“As Jesus drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. And when he heard the crowd passing by, he asked what it was. They said to him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” And he cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Those who went before rebuked him, that he might be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” And Jesus stood still and commanded him to be brought to him. And when he came near, he asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” He answered, “Lord, that I may receive my sight.” And Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has saved you.” And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, glorifying God. And when all the people saw it, they praised God.” LUKE 18:35-43
Jesus walks in the midst of the crowd, but He stops for the people who cry out to Him, His attention is mainly on those who seek Him with all their heart, but not on the crowd.
Today he stops for you too.
Jesus values every individual, no matter what their background; He stops for all kinds of people.
Bartimaeus was not only blind, but also a beggar. His condition of blindness led him to become a beggar.
When faced with situations that we cannot change, over which we have no control, we learn to live with them. Bartimaeus was able to adapt to his condition by learning to lead the life of a beggar.
When you have been hurt and you build your life around that hurt, perhaps for many years, you want to avoid feeling that pain again and you withdraw into yourself, avoiding opening your heart to others.
Similarly, when you have experienced failure and you build your life around that experience, even if it was many years ago, it can be a challenge to overcome the associated pain and dare to open yourself up again to the possibilities of success.
If you have learned to build your life around your condition, the good news today is that healing, restoration, and recovery are possibilities available to you .
Jesus came to heal us of our wounds and offer us peace, rather than simply to teach us how to live with our conditions. His purpose is to heal even the deepest wounds that we might think are irremediable. That is precisely why he came.
1- JESUS HEARS YOU
In verse 38, Bartimaeus cried out, and Jesus heard him. Although the people asked him to stop his cries, he persisted. Jesus, touched by his perseverance, stopped for him.
Jesus hears Bartimaeus' cry in the midst of the crowd, always attentive to the voices of those who call upon him . He captures even the prayers that are not expressed aloud, hearing our most silent calls. God is always listening.
Although people ignored Bartimaeus and asked him to stop shouting, Jesus heard him.
Just as a good father hears the voice of his child, God is attentive to our cries.
Amidst conditions we cannot change, our misunderstandings, trials, disappointments, struggles, and pressures, it often happens that we tell everyone about them, but not God.
As Bartimaeus lived with his condition, he cried out to Jesus.
It is beneficial to have a supportive environment, but a divine touch from God brings true restoration. Even though sometimes those around us criticize or oppose our approach to calling upon God, this spiritual connection can be essential to finding peace and healing. (And those who went before rebuked him, to silence him; but he cried out all the louder. LUKE 18:39 )
Jesus heard Bartimaeus and stopped.
2- JESUS STOPS
Although Bartimaeus may have been considered worthless by some at the time, Jesus preached that His message was specifically for those who are suffering. He showed that His attention is not limited to large gatherings, but that He stops to answer the sincere call of a person who cries out to Him. This underscores the importance that Jesus places on each individual, regardless of their situation.
When the Lord of lords stops His way for you, when the Creator God stops upon hearing your cry, it underlines the idea that, despite God's greatness and majesty, He is always close and attentive to those who humbly call to Him .
Jesus loves you so much that He cannot pass you by.
3- JESUS HEALS
“ The blind man threw off his cloak, jumped up, and came to Jesus.” MARK 10:50
Bartimaeus’ coat represented his security, a kind of shield that allowed him to survive. His entire life seemed to be contained in that garment. Yet he was ready to leave that coat behind and approach Jesus the moment Jesus stopped for him. By leaving that object behind, Bartimaeus was symbolically expressing, “I need Jesus to do something for me that this coat cannot accomplish.” It was an act of faith, showing his trust in Jesus’ ability to meet his needs beyond all that he possessed materially.
Are you longing for Jesus to accomplish something that you cannot accomplish on your own?
By leaving his coat behind, Bartimaeus abandoned the methods that allowed him to survive.
Are you willing to do the same with the methods that have allowed you to survive so far, even if you have simply become accustomed to living with them?
Jesus does not want you to get used to your current situation, but rather to lift you up and heal you from what has happened to you . He came to offer us life in abundance . We are not meant to simply survive, but to live fully and abundantly .
The same Jesus hears you today, He stops for you and desires to heal you, whether in your struggle or in your wounds. His intention is to initiate a process of healing and restoration in your life.
Now pray this prayer with all your heart:
“Lord Jesus, I approach you with an open heart, grateful for your presence in my life. I acknowledge my needs, my wounds, and the areas where I need healing. I invite you to come and touch my life in a deep way and bring your healing where it is needed.
I place my concerns, my pains, and my struggles in your hands. Lord, I believe in your healing power and your infinite love. Come, Jesus, with your saving grace, and restore what is broken in me. Let your light drive out all darkness and your peace replace all anxiety.
I want to live the abundant life you promise. Guide me through the healing process, that I may experience your transforming presence in my life. Thank you, Lord, for your unconditional love and unending grace. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.”