1 He was only known by his father’s name – son of Timaeus. His father was a moderately successful merchant in Jericho. His primary item of trade was salt. He avoided the more lucrative commerce in perfumes: too much politics and the cost of trafficking spices and herbs over the desert too risky. With salt, he could stay closer to home and he would be under the protective umbrella of Herod and, later, the Romans. He despised both of them, but he was a practical man. They had delivered security to a region that rarely experienced it. And people like him could prosper and live at peace.
Timaeus had a son who had gone blind at a young age. As circumstances would have it, Timaeus would care for him while at the same time see his other children become indifferent or move to other cities in Palestine. Over time, Timaeus and his wife would pass, leaving his blind son under the care of a trustee. His brothers and sisters had no interest in caring for him. They wanted to sell the house and possessions. Upon doing that, the blind son was left to fend on his own. He was cast out of his house with no hope of food, shelter or guidance. To those in the bustling town of Jericho, the nameless son was only known as Bartimaeus, or “son of Timaeus”.
The trustee was guided more by greed than by duty, so most of what was left behind to care for the blind man was embezzled, leaving Bartimaeus with no other course than to beg for his food each day. One can only imagine the fear he endured. One day he was in a familiar home. He knew where the furniture was placed. There were servants to assist him. He never had to seek food. Then suddenly he was on the street. No home. No place to sleep, with every turn a mystery shrouded in darkness, with only his hands and his cane to lend understanding to a world he had never known.
Needless to say, he found the city too dangerous. A blind man had few places to hide amongst people, camels and donkeys, and gruff Roman soldiers. No one would abide a beggar at their doorstep and would beat him until he felt his way closer and closer to the gates of Jericho and eventually up the road toward Jerusalem. This was quite a journey for Bartimaeus, having to obtain in his mind a map of the city, the presence of the city walls and the gate by which he could escape the chaos. He thought he would be crushed by the crowd at the gate. He waited for the quiet moment and then probed the walls, moving along until his stick would eventually find open air. He used his stick to keep to the road.
He would never forget that journey outside of Jericho. He knew from his father’s stories that the road ascended several thousand feet as it approached the city of Jerusalem. He could sense the incline. Yet he was ever so fearful of leaving the road. He knew not what lay to the right or left of the road. He eventually came across a large stone beside the road, and upon this stone he sat, rested and listened. He was powerfully hungry. He had a flask with him for water, but little of it was left. He had no choice but to say to anyone he could hear pass, “Do you have any food?” Or, “Do you have some water to spare?” After two cold nights sitting by that rock, he would add, “Do you know anywhere I can find shelter?”
Those were terrible days. Once in a while, a kind soul would provide him with water. Food was given, albeit scarce. He was terribly cold at night. Yet where could he go? He stayed on that rock. He would have more than likely died on that rock had not an acquaintance of Timaeus took a moment to wonder what happened to the son. He turned to his son Adam and asked, “Can you look for Bartimaeus. It appears that when they closed down the estate of Timaeus, they threw out the blind son. He must be about the town somewhere.”
And so it was that Adam took a part of a day seeking about the city for Bartimaeus. But he was nowhere to be found. He suggested to his father, “Maybe he is begging along the road to Jerusalem or the highway to Galilee.”
“He may be. The poor man may be near death. Take all the time you need to find him.”
So Adam walked up the road to Jerusalem. It was about a mile down the road that he saw a bundle of rags sitting atop a large rock, cradling a walking stick. He came to the man and walked around. Bartimaeus could sense his presence. He looked up and said, “Could you help me? Do you have any food? Water?”
“Are you Bartimaeus?”
The blind man was rather startled.
“Why yes.”
“I am Adam. Son of Gabriel. I have some water. And I also brought some bread.”
“Thank you so much. My God bless you.”
Bartimaeus held the bread as if it was gold. He slowly began to eat some of it.
Adam filled his flask with water. He looked at the man. He was filthy. Smelled horribly. Yet he pitied him. To be blind. To be alone. To utterly depend on the welfare of unseen benefactors. He felt uncomfortable being around the man. He began to realize what a responsibility it was to care for him.
“I must return to my father. Is there anything you need?”
“Yes. A cloak. And I need shelter. I have been on this rock for days. I hear there are caves about here, but they are filled with lepers. And they are far from the road.”
“I will talk to my father. Maybe he can help.”
“Bless you, Adam.”
Adam’s father was rather reserved when hearing of Bartimaeus. “We can’t afford to care for a blind man in our home. But we can help him. You said he needed shelter. Rather than having to find a cave somewhere, he can sleep in a tent. Is that rock he sits on a good location?”
“Appears so. He does occasionally get food and water.”
“We have tents aplenty. Take to him that old one we keep in the back of the shed. Take the ass and carry the tent and some food for him. I can tithe our stores for his care.”
And so it was that Bartimaeus was provided a shelter near the road. Adam spent time with him, helping learn more about the place he now called home. Something as simple as using the bathroom could not be done in modesty. But with Adam’s assistance, he was able to find a discreet location to defecate. He was delighted with the old cloak. The old tent was a wondrous blessing. Subsequent visits provided for him a bowl, a spoon and even an old pair of sandals. Old blankets were found, providing for him a primitive bed.
And with each visit, over the coming months, Adam would share with Bartimaeus news. He was surprised to learn that Bartimaeus was rather well informed. Timaeus had provided some education to his son before he eventually lost all his sight. Timaeus was also a rather religious man. He had shared with his son stories about the Essenes, the corruption in the Temple, and a very unusual man. A “man of God” some claimed. His name was John the Baptist.
