Bartholomew was a blind beggar who sat by the road outside Jericho and cried out to Jesus for mercy. His unwavering faith led Jesus to heal him and restore his sight. He is a prominent example of the power of faith and perseverance in the Gospels.
46Then they came to Jericho. As he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a large crowd, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside.
When Bartholomew heard that it was Jesus from Nazareth passing by, he began to cry out loudly: "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" His use of the title "Son of David" shows his faith in Jesus as the Messiah.
38So he called out, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"
Gkκαὶ ἐβόησεν λέγων· Ἰησοῦ υἱὲ Δαυίδ, ἐλέησόν με.
The Crowd Tries to Silence Him
Many tried to get Bartholomew to be quiet, but he only cried out even louder and refused to give up. His perseverance in faith is an example for all believers.
Jesus stopped and asked that the blind man be brought to him. Bartholomew threw off his cloak and ran to Jesus. Jesus asked him: "What do you want me to do for you?"
Bartholomew answered that he would be able to see again. Jesus said to him: "Go your way, your faith has saved you." Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road.
The healing of the blind man at Jericho is also recorded in Matthew, where two blind men are mentioned, and in Luke, which emphasizes the people's praise of God after the miracle.
30And there were two blind men sitting by the road, and when they heard that Jesus was passing by, they cried out, "Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!"