“Blind No More! The Story of Bartimaeus”

 The Book of Mark

Encountering The Miracles and Mission of Jesus Christ

Good morning friends and family. Welcome to Eastern Shore Baptist Church if you are visiting with us this morning. What a blessing it is to be here with all of you. Today, we are in week 12 of a 20 week series entitled “The Book of Mark, Encountering the Miracles and Mission of Jesus Christ”. I hope that you have enjoyed this series. I hope that you have found it encouraging and enlightening. 

Today’s sermon is entitled “Blind No More! The Story of Bartimaeus”. 

Today’s Message:

“Blind No More! The Story of Bartimaeus”

Most of you have never heard the name Charley Boswell. Boswell was a native Alabamian. He was also a hero. In fact, he was decorated war hero from World War II. One of his friends was trapped in a burning tank. Charley Boswell leapt into action. He climbed up the tank, opened the hatch dove into the belly of the beast. He wrenched his friend to freedom, throwing him over his shoulders, climbing out of the engulfed tank. Just as Boswell rescued his friend from the tank, a chemical explosion happened, blasting debris into Charley Boswell’s eyes. In subsequent weeks, Boswell would lose 100% of his sight, plunging him into darkness. 

Most would think that would be where Charley Boswell’s story would end, but it didn’t. Boswell was a tremendous athlete. In fact, when he returned to his beloved state of Alabama, he picked up a sport. He started playing golf. His caddy would take him to the green, give him the correct club, line him up over the ball, and tell him what direction and with what spin he needed to hit the ball. Charley Boswell became known far and wide for his skill and prowess as a blind golfer. Strangely, Boswell would routinely compete with and beat golfers possessing sight. 

In 1958 Charley Boswell came to Fort Worth, TX to receive the coveted Ben Hogan Award. One of the perks of winning the award was playing a round of golf with Hogan. 

Charley said, "Would you like to play for money?" Hogan said, "That wouldn't be fair!" Charley said, "C'mon, Mr. Hogan, are you afraid to play a blind golfer?" Hogan was really pretty competitive so he said, "Okay, I'll play for money. How much?" Boswell said, "$1,000 per hole." Hogan said, "That's a lot. How many strokes do you want me to give you?" Boswell said, "No strokes. I'll play you heads up." Hogan said, "Charley, I can't do it. What would people think of me taking advantage of a blind man?" Boswell smiled and said, "Don't worry, Mr. Hogan, our tee time is tonight at midnight!"

I wish I could say that I would have the same good attitude about being blind as Charley Boswell did all those years back. I think that if I were to lose might sight, I would be badly depressed and discouraged. I imagine that I would be terribly defeated. 

Not Charley Boswell. No sir. I think that Charley Boswell possessed a similar attitude and spirit as the main focus of our story today, that being Bartimaeus. You see, old Bartimaeus was handicapped. He had hit rock bottom as they say. He was poor and pitiful. Bartimaeus was homeless, living on the streets and sleeping under the stars. We know that Bartimaeus had a family because we see that he is the “son of Timaeus”. I will come back to that point in a few minutes. Still, it appears that Bartimaeus had no friends. No help. What a terrible situation find oneself. You would think a person in Bartimaeus’ situation would just give up and die. You would think that he would just wave the preverbal white flag, toss in the towel, mail it in. 

That’s what you’d think but you’d be thinking wrong. 

Do me a favor this morning. Fill in the blanks under “Today’s Thought”. Bartimaeus was begging, blind, and broke. Nevertheless, he believed!

Today’s Thought:

Bartimaeus Was Begging, Blind, and Broke. 

Nevertheless…He BELIEVED!”

