’s clear the Disciples wanted power, prestige, and glory. Who do you think was really blind in these two situations?
Was it the blind man crying out in his brokenness and his lostness to be saved, and healed, and to be able to follow Jesus? Or was it the arrogant leaders of the Disciples who wanted power, prestige, and glory?
Often, when we get “too comfortable” in ministry, we begin to lose understanding of our intense need for salvation and God’s grace. We forget that when Jesus called us, we were spiritually blind beggars sitting on the side of the road. And when we forget who we are and where we’ve come from, our requests to the Lord can easily become requests of selfish ambition, which is exactly what we saw from James and John last week.
Don’t do that. Don’t do that. Never forget you are blind or were blind to spiritual life, and Jesus made you see you were lost, and Jesus found you. You were sidelined, and Jesus called you to follow him.
And Jesus asks you, “What do you want me to do for you?” tell him nothing more, Jesus, than for you to save me and heal me, and allow me to follow you every day of my life. Mark has given us an incredible contrast of how not to come to Jesus and how to come to Jesus.
Please hear me when I say Blind Bartimaeus got it right. Let’s pray that we will too.