Lent Day 32: Bartimaeus

Pause

Ask God to reveal anything that would distract or hinder you from seeking Him with your whole heart.

Read & Journal

Read Mark 10:46-52. Consider these questions:

• What do you learn about Jesus’ character from His interactions with Bartimaeus?

• What do these verses reveal about Jesus’ mission or purpose?

• How do you see Jesus entering into human brokenness in today’s passage?

• Reread verse 48. Bartimaeus recognized Jesus as the Messiah. When did you first recognize Jesus as your Savior? How did God bring you to that point?

Ponder

This interaction with Bartimaeus is Jesus’ final recorded healing miracle in the Gospel of Mark. When Bartimaeus heard that Jesus was near, he began to cry out to Jesus for mercy. Again and again Bartimaeus referred to Jesus as the Son of David, a clear Messianic title—and again and again, the people around the blind man told him to be quiet.

Stop for a minute and take note of the ways the people interacted with Bartimaeus. What words would you use to describe how they treated him? Pandering? Definitely. Like a nuisance? For sure. You can almost picture them in verse 46, turning toward the blind man while rolling their eyes at each other and saying in saccharine voices, “Cheer up! He’s calling for you” (NLT).

Now consider Jesus’ interaction with Bartimaeus. Bartimaeus recognizes Jesus as the Messiah; he calls out for mercy, seemingly believing that Jesus is capable of showing it to him. When Jesus invites Bartimaeus to come near, Bartimaeus throws aside his coat—an outer garment few beggars would have possessed and a precious commodity—jumps to his feet and rushes toward Jesus. In verse 51, Bartimaeus refers to Jesus as “my Rabbi” (NLT) or Rabboni (CSB), both titles of deep respect and intimacy.

Bartimaeus believed. He believed Jesus was the Messiah. He believed Jesus had the authority and the power to do something about his situation. He believed enough to cast aside the outer garment that could trip him up and hinder his progress toward Jesus, even if it was an important item to own by the world’s standards.

Today, pause to recognize Jesus as your Messiah and Savior. Reflect on His power and authority. And ask Him, through the work of His Spirit, to reveal anything in your life that might hinder your relationship with Him from deepening so that you can cast it aside. As we prepare for Holy Week, ask God to help focus your heart and mind on the truth of who Jesus is—His character, His mission and His purpose.