In brief
Bartimaeus is a blind beggar sitting by the roadside at Jericho, whom Jesus meets as he goes up to Jerusalem. When he hears that Jesus of Nazareth is passing by, he cries out for mercy as a son of David. The crowd tries to silence him, but he cries out all the louder. Jesus stops, calls him, asks what he wants, then tells him that his faith has saved him. He receives his sight at once and follows Jesus. We remember his boldness in faith.
What does the name Bartimaeus mean?
Mark himself gives the meaning of this name: he is the son of Timaeus, Bartimaeus. Bar means son in Aramaic, which explains why the evangelist presents him this way (Mark 10:46). Luke tells the same healing near Jericho without giving his name (Luke 18:35).
The story of Bartimaeus
A beggar by the roadside
Mark 10:46Jesus leaves Jericho with his disciples and a great crowd. Beside the road sits Bartimaeus, a blind beggar. He has no trade and no place in the crowd: he depends on the charity of passersby. There, on the edge of the road, his story is about to change.
The cry to Jesus
Mark 10:47-48Bartimaeus hears that it is Jesus of Nazareth who is passing by and begins to cry out, calling him Son of David and asking for mercy. Many rebuke him to make him be quiet, but he cries out much louder. He calls Jesus by the title of the promised Messiah.
Jesus stops and calls him
Mark 10:49-50Jesus stops and says to call him. Those who wanted to silence him now tell him to take courage, get up, because Jesus is calling. The blind man throws off his cloak, jumps up and comes to Jesus. He leaves behind what was holding him back.
What do you want me to do for you?
Mark 10:51Jesus asks him a simple question about what he wants him to do for him. He could have guessed the man's need, but he invites him to say it. Bartimaeus answers that he wants to receive his sight, calling him Rabbi. His request is clear and precise.
Sight restored, the road followed
Mark 10:52Jesus tells him to go, for his faith has saved him. At once he receives his sight, and he follows Jesus on the road. Luke adds that he follows him glorifying God and that all the people, seeing it, give praise to God (Luke 18:43).
What Bartimaeus teaches us
- Crying out to Jesus with perseverance is not rudeness: it is faith.
- The voices that want to silence us do not decide what Jesus does with our cry.
- Jesus invites us to tell him clearly what we want, even though he already knows.
- Leaving behind his cloak means leaving what holds us back so we can answer his call.
- Bartimaeus's healing leads to following: he walks behind Jesus on the road.
Key verses
Bartimaeus's cry calls Jesus Son of David and begs for mercy. He recognizes Jesus as the Messiah and will not be reduced to silence. It is a model of persistent, trusting prayer.
Jesus asks what Bartimaeus wants him to do. The Lord asks questions, he does not impose. Bartimaeus's answer is a precise request, addressed respectfully to Rabboni.
His faith has saved him. Bartimaeus's faith is the foothold of his healing, and the end of the verse shows him following Jesus on the road instead of leaving on his own.
Luke's parallel account reports the same cry and the same healing as Jesus draws near to Jericho. It stresses the final praise: the man glorifies God and all the people give him praise.
Sermons about Bartimaeus
- Mark 10: Crying Out Like Bartimaeus in God’s PresenceIn this evening of prayer, Freslet Germain reminds us that being in the right place is not enough. Like Bartimaeus, we must cry out, and cry out louder when everything around us tries to silence us.
- What Do You Want Me to Do for You? Jesus' QuestionThis sermon dwells on the question Jesus asks Bartimaeus about what he wants, and on what it says about the way we bring our needs to God.
Frequently asked questions
Who was Bartimaeus in the Bible?
Bartimaeus is a blind beggar of Jericho. He cries out to Jesus despite the protests of the crowd, receives his sight in Mark 10:46-52, then follows Jesus on the road. He is one of the few healed blind men whose name the Gospel of Mark gives.
What does the name Bartimaeus mean?
Mark explains it himself: Bartimaeus is the son of Timaeus. Bar is the Aramaic word for son, as in Bar-Jonah or Barnabas. The text does not develop the meaning of the name of his father, Timaeus, any further.
Where can I find the story of Bartimaeus in the Bible?
It is read in Mark 10:46-52. Luke tells the healing of a blind man near Jericho in Luke 18:35-43 without giving his name, and Matthew 20:29-34 also speaks of it. The three accounts are best read side by side to compare the details.