1. Mark 10:52 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

Why does Bartimaeus follow Jesus after he told him to go?

Mark 10:52 (ESV)

52 And Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way.

In this verse Jesus’ response follows: Go your way; your faith has made you well. It is striking that this is hardly an answer to the request to be allowed to see. The healing happens almost between the lines (And immediately he recovered his sight). This is certainly part of his being healed, but Jesus indicates that Bartimaeus not only saves his eyes, but himself. He asked for the mercy of the Messiah. This he receives; his healed eyes are a sign of it. He may, with seeing eyes, experience what is now coming in the days of the Messiah. He is allowed to participate in it and is saved.

This is how the audience and time with Jesus concludes. Go your way indicates that the talk for which Jesus called the man to himself has now ended. That the blind beggar really wanted to receive eyes in order to see what would happen in these days of the son of David is apparent from the fact that he now follows Jesus on the way. He is not content with the healing of his sight: he uses it to follow Jesus with his eyes. On the way to the cross and on Good Friday eyes that were especially opened for this purpose are focusing on the suffering Jesus!1