But he kept crying out

Mark 10:46-52 NASB

Then they came to Jericho. And as He was leaving Jericho with His disciples and a large crowd, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the road. When he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" Many were sternly telling him to be quiet, but he kept crying out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" And Jesus stopped and said, "Call him here." So they called the blind man, saying to him, "Take courage, stand up! He is calling for you." Throwing aside his cloak, he jumped up and came to Jesus. And answering him, Jesus said, "What do you want Me to do for you?" And the blind man said to Him, "Rabboni, I want to regain my sight!" And Jesus said to him, "Go; your faith has made you well." Immediately he regained his sight and began following Him on the road.

My thoughts -

How badly do we need Jesus? How badly do we need to be healed? How desperate are we to be restored? How intensely do we need mercy?

Jesus was close and Bartimaeus knew it. He desperately needed Jesus to heal him. Nothing else mattered. So he cried out to Jesus. Though his cries became a nuisance to others he did not mind. Though they tried to get him to stop he wouldn't. He couldn't.

He identified Jesus as his only hope. He needed to be restored. He needed to be healed. He needed to be set free from his affliction. He needed mercy. The crowd did not matter. Their disapproval did not matter. He didn't care if he looked like a fool. He didn't care what anyone thought. He needed Jesus.

Are we desperate for Jesus like Bartimaeus was? Do we know that we need mercy more than we need the approval of the crowd? Do we have the faith and the courage to desperately pursue Jesus no matter what the crowd says?

My favorite part of this story: Even after his sight was restored Bartimaeus followed Jesus. He didn't just use Jesus to have his sight restored and then leave to pursue other things. Yes, he wanted to see. But more than that he needed Jesus. He didn't just need Jesus to heal him. He needed Jesus.