And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee. And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus.
The story of Bartimaeus. See Mark 10:46-52 . He lived in the ancient city of Jericho, the oldest city in Palestine. He had no trade or employment. His livelihood depended entirely on the charity of others as they passed along where he sat each day, "by the highway side begging." He was obviously well known in the community—this blind man, this beggar.
When Bartimaeus realized that day, as recounted in Mark's Gospel, that Christ Jesus had arrived in Jericho, he must have felt a sudden surge of hope. Could the Master actually help him? Could a blind beggar know God's mercy? Could he be healed?
