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. - Mark 10:52
Have you ever felt unseen, reaching out for help but feeling like your voice is silenced by the noise of the world? For many, disability, illness, or simply life’s challenges can create a sense of invisibility, of being overlooked or unworthy of true attention.
At RISEN Wellness, a functional medicine clinic our church community runs, we regularly meet patients who, like the biblical Bartimaeus, have called out for help only to feel ignored or reduced to symptoms and diagnoses. They often arrive at our door after seeing numerous specialists, feeling as though they’ve been lost in a system that seems to prioritize treatment over true healing.
This isn’t to suggest that physicians lack compassion. It’s a product of a healthcare culture focused on efficiency, treating the symptom more than the person. Yet, historically, Christian care centered on listening and being present with the suffering, modeled after Jesus’ ministry.
In Mark 10, we encounter Bartimaeus, a blind man who, despite the crowd's attempt to silence him, cried out to Jesus, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Risking ridicule, he called out, trusting that his faith would be heard. Bartimaeus’ cry wasn’t just a plea for healing; it was a bold affirmation of who he believed Jesus to be—the Messiah. Jesus stopped, called Bartimaeus over, and asked a profound question, “What do you want me to do for you?” This simple question gives Bartimaeus the dignity of agency, asking him to state his need plainly and giving him room to express his faith.
Bartimaeus asked to “recover his sight,” showing that his faith wasn’t only bold but anchored in Jesus’ ability to heal. Jesus responded, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” In a world that often silences or overlooks those in need, this act of Jesus reveals that no voice calling out to Him is insignificant. Each cry, each need, is seen and valued. And once healed, Bartimaeus followed Jesus, a powerful testament to faith that sees and faith that follows.
Embracing Compassionate Care
The early Church’s hospitals embodied this care-centered approach. Christians, often in times of plagues and illness, began hospitals that were places of presence, not just treatment. The Church Fathers, many of whom practiced medicine, understood that healing involves the whole person, not just a physical cure. Care was their first priority—listening, relieving suffering, and seeing the patient’s humanity. This approach echoes the ministry of Jesus, who constantly listened to those society overlooked.
At RISEN Wellness, we’re inspired by this heritage. In our clinic, we aim to restore that same compassionate care, listening beyond the diagnosis and making space for each patient’s voice. The healing work we do is grounded in the truth that each person holds extraordinary worth, as C.S. Lewis noted in The Weight of Glory, “There are no ordinary people.” Through listening and being present, we help those who feel unseen to know they are deeply valued.
We Are Bartimaeus, Too
There’s also a Bartimaeus in each of us. Every one of us has moments when we call out in faith, asking Jesus for healing, guidance, or peace. And Jesus still asks each of us today, “What do you want me to do for you?” He invites us to bring our needs, hurts, and desires into His presence, to be fully known and fully seen.
After receiving sight, Bartimaeus didn’t go his own way—he followed Jesus. His life transformed, he became a participant in the Kingdom. His faith called out, saw, and then followed. In the same way, when we encounter healing, we’re invited to join this journey of restoration, becoming vessels of healing for others.
As we care for those who are hurting, we’re part of a legacy that started over 1600 years ago when Christians opened the first hospitals. This calling continues in our clinics, workplaces, homes, and communities—wherever people need to be seen, heard, and loved.
So let’s call on Jesus with bold, humble faith, and once healed, let’s follow Him wholeheartedly. May our faith, like Bartimaeus’, not only see who Jesus truly is but move us to participate in His Kingdom work of mercy, healing, and compassion wherever we go.
Faith That Sees