But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. John 1:12
“Blind Bartimaeus,” as he was known to many, didn’t even have his own name. The word “bar” means “son of.” So the name Bartimaeus simply means the “son of Temaeus.” That doesn’t seem so bad at first glance except for the fact the name Temaeus means “unclean,” and that’s exactly what life was like for Bartimaeus as he sat beside the dusty road that led in and out of Jericho. Yet one encounter with Jesus on a Judean afternoon changed his life forever.
As Jesus was making his way out of town, He heard the cry of Bartimaeus saying, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.” Out of their annoyance or embarrassment, those closest to Bartimaeus tried to hush him up, but he yelled out all the more. This was his chance and he wasn’t about to be silenced. You see everyone else, except for the closest followers of Jesus, only knew Him by reputation, but Bartimaeus, by revelation, knew Jesus as the Messiah. And it was from that revelation that his cries for help got the attention of Jesus.
Jesus sent for Bartimaeus, but before Bartimaeus went to Him, he threw off his beggar’s coat. He knew in his heart that this encounter with Jesus would change his life, not to mention his identity. He would no longer be identified by the beggar’s coat he wore because the “beggar life” had come to an end.
Jesus asked Bartimaeus, “What do you want me to do for you?” to which he replied, “That I might see.” Jesus said to him, “According to your faith be it unto you,” and at that very moment Bartimaeus could see for the first time in his life.
What “one thing” do you need God to do for you today? Whatever it may be, hear Him saying the same thing to you that He said to Bartimaeus. Cast aside the garment of defeat and receive what you need as His beloved son or daughter and “be it unto you according to your faith.”