Blindness was common in Palestine.

Some people were born into it (John 9:2,20), but more often blindness was caused by blowing sands, the glaring sun or a disease spread by flies.

Blind Bartimaeus was a social outcast. He could not read, work, marry or enter the temple. He was left in a life of abject poverty and loneliness and forced to rely upon the compassion of strangers to survive.

He would sit at the side of the street with a small bowl cupped in his hands extended in the direction of the sound of passing feet.

By placing himself in the midst of the marketplace crowds, he was able to listen in on the day's business. No doubt he heard stories of the teacher called Jesus. From what he heard a hope stirred in his heart. The gift of sight could transform his whole life.

When murmurings in the crowds grew so that he knew that Jesus was near, he could not contain himself. Stumbling among the crowd, he called out in a loud voice to the One who could heal and transform his whole life with a touch of His hand.