I love the story of blind Bartimaeus – so many lessons!

And they came to Jericho. And as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” And Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart. Get up; he is calling you.” And throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. And Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” And the blind man said to him, “Rabbi, let me recover my sight.” And Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way. (Mark 10.46 – 52, ESV)

“Many rebuked him…shut up!” “Many” probably included Jesus’ own disciples, but “he cried out all the more…”

Jesus stopped. No mean feat, to stop when “a great crowd” is moving together on the road.

“What do you want me to do for you?” “Rabbi, let me recover my sight.”

A clear and specific request followed by “Go your way; your faith has made you well.”

But he doesn’t “go his way.” A story that started with him “sitting by the roadside” ends with him following Jesus “on the way.”

Obvious prayer lessons for all of us are:

• Ask
• Ask someone who can help you
• Ask persistently
• Ask specifically

There’s one more lesson I’ll address tomorrow.

If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. (John 15.7, ESV)

Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. (John 16.24, ESV)