For a long time Jesus had been little more than a name to Bartimaeus – and that, of course, had made no difference at all to the blind man.  It was only when Jesus stepped into his life as an actual person that his blindness was cured.  Even then it was a near thing, because Jesus passed Bartimaeus but once.  When he left Jericho that day, he never returned.

It may be that he steps into our life but once, and confronts us with the choice whether we will have him or not.  And even if he comes more than once, who can tell if he will ever pass our way again?

Until, however, we have made that effort of the will, and have at last made up our minds that our relationship with him is going to be all important, we are still blind to the true state of our real selves.  However much we may have heard about Christ, until our hearts are touched, and our wills jolted into action, we are still blind, blind to him and sitting by the wayside of life.