You know something friend, I really admire that about Bartimaeus. I really do. What is your reaction when things don’t go your way? What do you do when tragedy turns your world upside down? In my ministry, I have seen roughly three reactions to trouble and trials. The first reaction is to be paralyzed. People freeze. They stop growing. They just sit in their suffering. Another reaction to difficulty and discouragement is to retreat. They run away. They turn inward, focusing only on their pain, refusing to see how their pain can teach them benefit others. They are not paralyzed, in fact it’s worse. Instead of growing, they shrink. They shrink back into old thoughts, old feelings, remembering old hurts. They stack pain on pain and they project their pain on everything. Do you know anyone who is easily offended? People that are easily offended are often times people on retreat. So, paralyzed is one reaction. Retreat is another reaction. Then there is the example of Charley Boswell and Bartimaeus. That reaction I call aggressive faith. Faith that cannot be stifled and faith that cannot be shut down. It is ever believing, ever achieving, ever moving forward. Aggressive faith is aggressive growth. It is not shrinking it is expanding. I call it the “Spirit of Bartimaeus”. 

Paralyzed. 

Retreat.

Faith.

How will you react when hardship heads your way?

In preparing for this message, I was reading through a commentary entitled “The IVP Bible Background Commentary” by Craig S. Keener. Listen to what Mr. Keener says about old Bartimaeus. 

“Bartimaeus, despite being blind and marginalized, had the insight to recognize Jesus as the Messiah. His repeated cries for mercy, even when the crowd attempted to silence him, demonstrate the kind of persistent faith that Jesus honors. Bartimaeus’ healing shows us that Jesus responds to those who earnestly seek Him, regardless of their social status or physical condition.”

Today’s Quote:

“Bartimaeus, despite being blind and marginalized, had the insight to recognize Jesus as the Messiah. His repeated cries for mercy, even when the crowd attempted to silence him, demonstrate the kind of persistent faith that Jesus honors. Bartimaeus’ healing shows us that Jesus responds to those who earnestly seek Him, regardless of their social status or physical condition.”

Craig S. Keener From “The IVP Bible Background Commentary”  

Oh friends, Bartimaeus had every reason to give up. He could have been paralyzed. Sure he could have retreated. Still, he provides for us a tremendous example this morning of what to do and how to act when this world knocks us down a notch or two. 

Background and Context:

Before we read about Bartimaeus, I do want to take a moment to set up the scene. I want to help you understand what’s happening around Christ and His disciples. 

Just before this pivotal moment with Bartimaeus, Jesus was teaching about discipleship and the nature of God’s kingdom. In fact, in Mark 10:35-45, James and John boldly asked Jesus for positions of honor in His kingdom, prompting Jesus to teach them about servant leadership—how the greatest among us is the one who serves others.

Now, as Jesus and His followers approach Jericho, they encounter Bartimaeus, a blind beggar sitting by the roadside. Imagine the scene: dusty roads, bustling crowds, and Bartimaeus, sitting in darkness but yearning for light. He hears that Jesus of Nazareth is passing by, and in his desperation, he cries out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

What strikes me about Bartimaeus is his persistence and faith. Despite the crowd trying to silence him, he cries out all the louder. He knew in his heart that Jesus could change his life forever. And Jesus, always attentive to genuine faith, stops in His tracks and asks Bartimaeus to come to Him.

Friends, this story isn’t just about a blind man receiving physical sight. It’s about all of us who, in our own ways, are sitting by the roadside of life—maybe feeling unseen, broken, or in need of a touch from Jesus. Like Bartimaeus, we’re invited to cry out to Him with faith, knowing that He hears us and responds with love and power.

Before we read God’s Word together, I want to remind you that…

Statement of Belief:

We believe the Bible to be inspired, God breathed, infallible, and authoritative. We believe the Bible is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training believer’s in righteousness. God’s Word gives life. It provides peace in trouble and protection in tribulation. It is alive, active, and cuts to the core of the human soul. Since there is no other book like it, let us stand to show our reverence and respect.  

