And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee.
And {G2532} Jesus {G2424} stood still {G2476}, and commanded {G2036} him {G846} to be called {G5455}. And {G2532} they call {G5455} the blind man {G5185}, saying {G3004} unto him {G846}, Be of good comfort {G2293}, rise {G1453}; he calleth {G5455} thee {G4571}.
Yeshua stopped and said, "Call him over!" They called to the blind man, "Courage! Get up! He's calling for you!"
Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called the blind man. “Take courage!” they said. “Get up! He is calling for you.”
And Jesus stood still, and said, Call ye him. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good cheer: rise, he calleth thee.
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Luke 18:40
And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him, -
Matthew 20:32
And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you? -
Matthew 20:34
So Jesus had compassion [on them], and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him. -
John 11:28
And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee. -
Hebrews 2:17
Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto [his] brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things [pertaining] to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. -
Psalms 86:15
But thou, O Lord, [art] a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth. -
Psalms 145:8
The LORD [is] gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.
Mark 10:49 captures a pivotal moment in the healing of blind Bartimaeus, highlighting Jesus' profound compassion and direct intervention. Despite the clamor of the crowd and His own urgent journey towards Jerusalem, Jesus stops to personally attend to the desperate cry of a marginalized individual.
Context
This verse is part of the narrative of Jesus' final journey from Jericho towards Jerusalem, a path that would lead to His crucifixion. Immediately preceding this, blind Bartimaeus had been crying out persistently, "Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me!" (see Mark 10:47). The crowd, annoyed by his persistence, had tried to silence him (Mark 10:48). However, Jesus' action in verse 49 completely reverses the situation, demonstrating His unique attentiveness to the needy and His divine authority.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The phrase "Be of good comfort" in Greek is Tharsei (θάρσει), which can be translated as "take courage," "be bold," or "cheer up." It's an imperative that Jesus often used to instill confidence and overcome fear or despair in those He was about to heal or interact with, such as the paralyzed man in Matthew 9:2 or the woman with an issue of blood in Mark 5:34. This word signifies a release from anxiety and an invitation to trust.
Practical Application
This verse offers profound lessons for believers today. Just as Jesus stopped for Bartimaeus, He continues to hear and respond to our earnest prayers and cries for help. We can take immense comfort in knowing that Jesus is never too busy or distant to attend to our needs. Furthermore, like the crowd who shifted from hindrance to help, we are called to be those who encourage others to approach Jesus, sharing the good news that "He calleth thee." This passage encourages us to have faith in His power to transform our circumstances, just as Bartimaeus would soon experience in Mark 10:52, when his faith made him whole.