
Episode #428
8-30-26 (Barrett Coffman) The Most Important Question
Mark 10:46-52 46 Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (that is, the Son of Timaeus), was sitting by the roadside begging. 47 When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" 48 Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" 49 Jesus stopped and said, "Call him." So they called to the blind man, "Cheer up! On your feet! He's calling you." 50 Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus. 51 "What do you want me to do for you?" Jesus asked him. The blind man said, "Rabbi, I want to see." 52 "Go," said Jesus, "your faith has healed you." Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road. LESSON NOTES A Unique Messianic Sign: The giving of sight to a blind person is the only miracle Jesus performed during His earthly ministry that never occurred in the Old Testament. While prophets performed other miracles, restoring sight was a specific sign reserved exclusively for the coming Messiah. The Progression of Spiritual Sight: Spiritual awakening is rarely instantaneous; it often happens in stages. Just like the blind man at Bethsaida who needed a "second touch" to see clearly rather than seeing people look like "trees walking around," believers frequently move from seeing Jesus partly, to personally, to primarily. The Wrong Answer vs. The Right Answer: When asked the exact same question by Jesus—"What do you want me to do for you?"—the disciples James and John answered by seeking power, position, and prestige. In contrast, the blind beggar Bartimaeus gave the correct response: "Rabbi, I want to see." As one commentator noted, "James and John asked to be seen, but Bartimaeus asked to see." The Mercy of the Messiah: While other disciples like Peter, James, and John recognized Jesus as the Messiah, they expected Him to fulfill that role through political or military might. Bartimaeus stands out because he recognized that Jesus would establish His kingdom through His mercy, repeatedly crying out, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me." The Response of Faith: When Jesus called him, Bartimaeus responded with a joyous extravagance and recklessness of faith. He instantly threw aside his begging cloak—the very tool he used to collect his daily livelihood—and jumped to his feet to go to Jesus despite his physical blindness. From the Sidelines to the Road: This account is ultimately a conversion story rather than just a physical healing. Bartimaeus went from sitting by the roadside as a helpless beggar to following Jesus along the road as a servant and a future leader in the early church. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. “What Do You Want Me to Do for You?” Imagine Jesus asking you that question personally today. What would your honest answer be? What does your answer reveal about the things you most desire right now? 2. The sermon describes the journey of seeing Jesus as moving from partly → personally → primarily → perfectly. Do you relate to this journey? Where would you place yourself on the journey? What has God used to help you see Jesus more clearly? 3. “Have Mercy on Me” Bartimaeus simply cries out for mercy. Why can admitting our need for mercy be difficult? What changes when we stop trying to appear self-sufficient and honestly bring our need to Jesus? 4. “When Jesus calls you, faith picks up the phone.” Is there an area of your life where you sense Jesus calling you to take a step of faith? What would actually “picking up the phone” look like this week? 5. Bartimaeus threw aside the cloak that represented part of his livelihood and security. What might be your “cloak”—something you rely on for comfort, identity, control, or security—that could keep you from responding fully to Jesus? 6. Bartimaeus went from sitting beside the road to following Jesus along the road. The sermon challenges us not to remain spectators but to become servants. Where are you most tempted to be a spectator in your faith? What is one concrete way you can move from watching to following this week?

