Elias Bejjani/Text & Video/Blindness is blindness of the heart, not of the eyes … Faith-based reflections on the miraculous healing of the blind beggar, Ibn Bartima
Audio and text: Blindness is blindness of the heart, not of the eyes… Faith-based reflections on the miraculous healing of the blind beggar, Ibn Bartima Elias Bejjani/March 22/2026
“For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.” (John 9:39)
How many among us—individuals and communities—are, in truth, blind in insight, weak in faith, and lacking in hope, even though their physical eyes are perfectly sound? Their affliction is not blindness of sight, but blindness of the heart. Though their eyes are healthy, they are veiled from love in mind, soul, and heart, and thus live in deep darkness, far from God.
The blind beggar Bartimaeus, the subject of this reflection, is commemorated today in our Maronite churches on the Sixth Sunday of Lent, known as the Sunday of the Healing of the Blind.
Holy Scripture teaches us that Bartimaeus was born blind and did not know the difference between light and darkness. Yet inwardly he was enlightened—in heart, conscience, and faith. He was strong, persistent, and steadfast in hope. This miracle is recorded in John 9:1–41, Mark 10:46–52, and Matthew 20:29–34. As recounted in Mark 10:46–52: They came to Jericho. And as Jesus was leaving Jericho with His disciples and a great crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Many rebuked him, telling him to be silent, but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”And Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.”And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart; rise, He is calling you.”Throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. And Jesus said to him, “What do you want Me to do for you?” The blind man said, “Rabboni, that I may receive my sight.” And Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.”And immediately he received his sight and followed Him on the way.
The Gospel of John (9:8–34) gives further details, revealing the persecution and intimidation the man endured after his healing, as he was pressured to deny what had happened. Yet he bore witness courageously, declaring: “I was blind, and now I see.”
Although Bartimaeus lacked physical sight, through faith and trust in God he perceived with his heart and mind that Christ had the power to heal him. When he approached Jesus, he refused to be silenced by those who tried to restrain him. He cried out boldly, proclaiming Christ as the Savior, confident in His power to restore his sight—and his request was granted. He neither despaired nor accepted the condition of helplessness. He recognized Christ’s divine authority, sought His mercy, received grace, and then followed Him as a disciple. He rejected the falsehoods of the scribes and Pharisees and, with steadfast courage, did not alter a single word of his testimony regarding the miracle. Though accused and threatened, he clung to the truth, unafraid of excommunication, rejection, or persecution. He walked in the light, while others remained lost in blindness—of both sight and insight—due to their lack of faith.
Even today, we see that little has changed. Believers in many parts of the world endure persecution, oppression, and suffering, yet they persist with steadfast faith in God—just as Bartimaeus did.
How greatly we, as Lebanese—both at home and abroad—need to follow the example of this faithful blind man: to walk with strength, perseverance, faith, and steadfastness on the path of salvation, and to ask God for the grace of spiritual light to illuminate our minds and hearts. May He deliver us from attachment to the fleeting things of this world and protect us from the snares of evil and temptation.
It is sorrowful that the course of our homeland, Lebanon, is steered by leaders who are blind in both vision and insight, who—through weak faith and failing hope—have led it into chaos, unrest, and conflict, sowing division and a culture of death among its people. O Lord, enlighten our minds to know that You are Love. Deliver us from the darkness of sin and save us from temptation.
Biblical Verses Telling the Healing Miracle Of The Blind Man
Healing Miracle Of The Blind Man John/09/01-41/: And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing. The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged? Some said, This is he: others said, He is like him: but he said, I am he. Therefore said they unto him, How were thine eyes opened? He answered and said, A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight. Then said they unto him, Where is he? He said, I know not. They brought to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind. And it was the sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes. Then again the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. He said unto them, He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and do see. Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them. They say unto the blind man again, What sayest thou of him, that he hath opened thine eyes? He said, He is a prophet. But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight. And they asked them, saying, Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? how then doth he now see? His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind: But by what means he now seeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not: he is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself. These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue. Therefore said his parents, He is of age; ask him. Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner. He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see. Then said they to him again, What did he to thee? how opened he thine eyes? He answered them, I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again? will ye also be his disciples? Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses’ disciples. We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is. The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes. Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth. Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind. If this man were not of God, he could do nothing. They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out. Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God? He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him? And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee.And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him. And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind. And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also? Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.
Healing Miracle Of The Blind Man The Miracle: Mark 10/46-52: ” They came to Jericho. As he went out from Jericho, with his disciples and a great multitude, the son of Timaeus, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the road. When he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out, and say, “Jesus, you son of David, have mercy on me!” Many rebuked him, that he should be quiet, but he cried out much more, “You son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus stood still, and said, “Call him. ”They called the blind man, saying to him, “Cheer up! Get up. He is calling you!” He, casting away his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus. Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man said to him, “Rabboni, that I may see again.” Jesus said to him, “Go your way. Your faith has made you well.” Immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way. The son of Timaeus, Bartimaeus, the blind beggar who was born to two blind parents truly believed in Jesus. His heart, mind and spirit were all enlightened with faith and hope. Because of his strong faith he knew deep inside who actually Jesus was, and stubbornly headed towards him asking for a Godly cure. He rebelled against all those opportunist and hypocrites who out of curiosity and not faith came to see who is Jesus. He refused to listen to them when they rebuked him and tried hardly to keep him away from Jesus. He loudly witnessed for the truth and forced his way among the crowd and threw himself on Jesus’ feet asking Him to open his blind eyes. Jesus was fascinated by his faith, hailed his perseverance and gave him what he asked for. He opened his eyes.”
Two Blind Men Receive Sight Matthew 20/29-34: As Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him. 30 Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”Jesus stopped and called them. “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked. “Lord,” they answered, “we want our sight.”Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.
