Luke 18:35–43 (NLT) As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind beggar was sitting beside the road. 36 When he heard the noise of a crowd going past, he asked what was happening. 37 They told him that Jesus the Nazarene was going by. 38 So he began shouting, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 39 “Be quiet!” the people in front yelled at him. But he only shouted louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 40 When Jesus heard him, he stopped and ordered that the man be brought to him. As the man came near, Jesus asked him, 41 “What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord,” he said, “I want to see!” 42 And Jesus said, “All right, receive your sight! Your faith has healed you.” 43 Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus, praising God. And all who saw it praised God, too.
Can you imagine the joy that Bartimaeus felt when he could see?
This miracle of Jesus changed his whole life. That is why Jesus asked him what he wanted. It’s as if Jesus was asking him, “Are you ready for the change that this miracle will bring to your life?” When Bartimaeus said he wanted to see, Jesus immediately healed him.
In a moment of time, Bartimaeus went from darkness to light… all because he came face-to-face with the Light. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” (John 8:12).
Jesus explained that He came so that the blind will see, and the seeing will become blind. Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.” (John 9:39). He of course is speaking of spiritual seeing and spiritual blindness.
How do you know if you have spiritual sight or if you are still spiritually blind? The way you can know is how you relate to Jesus. Are you following Him? Is He your Lord and the Leader of your life? Do you have a thirst for God’s truth? Do you understand the Bible when you read it? Do you have a grasp for spiritual truth?
Helen Keller (1880-1968)
Years ago, I remember hearing Billy Graham preach a message about blind Bartimaeus. In the message, Billy Graham tells of a conversation he had with Helen Keller. This amazing lady was born both blind and deaf. This made learning exceptionally difficult. But she graduated from Harvard and became a celebrated author and speaker. She told Billy Graham, “I’m glad I’m blind. I see so much more clearly than others. I have walked with men whose eyes are full of light but cannot see.”
Ms. Keller said to Billy Graham what the Apostle John said to us,
1 John 1:6–7 (NLT) So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. 7 But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.
The amazing thing about Bartimaeus is not that his blindness was cured but that the very first person he saw was Jesus, the Son of David, the promised Messiah of Israel! Can you imagine how you would feel if the very first image that was etched on your memory was the face of Jesus? What joy!
But having seen the Light, we are commanded to walk as children of light, “For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true” (Ephesians 5:7–9).
So What? Describe what it “looks like” to be walking in the Light:
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