Bartimaeus

Bartimaeus is a blind beggar who is healed by Jesus in the city of Jericho. After he is healed, Bartimaeus becomes one of Jesus’ followers.

The name Bartimaeus means “son of Timaeus” in Aramaic. It is not known whether Bartimaeus really was his first name, or whether this simply refers to the name of his father.

Bartimaeus is the only blind person in the New Testament whose name is known.

When Bartimaeus hears Jesus enter Jericho, he starts shouting, “Jesus! Son of David! Take pity on me!” (Mark 10:47; Luke 18:38). This is the first time anyone has called Jesus by this name. In this way, Bartimaeus shows that he considers Jesus to be the Messiah.

Although people tell Bartimaeus to be quiet, he starts shouting even more loudly. Jesus hears him and lets him come to him.

Bartimaeus goes to Jesus and leaves his cloak behind. This shows how eager he is and how much he wants to get to Jesus. Jesus heals Bartimaeus, because he believes in Jesus. After he is healed, Bartimaeus follows Jesus on the road.

People who were blind in the time of Jesus lived on the outskirts of society. The situation was often so hopeless that there was nothing else for them to do but beg. A suitable place for begging was along the side of the road, where travellers came and went constantly, especially in Jericho, which was the last stop on the road to Jerusalem.

In the Bible, being blind is often more than “not being able to see”. It is also used as a metaphor for “not understanding”, or “not wanting or being able to understand”.

The healing of Bartimaeus is the last healing in Mark before Jesus enters Jerusalem. The story can therefore also be read as an introduction to the passion.

Besides Bartimaeus, there are more blind people who are healed in the New Testament. Matthew 20:29-34 tells a story that resembles the story of Bartimaeus, except Jesus heals two blind people.

Matthew 9:27-31 also talks about two blind people being healed. In Mark 8:22-26 a blind person is healed in Bethsaida. Jesus heals him by putting spit in his eyes. In John 9:1-7, Jesus heals a blind man by rubbing mud on his eyes.