The story of Bartimaeus is an often-referenced story – of healing, and also of desire. Bartimaeus is one of the only people in the Bible who is healed – and named. Bartimaeus – Son of Timaeus. My guess is that he wasn’t born blind. I think that for a couple of reasons. First, later on, Bartimaeus talks about “recovering” his sight and you can’t recover what you never had. And secondly, because in that culture, as in many cultures today, children who were born with disabilities were not treasured. And they certainly wouldn’t be identified with the name of their father. More often than not, they would be disowned, or abandoned, or at best, tolerated. But Bartimaeus had a name indicating familial pride. He had an identity.
Bartimaeus is blind, and he is a beggar. When he hears that Jesus is walking by him, he begins to shout at Jesus, calling to him for mercy. The people in the area try to shout down Bartimaeus, basically telling him to sit down and shut up. He is not worth Jesus’ time. Jesus has more important things to do and more important people to see – if Bartimaeus could even be called a person. He was more of an object, really. A fixture on that corner of the road. Everyone knew who he was, because he sat there every day, in the same place, begging.
But when Jesus hears Bartimaeus shouting at him – he stops. Jesus heard him. Jesus saw him. Jesus validated him. And then, Jesus calls for him.
Now, Jesus could just have easily gone to Bartimaeus. But he didn’t. He asked the people around him to call Bartimaeus for him. He makes them go get him. Jesus wants the others in the scene to understand something – Bartimaeus is a person. He has worth and value. You can’t just ignore him, or cast him aside, or treat him like trash. He is a person made in the image of God. He is calling them out. Jesus confronts the people around him with their own attitudes about Bartimaeus, so overtly demonstrated in that very moment through their words and actions, with his response. “Call him.”
And suddenly there is a massive about-face. Those who have been rebuking him and telling him to shut up, rush to Bartimaeus saying, “Take heart! Get up! He’s calling you!” And Bartimaeus doesn’t need persuasion. He threw off the only garment he owned and “sprang up.” He probably would have run, but for the moment he’s still blind – and that’s a bad idea.
When he reaches Jesus, Jesus says to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” Some see this as an odd question. What does Jesus think he wants him to do for him? Cook him a meal? But this is not a question that is as simple as it sounds.
Perhaps, as is often surmised and taught, Jesus asks Bartimaeus what he wants in order to tap into Bartimaeus’ deepest desire. What is the longing deep in his soul that Bartimaeus wants to be fulfilled? Maybe Jesus wants him to examine himself and see if he really wants his entire life to change in a split second. I’ve gone with that understanding for a long time.
But I think there is something deeper still going on here. I think Jesus is asking Bartimaeus not to identify his desire, but to identify the object of his desire.
You see, I work with people just like Bartimaeus. I have been approached by beggars hundreds – maybe thousands of times. They are blind, lame, paralyzed, crippled – and I can tell you that if I had ever asked any of them the question “What do you want me to do for you?”, NONE of them would have answered with, “Let me recover my sight (or ability to walk, or whatever they had lost).” None.
No, they would have said, “Money.”
You know why? I don’t look like someone who has the ability to give them back their sight. Or their ability to walk. Or anything like that. I look like someone who can give them money.
I think the “question behind the question” that Jesus asked was, “Who do you say that I am? Are you looking for a quick meal today, Bartimaeus, or are you looking for a whole new life? Because I can give you either one – but I want to know if you know that.”
And Bartimaeus does know that. He knows that this is not just an everyday guy passing by. This passerby is the Messiah, the Son of God. He can do more than give Bartimaeus a few coins. And his answer indicates that he is done with quick fixes. He has found the one for whom his soul had longed. And he wanted his sight.
Jesus, seeing Bartimaeus’ deep faith in who He was, gives him what he desires, and tells him to go his way, as his faith had healed him.
But do you know what Bartimaeus did? He didn’t “go his way.” He left his beggar’s corner and followed Jesus on HIS way. Had he made enough to eat for that day? Probably not. But it no longer mattered. His entire life had changed. Eating for the day was the least of his concerns now.
You see, Bartimaeus had a profound insight on that dusty road that day. If the man who can give you your sight passes by, don’t ask him for a coin so you can buy the day’s food. Don’t hesitate for a moment to ask for your most impossible longing. And don’t be dissuaded by the haters around you that find you to be an embarrassment. Be bold. Cry out. Don’t let the opportunity pass you. And don’t ask for something small when you are talking to the Lord of the Universe.
What are you asking for?
Do you know who you are talking to?
Who do you say He that is?
Is he a relatively popular and generous guy who can give you the means to satisfy today’s need? Or is He the Creator and Ruler of EVERYTHING, who can give you ANYTHING you need?
Think about who you’re talking to when you bring your desire to the Lord. And don’t belittle Him with paltry, faithless requests. Be bold. Be Bartimaeus-bold. Ask for the moon.
Because it’s his to give.
And He loves you fiercely.