The apostle is going into Jericho for the last time. By the wayside he finds a blind beggar who asks for money, and he says "silver and gold have I none, but I can tell you of a great physician in Israel who can cure you."
"Cure me?" he says "I was born blind."
"Yes, I have talked to a man in Jerusalem who says he was born blind, but now he sees."
"Why," says Bartimaeus, "how is that?"
"Well, Jesus of Nazareth was in Jerusalem, and a boy led the blind man to Him. He just made clay with spittle, anointed his eyes, and sent him to wash in the pool of Siloam. If you could only go up to Jerusalem, all you would have to do would be to tell Him. He doesn't charge anything."
"He doesn't?"
"No; He treats princes and penniless the same. You only have to ask Him."
Bartimaeus cries out "If I can get my sight just by asking, I will do it" He takes his place by the wayside in expectancy and hears someone approaching. 'Who is coming?" He cries out, but no-one answers, and he begins to doubt that it is Jesus of Nazareth.
He shouts again with a louder voice, and they tell him that Jesus is passing by.
"Jesus, Son of David, have mercy upon me" he cries with all his might Some of the crowd think that Christ is going up to Jerusalem to be crowned King and do not want Him to be disturbed by the blind beggar. They tell him not to bother the Master; but the beggar will not give up and cries all the louder: "Son of David have mercy upon me."
The prayer reaches the ear of the Son of God, and he hushes all the voices about Him while He listens to the earnest caller. Bartimaeus realizes that what he heard was true—there was no mistake.