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.

Mark 10:46‭-‬52 NLT.

Jesus came to reveal the Father’s love for humanity. The Bible is packed with beautiful stories to attest to it. This story that we are reviewing is one of them. It proves that the Lord will never abandon whoever desires his mercy.

Bartimaeus was faced with great challenges owing to his blindness. He resorted to begging to make ends meet. And in life, once you get to the level of relying on others for your sustenance, you lose your dignity. He was treated with disdain, and that’s why the people around him wanted to shut him up when he called on Jesus for help. The crowd believed he was a nobody to get the attention of Jesus. But despite all these impediments, he was not deterred. It even made him more determined to get the help he needs.

We have a lot to learn from the experience of Bartimaeus. I believe before this encounter that he must have heard of Jesus of Nazareth and how He has been going about healing people and performing other great miracles. He may have wished to one day get to meet Him, so he too can be healed. That’s why when this opportunity came, he went all out to get the Lord’s attention. And true to his belief, Jesus healed him, hallelujah!!!

The first lesson to learn from this story is that no matter the situation we find ourselves in, we can always call upon the Lord. For His word assured us that He will hear us.

For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Romans 10:12‭-‬13 NIV.

We also have to learn not to give up, but to persist as we trust God to perform his wonders in our life. We have to understand that there is nothing impossible for God to do. It may look as if it’s delayed, but surely, it will come to pass.

So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you. Patient endurance is what you need now so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.

Hebrews 10:35‭-‬36 NLT.

Another important thing to grasp from this story is how specific Bartimaeus was when the Lord Jesus asked him what he wanted. He didn’t beat about the bush. Straight away, he asked to receive his sight. The Lord wants us to always make our requests known to him.

Until now, you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

John 16:24 NKJV.

Furthermore, we learn not to die in silence. Let’s find a way to always communicate our needs and burdens to those closest to us. God created us to dwell in a community, so we can bear each other’s burdens.

It’s crucial to note that we should not despise the poor. For that means, mocking their Father. Nobody is immune from troubles. Therefore, let’s be selfless and care about others. We all require mercies and help from others at different times in life.

The word of God comes to us to ignite faith in our hearts.

Just like Bartimaeus heard about Jesus, and it made him firmly believe in Him for his healing. In the same way, as we meditate on this, it will strengthen our faith and give us the confidence to receive what we ask from the Lord.

It’s refreshing to know that there is no reason why we should not go to Him in prayer right now and unburden our hearts. Consequently, I encourage you to say this prayer with me:

Dear Lord, thank you for your love for us. You are always our present help in time of need. We come to you today, laying down at your feet all our burdens. In your mercy, deliver us and our country from all troubles. Thank you, Lord, in Jesus’ name. Amen.