“To open blind eyes, to bring out prisoners from the prison, those who sit in darkness from the prison house.” Isaiah 42:7
Every day he sat by the road begging. Blind people were confined to the side of dusty streets, just close enough to grab the attention of daily travelers. “Alms for the poor” was his mantra. Bartimaeus was his name and his very existence relied on the mercy of others. Pity was of no help. Compassion mingled with coins – his only hope of survival.
One particular day the streets were more crowded than normal. Word spread that Jesus was walking right in the path where Bartimaeus crouched for his next hopeful encounter. Money was what he routinely asked for, however, healing was the truest desire of his heart.
As the noise level increased, the blind man shouted, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
In the hustle and bustle of the crowd, Jesus stops. He commands for the shouter to be brought to Him. Others regarded the blind man as a nuisance. Jesus saw a man in need. At the command of Jesus to come, the man jumps to his feet, running blindly toward the voice of the One who knew his greatest desire. The King of Kings asks the beggar an unfathomable question, “What do you want Me to do for you?” Without missing a beat Bartimaeus begs, not for money, but to be given the gift of sight.
In the twinkling of an eye, his eyes twinkled. And who was the first person he laid eyes on? Jesus. The scales were removed from the beggar’s eyes because the scales had been removed from his heart. Bartimaeus had not only heard of Jesus, he believed Him to be the Son of David. Isaiah had prophesied Jesus would be a light to the Gentiles, open eyes that were blind, and release those sitting in darkness. Bartimaeus qualified on all accounts. And Jesus, He said the man’s faith made him well.
Have circumstances blinded you? Shout. Jump. Run blindly to your Healer. He sees your greatest need.