A Blind Man Gets His Sight (Luke 18:35-43)

The disciples must have been puzzled often by what Jesus said and did. Earlier in the chapter, he had an interaction with an unnamed rich person who had initially indicated he wanted to be a disciple of Jesus. Yet it was not difficult for Jesus to show to the man that he had a wrong understanding about Jesus and wrong motives for serving him. Nevertheless, the disciples wondered what kind of person Jesus wanted to follow him. Readers of the gospel might also have the same question. In any case, Luke proceeds to describe two genuine followers of Jesus, one a blind man and the other a tax collector, neither of whom would normally be the kind of individual that would impress the disciples. 

Luke does not tell us the name of the blind man, but Mark in his Gospel tell us that his name was Bartimaeus (in fact this may be his surname). Matthew, who was an eyewitness, tells us that there were two lepers, although only one of them is mentioned by Mark and Luke. At some stage on this momentous day for him, he was taken to the roadside where he would beg for alms. Since the time of the Passover was drawing near, there would have been more travellers than at other times because pilgrims would be making their way to Jerusalem to keep the annual feast. Passover was one of the three annual feasts that every Jew was required to attend. This explains why there was a crowd present, travelling with Jesus and others to Jerusalem, to keep the Passover.

The disciples must have been puzzled often by what Jesus said and did. Earlier in the chapter, he had an interaction with an unnamed rich person who had initially indicated he wanted to be a disciple of Jesus. Yet it was not difficult for Jesus to show to the man that he had a wrong understanding about Jesus and wrong motives for serving him. Nevertheless, the disciples wondered what kind of person Jesus wanted to follow him. Readers of the gospel might also have the same question. In any case, Luke proceeds to describe two genuine followers of Jesus, one a blind man and the other a tax collector, neither of whom would normally be the kind of individual that would impress the disciples. 

Jericho at that time was two cities close together, almost running into one another depending on the direction one was travelling. There was ancient Jericho and there was the new city of Jericho, erected by Herod the Great. Jericho was and is one of the ancient cities in the world, and it is still there, with its palm trees. When a person passed through old Jericho, he would come to new Jericho. The blind man was somewhere between the two because Matthew and Mark say Jesus was leaving Jericho (old) and Luke says that he was entering Jericho (new).

How often did Jesus come to Jericho during his public ministry? We don’t know. Jericho was located on one of the routes from Galilee to Jerusalem, so Jesus probably had been there previously, at least in the sense of passing through it. Yet what is certain is that this was Jesus’ final visit to Jericho. He would not be there again, which would mean that this was Bartimaeus’ final opportunity to receive help from Jesus. It may also have been his first.

The information

The beggar was curious as to the reason for the volume of noise that he heard. So he asked what was happening and was informed by the crowd that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. What does this title say about him? It is a reminder that the people thought he came from Nazareth, which was not surprising.

But it was not only the crowds that called Jesus by this name. It was the name that Pilate the governor put on the cross: ‘Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews”’ (John 19:19). It was the name that the angel used of him on the resurrection day when he said to the women: ‘And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him”’ (Mark 16:6). It was the name Peter used on the Day of Pentecost when preaching about Jesus. It was the name that he used of himself when he confronted Saul of Tarsus: ‘And I answered, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said to me, “I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting”’ (Acts 22:8).

Maybe when people used this name, there was a sense of astonishment because as Nathanael indicated, people did not believe that anything good came from Nazareth. Others, when they used it, would have a sense of admiration of Jesus because he lived a perfect life in a dark place. And what can we say about how Jesus used it? His earthly family may still have been living there at the time he confronted Saul. In any case, although he is now crowned with glory, it is how he is known in heaven, even by the angels. It is a name that speaks of his humility, his holiness, the place where he prepared for his three-year journey to the cross, the journey that he was on when Bartimaeus received this information, and which was soon to end.

The insight

The response of the blind man is surprising at one level because it is clear that he was aware of who Jesus was and what Jesus could do. Who did Bartimaeus think Jesus was? He called him the Son of David, which was a Messianic title. Centuries before, God had revealed to David that one of his descendants would be the Messiah, and from then on one of the titles given to the prophesied One was Son of David.

The response of Bartimaeus indicates that he was already a believer in the Messiah, and we need not regard this incident as his conversion. Is it not the case that the Lord has his people in surprising places? Numerous people would have seen Bartimaeus begging, and they would not have imagined that despite his poverty, he had great spiritual riches and was an heir of God, and that despite his blindness he knew who the Messiah was.

Bartimaeus was quick to realise that Jesus could help him. I suppose the fact that he was blind prevented him from being distracted from his priority now that he had heard Jesus had come to where he was. His priority was to get help from Jesus. He knew that anything he would receive from Jesus would be an expression of mercy, of his pity, of his kindness. The point to stress is that the blind man took his opportunity and called on Jesus.

