Mark 10:46-47 (NIVUK)
46 Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (which means “son of Timaeus”), was sitting by the roadside begging. 47 When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
Being a blind man in Jesus’ time was a precarious position. You were totally dependent on the help of friends and family, without the support of the state to fall back on. Like Bartimaeus, most would need to resort to begging to survive. When he heard that Jesus was passing by, he had nothing to lose by calling out for his help, just as he would have called out to passers by all day, although clearly he hoped Jesus would be able to offer more than loose change.
Imagine Jesus was passing by today. Would you cry out? And if so, what would you say?
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