In Mark 10, Jesus meets Bartimaeus, a poor blind man in a time when such people were regarded as inferior, almost inhuman. His faith in God was sufficient to loudly and publicly seek Jesus’s help, despite opposition from those around him. He didn’t let the constant challenge of blindness or poverty prevent him from doing what he knew to be right. His attitude is a stark contrast to others who approach Jesus in this chapter: the rich young man, James and John seeking to sit beside Jesus in the kingdom. Bartimaeus seeks mercy from Jesus, a humble acknowledgement of Jesus’ role.
Bartimaeus’ faith was rewarded, “your faith has made you well”. Our faith also has the potential to overcome the challenges of our life, culminating in the opportunity to serve God for ever. The “treasure in heaven” that results from following Jesus is within our grasp, if we follow the example of Bartimaeus, swallow our pride, and publicly display our faith.