“Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee.” Mark 10:49
As Jesus left Jericho on His way to Jerusalem, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus called out to Him. The crowd told him to be quiet, but he called louder. Jesus stopped, called him, healed him, and Bartimaeus followed Jesus in the way.
As Jesus left Jericho with His disciples and a great crowd, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the roadside begging. When he heard it was Jesus of Nazareth, he cried out, “Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.” Many told him to be quiet, “but he cried the more a great deal.”
Jesus stood still and had him called. The people told him, “Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee.” Bartimaeus threw off his cloak, rose and came to Jesus. Jesus asked, “What wilt thou that I should do unto thee?” He answered, “Lord, that I might receive my sight.” Jesus said, “Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole,” and immediately he could see, and he “followed Jesus in the way.”
Who’s who
Jesus Christ: on His way to Jerusalem, who stops for one man
Bartimaeus: a blind beggar who calls out in faith
The crowd: who first hush him, then call him
Where and when
On the road leaving Jericho, on the way up to Jerusalem.
Watch for the Savior
Watch what Bartimaeus does each time something stands in his way.
Eight stops from the edge of Jericho to the road behind Jesus. Scroll, or tap a number on the map.
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The story, plainly
Four scenes: the roadside, the crowd, the call and the way. Look for the Savior in each one.
Read it plainly
The words that trip people up
Tap any dotted word for its meaning. The scripture stays exactly as written.1
Mark 10:48“many Meaning: sternly told him.”
Mark 10:48“that he should Meaning: be quiet.”
Mark 10:49“Be of good Meaning: courage; take heart.”
Mark 10:50“casting away his Meaning: outer robe or cloak.”
Mark 10:51“What Meaning: do you want. that I should do unto thee?”
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Look closer
Small details tell the story. Some cards are details in the text; others share insights from Church leaders, Church resources or outside sources. Each card says which.
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All nine. Jericho, the bowl, the call, the crowd, the stop, the cloak, the question, the sight and the road. Mark 10:46–52
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Where are you?
Waiting by the road, hushed by others, ready to let go, or following Him. Which feels most like you right now?
A next step for you
Your choice is saved only on this device.
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What faith looked like
Bartimaeus showed his faith in action. Tap a moment on the left, then what he did on the right.
“Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole.” Mark 10:52
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Their world, their words
A little background on Jericho, the name Bartimaeus, “Son of David” and two Greek words helps the story come alive. Outside sources are labeled.
Scripture · Mark 10
Going up to Jerusalem
Just before this, Jesus and His disciples “were in the way going up to Jerusalem,” and He told them what would happen to Him there.2
His last journey.
Scripture · Mark 10
A name we know
Mark gives his name and his father’s: “Blind Bartimæus, the son of Timæus.”1 The Bible Dictionary calls him “a blind man healed by Christ.”4
Remembered by name.
Church leader · Elder De Feo
Son of David
“Technically, in the eyes of many, Jesus was just the son of Joseph, so why did Bartimaeus call Him ‘Son of David’?”3
He saw who Jesus was.
Church leader · Elder De Feo
Better than his circumstances
“He knew that he was better than his circumstances.”3
Jesus saw it too.
Word study · Greek
tharseó θαρσέω · “be of good comfort” (Mark 10:49)
Bible Hub: “to be of good courage.”5Outside · lexicon
The people who had hushed him now told him to take courage. Jesus’ call changed everything.1
Word study · Greek
sózó σῴζω · “made thee whole” (Mark 10:52)
Bible Hub: “to save,” also translated “made…well.”6Outside · lexicon
The same word can mean healed or saved. Jesus gave Bartimaeus more than his sight.1
What the text does not say
The account doesn’t say Bartimaeus was healed because he was loud. He was healed through faith in Jesus: “thy faith hath made thee whole.”1 His calling out, his rising and his following were how that faith showed.1,3
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Look to Him
On His way to the cross, He stood still for one blind man, called him, and made him whole.
“As he threw away his beggar’s coat, he got rid of all excuses.”
Lord, what wilt Thou have me leave behind to come to Thee? Mark 10:50
Ask, then listen for one simple thing to set down.
Try it today
One step of faith like Bartimaeus each day. It saves on this device, one day at a time.
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This week:0 of 7 days
Seven days in the way. Come again tomorrow.
A quiet moment
“He calleth thee.”
Read Mark 10:46–52 slowly. Picture Jesus stopping in the road and asking someone to bring you. What would you say when He asks, “What wilt thou that I should do unto thee?” Mark 10:46–52
A verse to hold
Talk about it
Why did the crowd tell Bartimaeus to be quiet?
What did Jesus do when He heard him?
Why do you think Bartimaeus threw away his cloak?
What did he do after he could see?
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For adults and deeper study
Go deeper
Longer readings, harder questions, and where to study next. Each one says what it is before you click.
Seventy
Elder Massimo De Feo, “Rise! He Calleth Thee” (2024)
Three principles from Bartimaeus for keeping a clear spiritual vision.3
Everything on this page as a 11-page letter-size PDF: the map, scenes, cards, activity, word studies, tracker, Go deeper and sources. For home, class or a quiet Sunday.
Blind Bartimaeus is part of the Scripture Story Sketch Notes for the New Testament, set alongside Come, Follow Me for May 3–9, 2027 (Matthew 19–20; Mark 10; Luke 18).
Independent study notes from Weak Things, not an official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Scripture quotations are from the King James Version. The words are in Mark 10:46–52; the insights in “Look closer” are labeled by source.
