Was Blind But Now I See

Have you heard of the “Be My Eyes” app? It’s a non-profit app for your phone that allows you to help others see. Imagine a blind person needing help locating something in his home and you’ll understand the value of this app. Using the phone’s camera, a sight-impaired person can point the phone at what he or she cannot see as a volunteer provides guidance through video chat.

Designed by a visually impaired man in Denmark, this free application has been used countless times in the last several years. Here’s how one person describes the way she “lent her eyes” to help another see:

The other day, I connected with a young man who wanted to know the expiration date of the milk in his refrigerator. He positioned his phone’s camera to the top shelf. Looking at the image of the milk carton on my phone, I said, “I wouldn’t drink that if I were you.” He laughed, thanked me and that was the end of our call.

Isn’t that fantastic?! You may wish to download the app if you’d like to help others with similar tasks.

Jesus Christ helps helps us see. And He corrects both physical and spiritual vision.  From Mark 10:46-52, we learn a bit about the man known historically as “Blind Bartimaeus.”

Consider His Condition 

Now they came to Jericho. As He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the road begging. (verse 46)

Bartimaeus’ condition is clear: he is blind and he is poor.

Recalling our post from yesterday, Bartimaeus is an outcast. Like Matthew the tax collector, Bartimaeus is a candidate for the island of misfits.

So this marginalized beggar calls upon Jesus, the friend of sinners.

And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” (verse 47)

Bartimaeus yearns to see! He cries out loudly to Jesus, so loud we are told that many warned him to lower his voice:

Then many warned him to be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called. Then they called the blind man, saying to him, “Be of good cheer. Rise, He is calling you.” (verses 48-49)

Jesus makes time for those who cry out. He is there for those who know they need help. Bartimaeus throws aside his garment and runs to Jesus.

So Jesus answered and said to him, “What do you Me to do for you?” The blind man said to Him, “Rabboni, that I may receive my sight.” (verse 51)

This is a cry for physical healing. It was Bartimaeus’ physical eyesight that needed correction.

There was nothing wrong with his spiritual eyesight.

Consider His Confession 

Especially significant is the confession embedded in Bartimaeus’ plea for physical healing: “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”  

Bartimaeus does not merely address Jesus as rabbi or rabboni, respectful if not reverential titles. He addresses him as “Jesus, Son of David.” Put another way: “Jesus, the promised Messiah,” or “Jesus, the Promised One who would come from the lineage of King David.” Bartimaeus could just as easily have said, “Jesus, my Savior and Lord.”

Though blind physically, he sees well spiritually.  

Then Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road. (verse 52)

Healed! Now Bartimaeus could see both physically and spiritually.

Consider His Consecration 

The chapter ends with Bartimaeus’ indicating full surrender of his life to the Lord Jesus Christ.  The last few words of verse 52, the last few words of the chapter read, “And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road.”

After his healing, Bartimaeus follows Jesus as one who is wholly consecrated, wholly devoted and dedicated to following Christ.

What a wonderful picture of true discipleship, true following of the Lord Jesus!

**Some Things We Must See…

What follows are a few points of application that surface from our study of Bartimaeus and his encounter with Christ.

1) You Can be Blind, but See

Bartimaeus was blind physically, but he could see spiritually.  He was blind of body, but not of soul.

Think about that for a moment.  He had not seen any of the Lord’s miracles.  He had not seen or witnessed a single one. 

He had never once seen the Lord touch lepers and heal them.  He had never seen Jesus heal or cure any person of any illness.  He had not seen the Lord Jesus raise the dead by merely speaking a word.  He had not seen any of this—yet he believed.

Many people demand some great sign or supernatural working of God before believing in Christ.  

Christians live and walk by faith, not by sight. It’s not a blind faith. It is a faith based upon fact; the facts of the gospel. We “see,” through the eyes of faith—believing what Jesus has done for us in His life, death, and resurrection.

Several years ago I read about a strange fish of a family called the Anableps.  Read more about it here if it interests you.  It’s a strange species of fish found in Central America and parts of South America.  It’s a kind of fish that has two sets of eyes.  It’s actually one set, but its eyes divide the water line, enabling the fish to see two ways: above water and under water.

Most of us are also capable of seeing two ways, both physically and spiritually.

2) You can See, but be Blind 

Bartimaeus was able to see spiritually and, before Jesus healed him, he was unable to see physically.

On the other hand, there are many people who can see physically, but are blind spiritually.

This principle is similar to yesterday’s post about being sick, but thinking you’re well. Remember what Jesus said to Matthew the Tax Collector?  He said, “I did not come for those who are sick and think they are well; I have come for those who want to be well because they know they are sick.”

Similarly, a person may have the ability to see, but really be blind. Maybe you’ve heard the old aphorism:

“There is no one so blind as one who refuses to see!”

Remember Bartimaeus’ condition?  Blind, poor, outcast.  

What was true of Bartimaeus’ physical condition is true of every man’s spiritual condition—every man, every woman, every young person.

We are each of us blind, poor, and outcast because of our sin.

Do you believe this?  You must believe you are sick before you can be made well.  You must acknowledge your spiritual blindness, before you can see.  

Sometimes we don’t see the truth because we don’t want to see the truth. It’s like avoiding a full-length mirror because we don’t like seeing a body in need of diet and exercise!

We may shield our eyes from things we don’t like to see, whether those things are physical or spiritual.

Ask yourself: “Is the reason I cannot see spiritually because—deep down—I don’t like what I see?  I don’t want to believe the gospel?  I don’t want to believe the Bible?  I don’t want to surrender?”

3) If You Can See, You Must Help Others See

Jesus was always willing to be interrupted.

Are you willing to be interrupted by the spiritually blind? Do you take time to help them see?

It’s like the “Be My Eyes” app, but used spiritually. Who will you meet today who needs your help spiritually? How can you lend them your spiritual eyes in the hopes that they too may be able to see the truth of the gospel?

Amazing Grace
How Sweet the Sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost but now am found
was blind but now I see

What About You?

• Do you see “both ways,” spiritually and physically?
• While physical eyesight degenerates over time, spiritual eyesight can actually improve. How can you improve your spiritual eyesight this week?
• Who are you helping see Christ?

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