Today’s Scripture:

Mark 10:46-52 ESV

And they came to Jericho. And as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside. [47] 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!" [48] And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" [49] And Jesus stopped and said, "Call him." And they called the blind man, saying to him, "Take heart. Get up; he is calling you." [50] And throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. [51] And Jesus said to him, "What do you want me to do for you?" And the blind man said to him, "Rabbi, let me recover my sight." [52] And Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your faith has made you well." And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way.

Pastor:

“This Is The Word of The Lord.”

Congregation:

“Praise His Name. Praise His Holy Name!”

3 Lessons From Bartimaeus’ Blessing!

I. A Lesson on Brokenness vs. 46

So, I want to do my best to reveal to you three lessons from Bartimaeus’ story this morning. Lesson number one, fill in this first blank, a lesson on brokenness. We see this point in verse 46. 

“And they came to Jericho. And as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside.”

Friends, I want you to understand that this is a true story. It actually happened. These are real people that we are talking about here. Although it is a true story, it possesses a symbolic nature. Bartimaeus represents all of us. He represents all people, men and women, everyone who has ever been born. Bartimaeus represents all mankind. Bartimaeus is a human being on the brink. He is broken, busted, and bruised. Lost. Blind. His outlook bleak. His future buried under the ruin of his past. 

Bartimaeus was physically blind. He was living in a dark world. His blindness represents the spiritual blindness that all of us experience before we encounter Christ. We are blind to the spiritual truths that are revealed in Scripture. Blind to God’s movement. Blind to the Holy Spirit’s leading and guidance. 

Bartimaeus was physically helpless. He was unable to move. Unable to move forward in his life. He is stuck. Frozen in time. Frozen in space. Captured by his disabilities and shackled by disease. He had no money. No resources. He is the picture of need and want. We are spiritually helpless. We are spiritually impoverished. Spiritually poor. Stuck in our sin and shackled to our guilt. 

Bartimaeus was desperate. Chances are he was starving. His clothing was tattered. He probably had not bathed in months, maybe years. It’s odd that Mark gives us the family name for Bartimaeus. Bartimaeus Bar Timaeus. Bartimaeus son of Timaeus. This is the only time in Scripture that we hear this name. We don’t know anything about this man or his family. Why does Mark put this in his Gospel? Is it by accident or does it have a purpose? I think that it absolutely has a purpose. I think that Mark is showing us that Bartimaeus was a part of a family but that family connection had been severed. Bartimaeus’ father was absent, perhaps even disowning his son. His father had abandoned him in his darkest moment. Leaving him to his own devices. Bartimaesus was living on the outside, stranded, alone. He may have had a family name but he was without said family. No earthly father to protect him, to provide for him. 

Friends, this is us. You and I. Without Christ. Desperate. Helpless. Blind. Disabled. Fatherless and without a family. 

Broken. 

Do you know what most people do with broken things? Let me ask it another way. What do you do with broken things? You throw them away don’t you. Our landfills are filled with junk, filled with trash. Much of that junk and trash were once valuable commodities. These artifacts that we once purchased at the heights of a fad we thought would last but didn’t. As they lost their value, as they started gathering dust, these belongings began to move. From a position of high traffic in our homes, to the back of a closet, to the garage, then to the garbage can. Maybe it was old. Maybe it was broke. Culturally speaking, we see no value in broken things. Culturally speaking, we so no value in broken people. Broken people are burdened people. We judge them. We look down on them. No we don’t say it out loud and if we do we say “well bless their heart” or “someone needs to help them” or even better, “I’ll pray for them”. Most people really just want to throw away broken things and broken people. 

I’ve got news for you church, we are all broken. “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.”

