The Man Who Couldn't See

The Man Who Couldn't See

Bartimaeus was blind, and there wasn't a chance in the world that he would ever see. He lived in Jericho, but he never saw the gardens and palm trees and market places. He sat by the side of the street and begged for money, but he never saw the crowds that went by or the people who stopped to give him a few pennies. He lived in a world of BLACKNESS. And nobody seemed to care.

One day, Bartimaeus felt his way along the streets until he came to the big city gate. He sat down against the wall and began to beg. The people hurried by. He heard the clop-clop of the donkeys. Some sheep passed by so close he could touch their woolly sides. It was just like any other day. And then -

There was a sudden excitement in the air. He could FEEL it. People scrambled off to the side of the road. They backed up until they crowded against him. Everybody was talking at once.

"What is it?" cried Bartimaeus. "What's going on?" And he listened HARD to the voices around him.

"It's Jesus! "


	"He's on his way to Jerusalem!"


	"Out of the way, there. Back up!"


	"There he is now!"

Oh, yes - Jesus. Bartimaeus could understand the excitement. No wonder! People followed Jesus everywhere. He taught them, and healed them -

He HEALED them -

Suddenly Bartimaeus' heart did a flip-flop. A great wild hope zoomed up inside of him. "Jesus have mercy on me!" he shouted.

"Be quiet!" the people told him. "Stop shouting."

But Bartimaeus didn't stop. "Jesus - help me"' he cried, and he scrambled to his feet. And then -

Everyone grew quiet. Jesus had stopped, right in the middle of the road. He said something to his disciples. Bartimaeus could hear people mumbling. Then he could feel them jostling, moving sideways. He listened HARD. And then someone called, "Jesus wants to talk to you."

Bartimaeus could hardly believe it! He threw off his coat and he started to move forward. Then somebody took his arm. And the next thing he knew -

"What is it you want me to do for you?" It was the kindest voice. It was Jesus!

"Lord, that I might receive my sight!" said Bartimaeus through the blackness. And then - Jesus spoke softly -

"Because you believe that I can do this for you, you shall see."

The blackness rolled away like a cloud. And there before Bartimaeus' eyes - stood Jesus! Bartimaeus could SEE him. And all around him -


	men and women


	and bright-colored robes


	and the city gates -

oh, so many things, Bartimaeus didn't know where to look first! It was a great ocean of color! Then he looked back at Jesus. He said "thank you" to Jesus in every way he could think of. And when Jesus turned to walk down the road, Bartimaeus followed along with the crowd. He forgot how he had planned to spend the day. He forgot EVERYTHING - except that he loved Jesus and that he could SEE.

Bartimaeus had been blind. And there wasn't a chance in the world that he would ever see - until Jesus came along. Now he could see everything - like an ocean of color. But best of all - he could see JESUS.

THINK!

Think of some of the wonderful things you see every day. Can you name a few of them? And how about all the things you learn. Could you learn as fast if you couldn't see? And what if you couldn't see your friends? Would you like them as much? But supposing you really COULDN'T see. Do you remember the story of Fanny Crosby in Story 17. Did Fanny decide to sulk? What did she wind up doing? Do you think she had a happy life?

A VERSE TO LEARN

"Jesus of Nazareth . . . went about doing good" (Acts 10:38).