Insistent Desperation
Now they came to Jericho. As He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the road begging. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Then many warned him to be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called. Then they called the blind man, saying to him, “Be of good cheer. Rise, He is calling you.” And throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus. So Jesus answered and said to him, “What do you want Me to do for you?” The blind man said to Him, “Rabboni, that I may receive my sight.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road. Mark 10:46-52
Bartimaeus was blind. Bartimaeus was desperate to see. Bartimaeus was insistent. He cried out in insistent desperation. I believe Bartimaeus was healed by Jesus immediately because of his insistent desperation and unwavering hope. He had nothing to lose.
I can’t help but be intrigued by the word “immediately” I continue to see throughout the book of Mark.
Though Jesus healed him immediately, Mark doesn’t say how long Bartimaeus was blind. It could be that he was blind since birth. He was immediately healed after being blind for a period of time. Long or short, I’m certain he felt helpless.
As I think back on Jesus’s ministry, once it began everything was happening immediately. People were being converted immediately. People were being healed immediately. People were believing in Jesus, God’s Son, immediately. Crowds were becoming huge immediately. However, His ministry didn’t officially start until He was about 30 years old. 30 years from birth is far from immediate. He had growing, learning, and maturing to do. Maybe even Jesus felt like He was doing a lot of waiting before His season of “immediately” began.
There are seasons of waiting and seasons of immediately. Both take levels of faith and trust. Sometimes we need to understand we are like Bartimaeus- blind and desperate. Both seasons require expectant hope and reliance on God, who is in both seasons.
Then Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road. Mark 10:52