That’s what makes Jesus different. He sees beauty in the broken and potential in the problematic. How many of you have heard the word “kintsugi”? Kintsugi is the centuries-old Japanese art of fixing broken pottery. Rather than rejoin ceramic pieces with a camouflaged adhesive, the kintsugi technique employs a special tree sap lacquer dusted with powdered gold, silver, or platinum. Once completed, beautiful seams of gold glint in the conspicuous cracks of ceramic wares, giving a one-of-a-kind appearance to each “repaired” piece. Instead of hiding the brokenness of the poetry, kintsugi highlights the brokenness. Instead of disguising the brokenness of the pottery, kintsugi makes the pottery distinguished and distinctive. The Japanese say that kintsugi gives the pottery “new life” or “second life”. 

Church, when you are introduced to Jesus, He repairs us much in the same way. We are not bonded together by gold kintsugi. No. We are covered under His blood, repaired by His loved, held together by His mercy. We too are given a new life, a second life, through Jesus. Our brokenness is not disguised but it is healed. 

Make no mistake, Bartimaeus represents all of us this morning. Broken. Broken but not for long. 

Psalm 34:18 (NKJV)

“The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit.”

3 Lessons From Bartimaeus’ Blessing!

I. A Lesson on Brokenness vs. 46

II. A Lesson on Boldness vs. 47-48

So, our first lesson is on brokenness. We are all broken. Next, our second lesson, is on boldness. Let’s go back and read verses 47-48.

[47] 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!" [48] And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"

“Shut up you nut!” they told the blind beggar. 

“Pipe down” they said as they spit on him, hurled insults his way, and kicked dirt in his face. 

“Leave the Master alone, He doesn’t want anything to do with you” they jeered. 

Why were the people so harsh to Bartimaeus? Looking through our cultural lens, it appears that the men and women of Jesus’ time were unfeeling, uncaring, and dispassionate to the plight of those suffering. 

If it appears that way, it is because that was the way it was. People were dispassionate. People were uncaring. People were unfeeling. And they had good reason to be that way. Especially religious people. People living in Jesus’ day believed that if you were suffering from some physical disease or physical handicap, you were being punished by God for either your parent’s sin or your own sin. People in Jesus’ day believed in generational curses. Meaning that a man could be punished for the sins of his great great great grand parents. 

Bartimaeus, at least in the eyes of his peers, was getting his “comeupins”. He was getting his just desserts. 

The people of Jesus’ day new Numbers 14:18, 

he will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, to the third and the fourth generation.’

They would have memorized Exodus 20 verse 5, 

for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me,

This idea of generational curses even came up in John 9. The disciples asked Jesus about another man born blind. Listen to what they asked…

And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

Think about Bartimaeus for a second. If the people around him knew about these sorts of religious curses, Bartimaeus knew about them as well. Imagine living this way, living under a curse? Imagine wondering if it was your sin that trapped you in this disease. Imagine wondering if it was some sin of some nameless relative that left you begging and borrowing on the streets. 

How would you feel? I will tell you how I would feel. 

Betrayed. 

Angry.

Abused. 

Defeated.

Depressed. 

That’s Stuart for ya. Bartimaeus chose a different path. When he heard that Jesus was passing by, he started shouting. Scripture says that Bartimaeus began to “cry out” but that description in Scripture falls well short of the scene that Bartimaeus was making. 

Go back to the original Greek. The Greek word being used for “cry out” is krad'-zo. It means to “croak” as in croak like a frog or to “squawk”. The Greek Hebrew Lexicon actually says that krad'-zo means to cry out or squawk like a raven. 

Bartimaeus was crying out to Jesus in a desperate, repetitive, guttural manner that was off putting to the people around him. He was like an annoying bird that wouldn’t be quiet. He was demanding, deafening, and undeterred by the calls of the crowd. 

He would not be quiet. 

He would not shut up.

He would not be silent. 

Again friends, Bartimaeus is symbolic of the human condition. All of us will experience trail, hardship, and suffering. Everyone in this room is handicapped in someway. All of us are handicapped by sin. Dead in our transgressions, lost in our iniquity. 

