BLIND BARTIMAEUS

Day after day, Bartimaeus sat by the side of the road begging for money. He was blind and could not see people as they passed him by, but he could hear the sound of their footsteps as they walked along the dusty road, so he knew when to call out for money.

One day as he was sitting in his usual place, Bartimaeus heard the sound of many feet, and people talking and laughing as they passed by.

Bartimaeus called out, "What is happening, why are there many people on the road?"

"Jesus is here" someone stopped to tell him," and everyone is following Him." Bartimaeus had heard about Jesus and he knew that He could perform miracles. At once Bartimaeus jumped up shouting, "Jesus! Jesus! Please help me!"

All the people around Bartimeeus tried to keep him quiet, but he only shouted all the louder. Jesus stopped. "Who called me?" He asked.

"It is blind Bartimaeus," someone replied, "he always sits at the town gate begging." Then Jesus said the words Bartimaeus had been longing to hear, "Bring him to me." Someone took Bartimaeus by the arm and led him to Jesus. "What do you want me to do?" Jesus asked.

Bartimaeus replied: "Please help me to see." Immediately Jesus answered, "Bartimaeus, because you trust me you shall see." All of a sudden Bartimaeus looked around him and saw the people and the sky and the sunshine as well as the trees and the grass. He was no longer blind, HE COULD SEE!

Then he hurried down the road after Jesus, thanking and praising God.