The Blind Man Who Sees Jesus Truly

Sharper Iron from KFUO Radio

Rev. Kurt Cockran, pastor at Faith Lutheran Church in Tucson, AZ, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Mark 10:46-52.

Although Bartimaeus is blind, he sees Jesus truly in faith. He comes to Jesus as a little child with nothing, crying out the prayer of every Christian: “Lord, have mercy!” Although the crowd initially rebukes him, Bartimaeus only repeats his prayer louder. Jesus shows mercy by acknowledging and hearing the prayer of this lowly man. Bartimaeus springs forward in hopeful faith. When Jesus asks Bartimaeus what he wants, Bartimaeus seems to have a better understanding of Jesus than James and John had previously. Bartimaeus requests the mercy of receiving sight, and Jesus is gracious in giving precisely what Bartimaeus asks. By the end of the text, not only has Bartimaeus received physical healing, but he has received eternal healing as well as he follows Jesus in faith.

“The Gospel in Action” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes through the Gospel according to St. Mark. The Evangelist hits the ground running with the very first verse of his Gospel account, and he never lets up the pace. As one deed of Jesus comes right after another, always paired with His authoritative Word, St. Mark proclaims the good news that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, revealed conclusively by His death on the cross.