Like Bartimaeus, we all have a choice. We can remain where we are or we can choose a different path. We can remain in our own story or we can open a new book. Bartimaeus boldness was an expression of his faith. His bold cries were a declaration of his belief that Jesus had the power to heal him. This is a powerful reminder to us that true faith is not passive; it calls for action. Bartimaeus’ boldness was his faith in action, and Jesus acknowledged and rewarded that faith.

His boldness was also a reflection of his desperation and humility. Bartimaeus was a beggar, blind and marginalized. He had nothing to lose and everything to gain. His cries were not just loud, they were heartfelt and urgent. He was desperate for Jesus’ touch. In our lives, we must come to Jesus with the same desperation and humility, acknowledging our need for Him and not letting anything hold us back from seeking His mercy.

Friends, Bartimaeus is more than just a character in a story. He is so much more. Bartimaeus is an example to follow. God is desiring more for you and I. He has much greater expectations than we could ever have for ourselves. The life that He wants for you and I is so much grander. Sadly, to many Christians settle for the dirt, they sit in their sin, happy in their handicap. 

Be reminded what the author of Hebrews states…

Hebrews 4:16 (NIV)

“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

3 Lessons From Bartimaeus’ Blessing!

I. A Lesson on Brokenness vs. 46

II. A Lesson on Boldness vs. 47-48

III. A Lesson on Belief vs. 52

So, we are on our third lesson. We have seen a lesson in brokenness. We are all broken. Second, we have seen a lesson on boldness. God wants us to have an active, persevering faith. Lastly, we have a lesson on belief. 

I know what you are thinking. You are thinking that it I am talking about Bartimaeus’ belief in Jesus. You are not wrong. Bartimaeus did show incredible faith in Christ. When he was being shut down, his voice snuffed out, Bartimaeus showed tremendous courage in not allowing his cry to go unheard. Would we all show the same belief in Jesus that Bartimaeus displayed. 

That is actually not the belief that I am talking about this morning. I am talking about the belief that Jesus had in Bartimaeus. 

[52] And Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your faith has made you well." And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way.

First, Jesus did something that no one had probably done in a long time to Bartimaeus. Jesus spoke to him. In speaking to Bartimaeus, Jesus restored to him his dignity, his humanity, his value. No one valued Bartimaeus. No one saw him as anything but a lost, corrupt, sinner. They only saw the curse of Bartimaeus. They saw his curse but Jesus saw his course. Jesus knew that there was more to Bartimaeus. 

People had been tossing scraps to Bartimaeus for years. Throwing change in his cup. Tossing trash for food his way. Jesus actually treated him like a human being. Jesus’ didn’t just speak to Bartimaeus, He also gave him a new purpose in life. “Go your way” Jesus told him. For years, Bartimaeus didn’t have a way. He was stuck, paralyzed and frozen in time. Bartimaeus’ way was wallowing in his pain, whimpering about his past failures and wishing for better days. “Go your way Bartimaeus” Jesus told him. No longer did his past matter. No longer was he tied to his handicap. Bartimaeus could now move forward in his life. 

The best part of this story is not that Jesus spoke to him, or that Jesus gave him a purpose. The best part of the story is that Bartimaeus could have gone and done whatever he wanted to do, but he chose to walk closely with Jesus. He went from being a blind man in the dirt to a man walking with vision, with purpose, and with goals. 

Bartimaeus’ life was completely transformed. A new day had come and light had entered his world. 

Friends, the crux of the story is not that Bartimaeus believed in Jesus. The real truth of the story is that Jesus believed in Bartimaeus. Jesus does for Bartimaeus was He wants to do for all of us. He wants to restore you. Provide for you a purpose and set your feet walking on a new road. 

All you have to do is cry out for it. 

Romans 10:13 EASY

As it says in the Bible: ‘The Lord God will save everyone who asks him for help.’

Last week, we saw the faith of a father who desperately wanted his son to be set free from an evil spirit. 

Mark 9:24 (ESV)

‘I believe; help my unbelief!’”