But that was long ago. Now Adam was talking about another man, one who walked along the shores of the sea of Galilee. He was in many respects like John the Baptist. But the stories were far more incredible. Adam told him of rumors that this man was a healer. He heard there were miracles being performed. But then Adam shared with him that there was a claim that he was the Messiah.
Bartimaeus responded, “Messiah? Must be if he performs miracles.”
“Hmm. But father says it will take more than miracles to determine if he is the Messiah. He must be the son of David. He also says it is a bit of mystery as to how this man in Galilee, Jesus by name, is the son of David when he is far from the city of David’s birth – Bethlehem.”
“Where is he from?”
“Nazareth.”
“Nazareth? Never heard of it.”
So Adam had planted the seed of hope in Bartimaeus. What would be the odds the son of David would ever walk by the rock he sat on? Yet what Adam had given Bartimaeus was knowledge, an awareness of something out there.
After several months Bartimaeus was provided another gift. It is rather odd that two blind men should find each other. With Adam and Gabriel’s help, Bartimaeus was able to get enough food to avoid starvation, adequate water and shelter. But one thing they could not give him was companionship. He was utterly alone, even though he was passed by thousands. To most people walking the road to Jericho, Bartimaeus did not exist. The only words that would come from his mouth was the beggarly petition for water or food. Yet, somehow, his pitiful pleas for food and water fell onto the ears of another man. His name was Samuel. Through him Bartimaeus relived the first days of his residence on the rock. Two men, blind and previously alone, could now sit side-by-side and converse. What a gift.
And so it was that Bartimaeus was on his rock one day. He was, as usual, hungry. Yet he was no longer famished. He had water. He had a simple shelter and a cloak. He was, given the circumstances, content. What more could a blind man expect. And he had his friend, Samuel.
But this day was different because, to his keen ears, he could detect a clamor coming up the road. This was something new. He heard people walking about talking with excitement, some shouting back to their friends down the road. From the chatter, he picked up the cause of their excitement. They were talking about Jesus of Nazareth. Was he coming up the road? He stood up, holding on to his cane. He shouted, “Is this Jesus of Nazareth?”
No one answered. Samuel said to him, “Ask again.” Bartimaeus said it again. And no one answered. No. He would not let this moment pass. If the stories were true, he must meet this Jesus of Nazareth. He gripped his cane tightly and poked and prodded himself onto the road, being pushed aside by people, almost falling backwards. His cloak fell off his shoulder, exposing his ragged, soiled clothing. Samuel stood nearby, behind him. His cane bumped onto the crumpled folds of the cloak. He picked it up.
Bartimaeus shouted out, “Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me!”
The crowd pushed him aside. He could not see their expressions, but it was clear that he was repulsive in their eyes. He also smelled powerfully bad. But Bartimaeus could not see those expressions, only the hands that pressed against him, pushing him off the side of the road. He was once again sitting on his rock. Yet he became even more determined, almost in tears, shouting “Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me!”
To his surprise, the crowd became quiet and he heard a short distance away a man say, “Call him.”
The next thing Bartimaeus knew, people were telling him “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.”
Bartimaeus was almost in shock. This Jesus of Nazareth heard his cry! Could it be possible?
He felt his way down the road toward Jesus. He said nothing, so he was only led by the prodding hands that directed his way. He was eventually held back by a gentle hand.
He heard a voice, “What do you want me to do for you?”
It was a kind voice. An inviting voice. For Bartimaeus, he felt this sudden sense of rest overwhelm him. He was suddenly weakened. He leaned on his staff, his lips beginning to tremble. Dare he ask? Tears began to come from his eyes. He could not remember the last time he felt tears.
“Rabbi, I want to see.”
The crowd was totally silent, waiting to see what Jesus would do.
“Go. Your faith has healed you.”
Bartimaeus suddenly saw before him the blurred image of a man. He cried out in astonishment, holding his hands next to his eyes. The blurred image slowly came into focus and before him stood the man that he softly named, “Jesus, son of David.”
“It is I.”
Bartimaeus turned and looked about. Behind him stood a man he had never seen before, but whose voice and manner he knew well. With his staff, he pointed to his friend. Was it too much to ask that his friend also be healed of blindness. He did not ask, but turned to Jesus. Jesus gazed at Samuel and nodded. Bartimaeus turned again and looked at his friend, whose hands went to his eyes. He shouted out, “I can see something! Bartimaeus. Is that you?”
“Yes, my friend. It is me! And this man is Jesus of Nazareth, the son of David!”
———————–
Together, Samuel and Bartimaeus gathered the few things they had. Samuel helped place the cloak upon Bartimaeus. The crowd was already in motion, heading towards Jerusalem. Both men started a new journey, one bathed in light, a journey of faith. They left behind them their home of the past few years. Their eyes feasted on images they had no knowledge of: the mountains and ravines, people dressed in numerous colors, animals they had only recognized by their sound and smell.
It would be with their new-found sight that they would behold their poor condition. The two men laughed at each other, almost in tears. Yet as they followed the crowd to Bethany, these two men were having the happiest day of their lives. With no money, they struggled with hunger. Yet a couple of men who had witnessed their healing gave them food for that day. They slept oh so well that night. As the sun emerged, their eyes would soon witness things that not only changed history, but would change the hearts of men.
1Mark 10, Luke 18, Matthew 20
© Copyright 2025 to Eric Niewoehner