Article April 4, 1931 Issue

Bartimæus Liberated

HARRY A. COLLINS

Bartimaeus considered himself blind. He also considered himself poor—so poor that daily he sat by the highway begging. His associates also considered him blind and poor. For many years Bartimæus probably had sat in the same place by the highway; and because he had been there for a long time, considered it his rightful place. Why should he change? What else was there for him to do? Possibly he had been sitting there as a blind beggar as long as he could remember, and now it seemed the only thing he could do under the circumstances. Then, too, it was so much easier to follow the fixed habit of his daily routine—just sitting and indolently accepting, together with those whose thinking was similar to his own, the blindness and poverty of his condition!

And yet, doubtless, he wished he were not blind. He had heard of a man, Jesus of Nazareth by name, who, some said, could heal men born blind. But even so, this might not apply to him: blindness to Bartimæus seemed very real. He was sure it could not be otherwise. To his sense, blindness and poverty were self-evident; and what greater proof could there be than his own sense? Yet he did wish for sight: he would like to talk with this man Jesus.

And then one day there was a disturbance along the highway. A multitude of voices gave evidence of some unusual occurrence, and Bartimæus heard it said that this very same Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. In an instant the hope in him cried out, and he called, "Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me." But those who were near him, believing in his blindness, told him to hold his peace. They may have reminded him that he was only a blind beggar, and that Jesus was too much occupied to come to him; but this only aroused Bartimæus to greater purpose, and he cried out the more, so much so that "Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called." Then came the voice of friends telling Bartimæus to be of good comfort, for Jesus had asked him to come; and casting away his garment, Bartimæus rose and came to Jesus. Blind as he was, when he heard this call, he found his way to the place where he believed he could receive help.

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit

Bartimæus Liberated

We'd love to hear from you!

Sign up for unlimited access