Oh friends, there is tremendous power in belief. Believing in Christ can alter your direction and impact your eternity. 

I will close with this last story. Probably you have never heard of Gladys Aylward. She was born in London, England in 1902, to a working class family. From a young age, she felt a deep burden for China and believed that God was calling her to be a missionary there. Despite her passion, Gladys faced significant obstacles. She was rejected by the China Inland Mission because she failed to pass the necessary examinations. Yet, her belief in God’s call did not waver. 

Her family tried to tell her not to go but Gladys wouldn’t stop. She raised her own money and set out, alone mind you, to China. Gladys persisted in her calling despite the rejection she faced. She saved her money from working as a housemaid and eventually purchased a one-way ticket to China, traveling alone by train and ship, through war zones and dangerous territories. In 1932, Gladys arrived in the remote Chinese village of Yangcheng. She began working with an elderly missionary named Jeannie Lawson, running an inn for farmers, share croppers, and people passing through. She shared the gospel with those who stayed there. After Jeannie’s death, Gladys continued the work on her own, trusting that God would provide and guide her. Gladys quickly learned the language and immersed herself in the culture, becoming known and loved by the local people. She took on the role of a “foot inspector” to help enforce the government’s new law against the traditional practice of foot-binding, which gave her opportunities to share her faith. Gladys’ faith and courage soon led her into even more challenging roles. During a local prison riot, she bravely intervened, calming the situation and advocating for better conditions for the prisoners. Her actions earned her the respect of the local officials and further opportunities to witness.

Her faith continued to shine through in the face of danger. When Japan invaded China in 1937, Gladys found herself in the midst of the turmoil. She began taking in orphans, and her home quickly filled with children needing care and protection. Gladys’ belief in God’s call to care for the orphans led her to take extraordinary risks.

One of the most remarkable displays of Gladys’ faith came during what is known as “The Long March.” With Japanese forces advancing, she led over 100 orphans on a perilous journey across the mountains to safety. This journey, spanning over 100 miles, took several weeks. Despite the dangers of exhaustion, starvation, and enemy forces, Gladys never lost faith. She continually prayed and trusted that God would guide and protect them.

Just as Bartimaeus cried out to Jesus for mercy and received his sight, Gladys cried out to God for protection and guidance. Her unwavering belief in God’s provision was rewarded when they safely reached the orphanage in Sian, where the children could be cared for.

Oh friends, make no mistake, belief matters. Belief changes lives, impacts this world, and can alter the eternal destiny of people. Remember, Jesus believes in you. He believes in me. Will you acknowledge your brokenness? Will you boldly receive Christ? If you do, your life will forever be changed. 

Remember…

All Things Are Possible For Anyone Who Believes!

Closing Prayer:

Heavenly Father, 

We come before You with hearts full of gratitude for Your boundless love and mercy. We thank You for the powerful example of Bartimaeus, whose bold faith brought him healing and transformation. Today, we recognize that same opportunity is before each of us. 

Lord, we pray for those who feel the stirring of Your Spirit, calling them to accept Jesus Christ as their Savior. May they have the courage to step forward and receive the gift of salvation that You so freely offer. We ask that You draw them near, that they may experience Your love and grace in a profound way.

For those who feel led to join this church family, we welcome them with open arms. May they find here a community of faith, support, and encouragement as we journey together in Christ. We pray that they would take that step today, to become part of this body, to grow and serve alongside us.

We also lift up those who are ready to take the next step in their faith through believers’ baptism. May they publicly declare their commitment to You, and may this act of obedience bring them deeper into Your presence and purpose.

And for those who are burdened by sin, who long for forgiveness and a fresh start, we invite them to come to the altar. Lord, Your Word promises that if we confess our sins, You are faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. May they find freedom and renewal in Your loving embrace.

As we leave this place, may we carry the light of Christ with us, boldly proclaiming Your goodness and mercy. In Jesus' mighty name we pray,

Amen.