The intensity (v. 39)

It is surprising how often in the Gospels other people attempted to prevent others from receiving help from Jesus. Take the disciples of Jesus. On one occasion they had tried to stop the woman of Sidon from getting help for her demon-possessed daughter, and on another occasion they had tried to prevent children being brought to him for a blessing. Here it is those leading the crowd, probably the ones physically closest to Jesus, who wanted the blind man to cease calling for help from Jesus. For some reason, they did not believe that Jesus could help the blind man, and there are many equivalents of them around today.

But as we can see from the account, the blind man did not pay any attention to them. Indeed, their opposition strengthened his determination to get an answer. He called out to Jesus because he believed that Jesus could help him. He embraced the moment that divine providence gave him. Sometimes we have to pray even when everyone tells us it is pointless. Sometimes we have to state our faith even when disciples of Jesus, who should have known better, remain silent. No one came to the man’s aid as they heard him calling out for mercy, to offer him a hand to get to the Saviour.

The interview

Jesus heard the same words as the others did, but he heard a different cry. The words of Bartimaeus not only went to the ears of the Saviour, they also went to his heart. Those words were a welcome sound to him. Here was a man whose words revealed that he knew who Jesus was and that he was aware of why Jesus had come into the world. Could the Saviour resist such a plea for help? Could he dismiss the man as a noisy interruption?

Jesus gave instructions for Bartimaeus to be brought to him. The blind man heard an astonishing offer from Jesus when he asked, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ The question was one that would reveal the depth of Bartimaeus’ faith. The question was not, ‘What do you think I could do for you?’ If it had been that question, a vague general answer could have been given because the word ‘mercy’ covers a wide range of possible activities, and it would have been possible for Bartimaeus to mention a few of them. But Jesus focussed on the desire of Bartimaeus, to state what he wanted from him with all his heart. We are not surprised that the blind man asked for his sight to be restored.

The question also reveals the capability of Jesus because he is indicating that he knows he can give whatever Bartimaeus will ask from him. Jesus knew the heart desire of Bartimaeus before he asked the question, but he also wanted him to ask for it, to show that his desire and his confidence were together in his heart. It is possible to want something from Jesus but to disbelieve that he will give it.

Bartimaeus’ response introduces a third title of Jesus into the incident when the blind beggar addressed him as Lord. It would be possible to use the title as one of respect; but given the circumstances, which involved him asking for a miracle that only God could perform, we can accept that Bartimaeus was acknowledging the divinity of Jesus. For a person with faith, it was straightforward to believe that the Messiah is God, and capable of performing great miracles.

Obviously, Bartimaeus had been able to see previously because he asked for his sight to be restored. Blindness was a common problem at that time. We are not told how Bartimaeus had lost his sight, but he was asking Jesus for a very large favour, especially as he was doing so in the hearing of others. His confidence was matched, as it were, by the Saviour’s capabilities, and is that not what faith is? We trust in Jesus because we believe he can do what he has promised to do. This is the case with regard to conversion at the beginning of the Christian life, but it is also the case with regard to his promises connected to aspects of discipleship. The healing by Jesus was immediate, and Bartimaeus’ faith was shown to be genuine.

The consequence

Luke uses the word ‘immediately’ not only to describe the response of Jesus to the request of the blind man but also to describe the response of the blind man to his cure. Two details are given of his response – he followed Jesus and praised God.

Where was Jesus going? He was going to Jerusalem to die for sinners, sinners like Bartimaeus. The next few days for Bartimaeus would be strange as he observed what took place. He would have taken part in the celebration on Palm Sunday as Jesus rode into Jerusalem from Bethany. No doubt he heard about the arrest of Jesus and of the crucifixion. Eventually he would hear of the resurrection of Jesus and his ascension. Maybe he was one of the one hundred and twenty who were in the room in Jerusalem when the Spirit came at Pentecost. Who can say? But he had become a follower of Jesus, and wherever he went he would have told what Jesus, the Messiah who was his Lord, had done for him.

What did he do as he followed Jesus? He engaged in praise. Whatever else was involved in that response, it was verbal. How could he keep silent? Everything he saw was new to him. He saw the face of Jesus, he heard the voice of Jesus, shortly he would see what happened to Zacchaeus, and how happy he would be. He speaks to us about the matter of discipleship, about how we show what we owe.

It was not just Bartimaeus who praised God. Everyone on that journey to Jerusalem did as well. What had started as a usual day turned out to be an extraordinary day, and that is often the case with Jesus. But the day was not over yet.