Jesus heals Bartimaeus

Imaginative contemplation is a way of getting to know and even meeting Christ in the gospels. The ultimate goal is personal encounter with him. Take your time with this kind of prayer. God is in no rush . . . .

This is one of the most popular passages for imaginative contemplation partly because of the question Jesus asks Bartimaeus: ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ It is a question Jesus might ask anyone who comes to him, including you.

First let’s familiarise ourselves with the passage:

Mark 10:46-52

[Jesus and his disciples] came to Jericho. As he and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’ Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, ‘Son of David, have mercy on me!’ Jesus stood still and said, ‘Call him here.’ And they called the blind man, saying to him, ‘Take heart; get up, he is calling you.’So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. Then Jesus said to him, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ The blind man said to him, ‘My teacher, let me see again.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Go; your faith has made you well.’ Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way.

Take a little time to settle . . . notice your body and the touch of clothes on your skin . . . of the chair and the floor supporting you . . . the temperature in the room . . . consciously let go of any tension you feel in your back . . . your neck . . . your face . . . let some of it go as you move into this prayer time . . . what is your desire? . . . let God know . . .

Now begin to see this scene in your mind’s eye . . . Jesus and a crowd are leaving Jericho and there is a beggar at the side of the road . . . who are you in this scene? . . . you might be Bartimaeus, or someone in the crowd, or a disciple . . . be there . . . look around you . . . at the buildings . . . the road . . . the sky . . . the crowd . . . listen to the sounds they make . . . what is the temperature? . . . smell the air . . . what are you wearing? . . . feel the touch of the cloth on your skin . . . where is Jesus? . . . where is Bartimaeus? . . . where are you? . . . (if you are Bartimaeus, adapt what I say so that it works for you) . . . .

Bartimaeus has found out that Jesus is passing . . . how does this affect him? . . . he begins to call out . . . listen to his cries, “Son of David, Jesus, have pity on me.” . . . the crowd tell him to be quiet . . . what do you do? . . . he shouts even louder, “Son of David, have pity on me.” . . . in time, Jesus becomes aware of him . . . you hear Jesus ask for him . . . now the crowd tell Bartimaeus to go to Jesus . . . he gets up, throws away the cloak he has been using and makes his way . . . watch Jesus as the blind man comes closer . . . hear Jesus ask that question, “What do you want me to do for you?” . . . and Bartimaeus gives his reply, “Master, let me see again.” . . . “Go, your faith has saved you” . . . and his sight returns . . . how do Jesus and Bartimaeus now look at each other? . . . how are they feeling? . . . how are you feeling? . . . . . .

Now go to Jesus yourself . . . let him look at you . . . hear him ask that question, “What do you want me to do for you?” . . . take your time and when you are ready, give him your answer . . . Be honest with him. Keep it simple if you can . . . what happens between you? . . . let Jesus respond to you in whatever way he wishes . . . stay with him outside Jericho as long as you want . . . . . .