The Value of a Beggar

And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great
number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging. 
And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus,
thou Son of David, have mercy on me. 
And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal,
Thou Son of David, have mercy on me. 
And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man,
saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee. 
And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus. 
And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee?
The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight. 
 And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately
he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way. Mar 10:46-52

The account of blind Bartimaeus receiving his sight by Jesus is one of the most beautiful stories of the love, mercy, and power of Christ to heal and restore anyone. It shows me and reminds me again, that Jesus' attitude towards people is in complete opposition to what the world esteems and considers worthy of His attention. It also shows just how simple a prayer can be, that He hears, and answers.

In this story we see those around him telling him to shut up, stop calling out to the Master. Who was he, a blind beggar, of no value to society, with nothing to offer anyone. He sat there destitute, begging for any small portion to survive. He was seen as just an annoyance, and an embarrassment. 

If you've ever been snubbed by people who feel they are better than you-you understand the position of blind Bartimaeus. 

But, take note of Jesus. He stops, and commands him to be called to him. He takes heed to this man who all other's had kicked aside, and takes time out of his journey, to hear what this man has to say. Bartimaeus response was simple and clear- "Lord, that I may receive my sight".

Faith doesn't need a long exposition. It comes from deep within the soul, and connects with the Holy Spirit in those terms. 
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​Jesus answered him, "Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole." As soon as Bartimaeus received his sight, he followed Jesus. This is the motivation that comes from great faith, and love.

As I've read this story over the years, I've wondered if the magnitude of what Jesus did, and all the lessons it held, got through to the suspicious, hard hearted, embarrassed self-righteous who wanted nothing to do with him. 

On a certain day in March of 1978, I spoke a similar short simple prayer, and received salvation in Christ, my sins were forgiven and washed away. That day, I was delivered from alcoholism, and many other demonic oppressions. Over the years, I still deal with demonic attacks from many directions-every Christian will. I have to maintain my walk with the Lord, with a lot of prayer, and diligence. The devil never stops and will look for an open door all the time. But, like Bartimaeus, I've learned that Jesus is no respecter of persons. No one is more important than another to him, and he will answer anyone who truly wants to be changed, and healed by Him. He will never force Himself on anyone, but, He's there, ready and willing to answer, if you honestly want to be healed, and want to change. His love, is not partial or for anyone who the world sees as important. To Him, we are all on equal ground.
Through the years of walking with Jesus, my love for Him only grows. I have a long path behind me, of prayers He's answered, guidance He's given, and light for my feet, through this wilderness of life. Every attack from the devil, only fuels my prayers, to oppose him, and defeat him. There is victory in Jesus.
Lorna Couillard

Lessons to Consider From this Story

That the followers of Christ are not necessarily his friends or true disciples. “He went out of Jericho with His disciples, and a great number of people.”
1. In the multitudes who accompanied Jesus out of Jericho, some, doubtless, followed Him out of mere curiosity.
2. Some followed because it was just then fashionable to do so.
3. Some followed with a view to future worldly advantage.
4. Such following is generally useless, deceptive, and mischievous, being of no real or permanent advantage to anyone.
(1) It confers no substantial benefit on any Christian country.
(2) It is of no real advantage to those followers themselves.
The text suggests to us that among a multitude of Christ’s followers you may generally expect to find some friends. “With His disciples.” Out of those who follow from curiosity Christ is drawing many real followers.
1. This should encourage us to persevere in our own following.
2. This should encourage us in relation to other followers. (J. Morgan.)

Following Jesus.—So with us, when our eyes are opened we follow Jesus in the way. Before that we walk in our own way, in the way of the world; we follow the multitude to do evil, we follow our own sinful lusts and passions; we choose our own way instead of God’s way; we prefer the path which is most pleasant, most easy, most profitable; but when our eyes are opened all is changed, we learn to say, “I loved to choose and see my path; but now—lead Thou me on.” Thus we come to follow Jesus in the way; and that way is the way of holiness, the narrow way which leads to life. It is not always a smooth way; it climbs up the Hill Difficulty, and anon winds down into the Valley of Humiliation; it passes through a garden of Gethsemane, a place of agonized prayer; it leads to a cross, a lifelong cross sometimes; it carries us to a grave, but, thank God, a grave from which the stone is rolled away, and which is bright with the light of a glorious resurrection. And withal it is a way of pleasantness, and a path of peace, of peace such as the world cannot give, and it ends in heaven. (Preacher's Homiletical)