Mark 10:49 Commentary and Bible Study

Jesus stood still. The danger was that Christ would pass altogether, but now he has stopped. He is no longer moving away and in danger of passing by without stopping. He has heard Bartimaeus’ cry, and he has responded to his call. The reality is that he knows all about Bartimaeus, but has been drawing out his earnestness, and leading him to this point. He has come this way in order to pass near to Bartimaeus. He has allowed the crowd to attempt to silence him, and he has increased the sense of urgency in Bartimaeus’ heart. The crowd completely alters its behaviour. They have been trying to silence Bartimaeus, but now they are giving him a message of encouragement. When the Lord calls us to himself, he makes sure that we have enough encouragement not to give up. Bartimaeus is still sitting, listening intently to what is happening. He senses a change in the behaviour of the crowd and knows that something significant has happened. ‘Rise’, they tell him, and come to him; ‘he calleth thee.’ That is enough to tell him that the Lord is going to answer his request. That is all that matters. What the crowd thinks is of no importance if he can gain the ear of the only who matters. He would not have stopped otherwise. He has stopped to help one man in this mass of people. He has rewarded Bartimaeus’ urgent cry, and the blind man understands that in some sense he has prevailed through his persistence, and refusing to be silenced by the crowd. The one he has been calling out to understands his need, and he believes his heart is full of sympathy. He has heard an individual prayer, and Bartimaeus comes with great anticipation. Christ did have time for this beggar. Mark tells us only of one, but no doubt they both came.‘And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus.’ Why did he do that? It was in a way an act of faith. For so many years he had been careful to keep hold of his possessions. He was blind, and once they were no longer in his hand, it was too hard to find them again. This coat was something of great value to him. But he believes Christ is going to answer his prayer. He believes he is about to be given the gift of sight. If he needs his coat he will be able to find it again for himself. Right now, the one thing that matters is that he goes to the Lord as quickly as possible, as he has been invited to do. Nothing will delay him or slow him down.