He made the blind see!

Do you remember the parable of the “Good Samaritan”? This story took place on the road between Jerusalem and Jericho, known as a dangerous path frequented by robbers and possibly kidnappers. Today, the Gospel of Mark presents us with Jesus’s last miracle before His Passion, the healing of Bartimaeus, a miracle that also happened on this perilous road. Jesus walked in the most dangerous places, raised the downtrodden, and showed mercy to the abandoned.

Mark records that when Bartimaeus heard that “Jesus of Nazareth” was passing, he did not use the same title, “of Nazareth.” Instead, he cried out, “Son of David.” The title “Jesus of Nazareth” identifies Jesus in a more earthly, geographical way, linking Him to His hometown, a place from which little good was expected. We see this with the famous statement by Nathaniel in John 1:46, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” A reaction that reflects the common view at the time that Nazareth, a humble and seemingly insignificant town, could not produce the Messiah. Nazareth wasn’t a place associated with greatness, let alone the Saviour.

The Son of David is a Healer

Conversely, “Son of David” is a title rooted in prophecy, as seen in 2 Samuel 7:12-13, Isaiah 11:1-2, and Jeremiah 23:5-6. It acknowledges Jesus as the fulfilment of God’s covenant with David.

When Bartimaeus used the title “Son of David,” he recognised Jesus’s salvific mission. He expressed faith in Jesus as the fulfilment of prophecy, affirming Him as the rightful and divinely chosen King in the line of David. This title is one of honour and expectation, reserved for the Messiah, and it shows Bartimaeus’s faith in Jesus as the One who has come to restore; to heal and to save.

Unlike other miracles, Jesus did not ask him to keep His identity hidden; instead, He allowed Bartimaeus to proclaim it, as He was now going to Jerusalem to save the whole world.

Bartimaeus’s story invites us to reflect on the strength of our own faith and our recognition of who Jesus truly is. Do we approach Him merely as a figure in history, or do we call upon Him as the living Lord, the fulfilment of God’s promises, our Saviour?

Bartimaeus encourages us to see with the eyes of faith, to recognise Jesus in our lives as the Son of David, who brings mercy and healing.

In times of need, are we persistent in our prayer, or do we give up due to pressures and delays?

Like Bartimaeus, we are invited to cry out in faith, undeterred by discouragement or delay, confident that God hears and responds to the cries of those who believe. And as Jesus said to Bartimaeus, “Your faith has healed you,” so too can our faith in Him bring us healing and be a guiding light as we follow Jesus on the path of discipleship.

Happy Sunday.

~ Fr. James Anyaegbu