The Blind Man of Jericho

St Mark Chapter X : Verses 46-52

Healing blindness at Jericho. J-J Tissot

[46] And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho, with his disciples, and a very great multitude, Bartimeus the blind man, the son of Timeus, sat by the way side begging. 

[47] Who when he had heard, that it was Jesus of Nazareth, began to cry out, and to say: Jesus son of David, have mercy on me. 

[48] And many rebuked him, that he might hold his peace; but he cried a great deal the more: Son of David, have mercy on me. 

[49] And Jesus, standing still, commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying to him: Be of better comfort: arise, he calleth thee. 

[50] Who casting off his garment leaped up, and came to him.

[51] And Jesus answering, said to him: What wilt thou that I should do to thee? And the blind man said to him: Rabboni, that I may see. 

[52] And Jesus saith to him: Go thy way, thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he saw, and followed him in the way.

[46] Et veniunt Jericho : et proficiscente eo de Jericho, et discipulis ejus, et plurima multitudine, filius Timae Bartimaeus caecus, sedebat juxta viam mendicans. [47] Qui cum audisset quia Jesus Nazarenus est, coepit clamare, et dicere : Jesu fili David, miserere mei. [48] Et comminabantur ei multi ut taceret. At ille multo magis clamabat : Fili David, miserere mei. [49] Et stans Jesus praecepit illum vocari. Et vocant caecum, dicentes ei : Animaequior esto : surge, vocat te. [50] Qui projecto vestimento suo exiliens, venit ad eum. [51] Et respondens Jesus dixit illi : Quid tibi vis faciam? Caecus autem dixit ei : Rabboni, ut videam. [52] Jesus autem ait illi : Vade, fides tua te salvum fecit. Et confestim vidit, et sequebatur eum in via.

Notes

    46. they came to Jericho. Our Lord remained there until the following day, since it was on this occasion that He abode at the house of Zacheus, and also taught the people by the parable of “ the lord and his servants ” (St Luke xix. 1).

    Jericho. “It lies in the Ghor, i.e. the Jordan Valley. The plain of Jericho was formerly celebrated for its luxuriant vegetation, due to the tropical climate and the abundance of water. In the time of our Lord a large stone aqueduct, built by Herod the Great, brought a plentiful supply into the city. The city was the first to fall before the armies of Israel when they entered the Promised Land. After its destruction Josue pronounced a curse on the city, saying, “Cursed be the man . . . that shall raise up and build the city of Jericho. In his first-born may he lay the foundation thereof, and in the last of his children set up its gates ” (Josue vi. 26). In Achab’s days Hiel of Bethel rebuilt the city, and paid the penalty (see 3 Kings xvi. 34). A famous school of the sons of the prophets flourished there in the days of Elias and Eliseus. Under the Herods, Jericho was a prosperous city, a commercial centre, and a seat of customs. Herod the Great beautified the city with palaces and public buildings, and here he died. After Herod’s death Jericho was sacked and burnt, but restored by his son Archelaus. It was also a city of priests and publicans.

    as he went out of Jericho . St Matthew agrees with St Mark in placing the time of this miracle, when they went out from Jericho (xx. 29). St Luke places it when he drew nigh to Jericho (xviii. 35). Many commentators agree in reconciling the discrepancy by supposing that as Jesus entered the city a blind man called to Him for pity, but that Jesus did not heal him until the next day ; and that as He was going out of the city, after having stayed in the house of Zacheus, this same blind man, in company with a fellow-sufferer, again appealed to our Lord, and this time successfully. A few writers favour the idea that three men were restored to sight, one as Jesus entered Jericho, and two others as He left the city.

    a very great multitude. Large numbers of pilgrims on foot or on asses and camels would be on their road to Jerusalem. The pilgrims were accustomed to utilize their pilgrimages of devotion for commercial purposes, both in Jerusalem and at the principal towns on the road. Jericho was celebrated, among other things, for its trade in balsam. The pilgrims travelled in companies or caravans, for personal safety and for the protection of their goods.

    Bartimeus = Bar = “ son of.” St Mark explains its signification to his Gentile readers. St Matt, speaks of two blind men. St Luke mentions one only. Possibly Bartimeus was the greater sufferer, or the better known of the two.

    by the way side , begging. In Palestine there were no middle classes. There were the very wealthy classes and also great numbers of poor and afflicted, for whom no organised provision was made. Hence the latter lived largely on alms, and the passage of the pilgrims was their harvest

time.

    47. Son of David. The name by which the Jews called the Messiah. Jesus answered now to that name, since it was the full time for Him to reveal Himself as the Messiah, whereas on a previous occasion He did not answer publicly to the call of two blind men who thus invoked Him, but waited until they had followed Him into a house, and there He healed them privately (St Matt. ix. 27-30).

    48. many rebuked him. Various reasons have been assigned for this unwillingness on the part of the multitude to favour the cause of the blind men. They rebuked them because —

    (a) The beggars publicly expressed their faith in Jesus as the Messiah.

    (b) They thought it unseemly for beggars to trouble our Lord.

    (c) They did not wish to interrupt our Lord’s discourse.

    (d) They did not wish to hinder the journey to Jerusalem, since, if Jesus healed these two men, many more might present themselves, as most of these beggars had some affliction.

    The last opinion has the greater number of supporters — St Thomas Aquinas, Maldonatus, C. a Lapide, etc.

    49. commanded him to be called. Other MSS. have “ said, call him.”

    Be of better comfort. The multitude now encourage the men.

    50. casting off his garment. The “abba” or outer covering. He threw it down that he might hurry to our Lord.

    51. Jesus answering. Replying to his cry for mercy.

    What wilt thou, etc. Jesus knew full well, but He willed an explicit statement on the part of the blind man. The question would arouse the blind man’s hope and strengthen the faith of the multitude by proving to them that Bartimeus was really blind.

    Rabboni — i.e., “my Master.” It is a title of great reverence. St Mary Magdalene used it when she saw Jesus after His Resurrection. “ The gradations of honour were, Rab, Rabbi, Rabban, Rabboni ” ( Maclear ).

    that I may see. It was prophesied that the Messiah should open the eyes of the blind. That thou mightest open the eyes of the blind (Isaias xlii. 7).

    52. thy faith hath made thee whole. St Matthew adds, Jesus having compassion on them , touched their eyes (xx. 34). St Luke gives the additional words of our Lord, Receive thy sight (xviii. 42).

    immediately he saw. St Thomas Aquinas says, Jesus touched their eyes, thus acting according to His humanity, and immediately they saw, thus manifesting His Divinity.

    in the way. On the road to Jerusalem.

Note. — St Mark’s graphic touches are particularly noticeable in this narrative. He describes the miracle minutely, and he alone relates —

1. That a very great multitude accompanied.

2. The name of the blind man (or of one of them).

3. That the multitude encouraged Bartimeus to come to Jesus.

4. That he cast down his abba.

5. That he leaped up to go to our Lord.

Additional Notes

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam.