As Christ was leaving Jericho,
A great multitude in tow,
A blind beggar called Bartimaeus
Begged alms by the roadside.
On hearing news in the town,
Jesus of Nazareth was passing down,
Bartimaeus burst out:
"Son of David,
Have mercy upon me!"
"Silence!" roared the crowd,
But Bartimaeus paid no heed,
And in his direst need,
He cried out even more aloud,
"Jesus, Son of David,
Have mercy upon me!"
On hearing the sound,
Jesus quickly turned around.
"Call him!" was the crisp command
Issued by the Master.
Bartimaeus sprang up.
"Master," cried he,
"I want to see!"
The Lord Jesus Christ,
In all His divine might,
Replied outright:
"Receive your sight,
Your faith has healed you."
In a burst of dazzling light,
Bartimaeus found that he could see,
And the world at large could tell,
Of the awe-inspiring power of God,
And the unfaltering faith of a beggar.
© MIRIAM JACOB
