As we read today, we see two different men come to Christ with two different requests.
One finds what he is looking for.
The other walks away disheartened.
Let’s contrast their words and their posture for a moment as we think back on our reading.
First — How They Address Christ
The first calls Christ, “Good Teacher.”
The second cries out, “Son of David.”
The first recognizes something good about Christ’s teachings — but that is it. His address does not recognize Christ’s deity.
The second addresses Christ with a Messianic title — “Son of David.” He is recognizing Christ as the promised Messiah, the fulfillment of God’s promise to David (2 Sam. 7:12–16) and the subsequent Old Testament prophecies connected to that promise (Ps. 89 & 110; Isa. 9:7; Jer. 23:5; Isa. 11:1–10).
Was he making a direct connection to each of those prophecies?
Did he fully understand what it meant for Christ to be the Messiah?
Perhaps — and most likely not.
But he was, no doubt, in faith purposefully addressing Christ as the Messiah.
Second — The Posture of Their Requests
The first man asks, “What must I do?”
The second begs, “Have mercy on me!”
The first assumes he can accomplish something to earn what he seeks.
The second comes as a beggar, recognizing that his only hope is Christ showing him mercy.
A Named Beggar
Mark tells us his name — Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, the son of Timaeus.
We are not given the names of most of the people healed in Mark. Yet we have his.
Many believe this is because he became known among the believers. Mark says he recovered his sight immediately and followed Christ “on the way.” This following “on the way” can be interpreted as more than just following Jesus on the road into Jerusalem. Many (including me) believe this was Mark’s way of telling how Bartimaeus became a follower of “the Way,” or “the way of the cross” (Mk. 8:34–36).
The Difference
Jesus isn’t just a good teacher.
And there is nothing we can do to earn salvation on our own merit.
Salvation comes to those who recognize their own wretched state, recognize and confess Christ as the Messiah, and believe that He alone has the power to deliver His followers from the power of sin and death.
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