“Your faith has made you well.” Some people hear these words of Jesus and instantly start second-guessing themselves. “If I only had enough faith, I wouldn’t be in such pain. If I only had enough faith, I would be healed of whatever sicknesses or troubles I have.”

But such spiritual navel-gazing completely misses the lesson Bartimaeus is trying to teach us. For notice that his attention isn’t on himself at all – he’s fully focused on Jesus. He knows that Jesus alone can fix his problems and make him whole.

And what is it that Bartimaeus knows about Jesus? In verse 48, he calls Him the Son of David, pointing to His royal authority and power. At the same time, he appeals to Jesus’ mercy, believing that King Jesus would take the time and trouble to help a blind beggar, someone who was doubtless on the bottom rung of the social ladder.

And Bartimaeus was so sure that Jesus could and would help him that he kept on crying out to Jesus. And when Jesus stopped to speak to him, his expectation was so great that he jumped right up and came as he was called. And of course Jesus did not disappoint him.

The good news is that Jesus still has the same authority, the same power and the same willingness to save us and to help us, no matter what troubles we face. Will we call on Him with perseverance and expectation today?

Mark 10:46-52 (ESV)

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.
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.