This morning, we come to a transitional story in the Gospel of Mark. Over the past several weeks, we’ve established the morality of the kingdom, as Jesus has used children, false teachers, and the wealthy to teach us kingdom priorities. Remember, in verse 15, he told his disciples, “Whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” Then, in verse 23, he said, “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” In those two statements, we could make the mistake of thinking that Jesus prefers certain social groups over others. Children are loved by God and the wealthy are hated by virtue of their position. But, Jesus is not saying that children are inherently innocent or holy. Nor is he saying that the wealthy are reprobate. Rather, he is using children and the rich as analogies. You cannot buy your way into the kingdom of God. You cannot earn enough credit, build up enough merit, or store up enough treasure to deserve it. You could say, as the rich young man did, that you have obeyed all the commandments from your youth, but your heart will betray you. If you are to enter the kingdom of God, it will be on the basis of your need, not your worthiness. The kingdom of God is for the poor in spirit, the meek, and the brokenhearted. It is for those who, like a little baby, can do nothing to earn their way.
This has been the repeated teaching of Jesus from the beginning of this Gospel, and now we see a real-life example of that in the story we have before us. So, let’s read Mark 10:46-52. From this text, see two points: A Broken Sinner and a Benevolent Savior.
First, from verses 46-48, see a Broken Sinner. Jesus is nearing Jerusalem, as we are told, in verse 46, that he has passed through Jericho, which was about 15 miles away. Before he enters Jerusalem and the story shifts to his sacrificial death and resurrection, there is one last miracle that Mark wants us to know about. As he leaves Jericho, a blind man cries out to him, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Mark gives us three details about this man that are important, as he serves as the perfect example of a person who will enter the kingdom of God. First, Mark tells us his name: Bartimaeus. It’s interesting that Mark goes further to tell us that he is the son of Timaeus, because the name Bartimaeus means literally, “Son of Timaeus.” Certainly, Mark wants his Greek-speaking audience to understand this for a good reason. The most important thing about this man is that he is the son of Timaeus – he is the child to a father. Remember, Jesus has repeatedly said that, if anyone would come to him, they must come as a child, and now, here is Bartimaeus – Son of Timaeus – coming to Jesus.
Second, we learn that he is blind. We have studied other healings of the blind by Jesus, and all of these have a prophetic and spiritual significance. Prophetically, it was the great hope of Israel that the Messiah would come, and a sure sign of his coming is that the blind would see. Isaiah 35:5-6 promises, “Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped.” After John the Baptist was imprisoned by Herod Antipas, he began to doubt his calling and the ministry of Jesus. So, he sent his disciples to ask Jesus to confirm it. In Luke 7:22, Jesus tells them, “Go tell John what you have seen, that the blind receive their sight.” Blindness is also symbolic of our spiritual condition. We are all blind to the things of God because of our enslavement to sin and Satan. 2 Cor. 4:4 says, “The god of this world has blinded the minds of unbelievers.” Bartimaeus is a prime candidate for the kingdom, because like a child, he is all need. He cannot see. He cannot even find Jesus.
Finally, we learn that Bartimaeus is a beggar. The Greek word is ptochos, which means, “deeply impoverished.” He is the opposite of the rich young ruler in our last story. Bartimaeus has nothing to bring to the Lord. He cannot offer a tithe or a sacrifice. He cannot pay Jesus back for his healing. But, this is precisely the type of person Jesus came to bless. As Matthew 5:3 says, “blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
Bartimaeus is all need, and all he knows to do is cry out a confession – “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Oh, what a simple yet beautiful statement of faith. Before the crowds would cry out “Hosanna to the Son of David”, before Thomas would profess, “My Lord and my God”, a blind beggar would cry with all his desperate might, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Here is all that we bring to Jesus. We bring a confession of who he is. He is the Son of David, the Messiah, the king of kings. As Romans 10:9-10 says, “If you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you shall be saved.” In this simple phrase, “Son of David”, this beggar proclaimed Jesus to be the Lord of heaven and earth. Like Bartimaeus, we also bring a confession of who we are. We are broken sinners who can do nothing to save ourselves. Bartimaeus cried out, “Have mercy on me!” The word mercy here means, “to show compassion or pity, or undeserved kindness.” Bartimaeus could do nothing about his poverty or blindness, but he knew Jesus could, and he knew that he would be gracious. This is what we should bring to Jesus, too.
Bartimaeus is all need, but Jesus is a merciful savior. That leads me to my second point: the Benevolent Savior, from verses 49-52. Even through the rebuke of others in the crowd, Bartimaeus continued to cry out, “Have mercy on me.” And, finally, Jesus stopped. In this interaction, see three truths about God’s mercy. First, God’s mercy is engaging. Verse 49 says that Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” The word “call” means to “cry out”. In the same way that Bartimaeus called out to Jesus, Jesus called out to him. Recognize in this, that, as John 6:44 says, “No one can come to Jesus unless the father draws him.” Bartimaeus could not see Jesus, and even though he desired to be saved, to be healed, he could not see the way. Jesus had to call him, to draw him, for him to be made whole. In the same way, it is God who must engage the sinner, through his Word and Spirit, that he might be called to salvation.
Second, God’s mercy is embracing. In verse 51, Jesus asks, “What do you want me to do for you?” This question echoes his response to James and John when they came to him to ask that he make them first and second in the kingdom. But, unlike James and John, Bartimaeus comes with needy faith and no expectations, and Jesus gladly embraces him. So, with that invitation, Bartimaeus asks, “let me recover my sight.”
Then, we see that God’s mercy is enabling. In verse 52, Jesus tells him, “Go your way, your faith has made you well.” And, Bartimaeus is immediately healed. Jesus enabled this healing of Bartimaeus for one reason. It was nothing that Bartimaeus owned or could do. It was simply on the basis of his faith that he was made well. He received the mercy of God through faith. Anyone who would enter the kingdom of God must do so in this same way.
Friend, the kingdom of God is open to anyone who would come in need. You could be the richest man in the world, but if you recognize that your soul is bankrupt, then you are ready to enter the kingdom of God. You could be the worst vagabond of society, but if you plead to Christ for mercy, you are ready to receive the kingdom. Won’t you acknowledge your need and fall upon the mercy of Christ today?