Mark 10:46-52
46 They came to Jericho. As he and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside. 47 When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48 Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 49 Jesus stood still and said, “Call him here.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart; get up, he is calling you.” 50 So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. 51 Then Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man said to him, “My teacher, let me see again.” 52 Jesus said to him, “Go; your faith has made you well.” Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way.
“My teacher, let me see again”
On His way up to Jerusalem, Jesus has to use the Jericho Road because He’s been denied access to Samaria. [Luke 9:51-53] (That’s the short cut road between Galilee and Judea.)
The disciples want to avenge the Samaritans, but Jesus says to them, “Take another way” - longer, hard, and dry, but peaceful. No violence.
Arriving in Jericho, they reach an area influenced by the Essenes. This group expects the Messiah to be one of their community. They’re known, among other things, for copying and distributing the Hebrew Bible. This community knows the Bible by heart, and they have copied the text of Isaiah several times.
Isaiah 35:5-8
Then will the eyes of the blind be opened
and the ears of the deaf unstopped.
6 Then will the lame leap like a deer,
and the mute tongue shout for joy.
Water will gush forth in the wilderness
and streams in the desert.
7 The burning sand will become a pool,
the thirsty ground bubbling springs.
In the haunts where jackals once lay,
grass and reeds and papyrus will grow.
8 And a highway will be there;
it will be called the Way of Holiness;
it will be for those who walk on that Way.
Jesus knows what He is doing.
Jesus healing the blind man in Jericho is an invitation to this influential spiritual group in Israel to acknowledge Him as the Promised Messiah.
What do we learn from this blind man who regains his sight thanks to Jesus’ love and mercy? We learn the value of being determined and seeking optimal conditions for our life. We learn the importance of keeping faith in Jesus, even when all around us tries to deter us from Him.
Never accept remaining in the darkness, sidelined or desperate and frustrated. Ask the Lord to "see again" [v. 51]. This indicates that the man was able to see before, as that may happen to us in different ways and on different levels.
Feel that He cares for our best and hurry to be in His presence with joyful hope.
Tell Him what we need from Him, though He knows before we ask.
Acknowledge what we ask for. Only God can grant it.
Once He grants us what we want, witness for His loving care for humans. May we hear a voice saying, "Take heart; get up, he is calling you." [v. 49] and follow Him!