Daily Devotional – Saturday, May 30, 2026
And throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus.
Mark 10:50 (NKJV)
Bartimaeus knew the sounds of Jericho well. The footsteps, the passing conversations, and the occasional coin landing beside him. Day after day, he sat by the roadside begging because blindness had left him dependent on strangers. His outer garment probably identified him as a beggar. It was familiar. Safe. Necessary. Then one day, he heard that Jesus was passing nearby.
What Are You Still Holding Onto?
The crowd tried to quiet him, but Bartimaeus would not be quieted. He cried out all the more for mercy. Something inside him believed that Jesus could change his life. When Jesus called for him, Mark says he threw aside his garment and hurried forward. That detail matters. He responded in faith before his eyes were opened.
That piece of clothing was more than just a piece of clothing. It was a symbol of the life he had known for so long, a life of limitation and survival. Bartimaeus could have clung to what was familiar and made his way to Jesus slowly and cautiously. Instead, he threw it off quickly. He believed that Christ had something more for him than the security he had known.
The Garment Bartimaeus Left Behind
We still carry garments today. Often, we hold tightly to fear, pride, bitterness, unhealthy habits, or the need to stay in control. Even painful things can become strangely comfortable over time. Jesus often calls us to loosen our grip on what keeps us sitting beside the road instead of walking forward with Him.
Christ still attends to those who cry out to Him honestly. He still responds with mercy. Whatever has become your garment, do not hold onto it more tightly than you hold onto Jesus. The Saviour who called Bartimaeus is still calling hearts today.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, empower me to throw aside everything that hinders me from reaching you, that I may live productively in your presence.
