Have you ever had a nickname? When I was a kid my family called me ‘Daybo.’ ‘Course, at school kids come up with all kinds of monikers & names they slap on folks. In art class we were merciless. I was known as ‘Eagle-beak’ (not sure why!) & then my buddies were, ‘Lump’(Lumpkin), “Bucket-head’(Todd), ‘Spigot’ (Mark Fawcett), etc.

Several years back, a guy named Joe Jones made the circuit of TV shows by bugging his eyes out. He was known as Bug-Eyed Jones. It was really freaky looking. He could just pop his eyeballs out of socket in mid conversation. Then he would do one at a time. Not sure what happened to him or what this talent could be possibly used for in normal life, but it was captivating, nonetheless.

Thought about him the other day as I was reading about a guy in the bible named Bartimaeus, also called ‘Blind Bartimaeus.’ Why? Well, ‘cause he was BLIND! They slapped that nickname on him, like Bug-eyed Jones got one slapped on him.

Back in the day, names meant something. Families gave names of favored relatives or a characteristic they desired their new-born to have. This guy was called, ‘Bar’ (‘son of’) ‘Timaeus’ (his Dad’s name). The interesting thing is that Timaeus means ‘honored one’ or ‘ransomed’. Here this guy carried the name ‘Son of Honor’ while he was blind & had to beg for a bite of food!

Check out what happened when he met Jesus:
"What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked. “My rabbi,” the blind man said, “I want to see!” And Jesus said to him, “Go, for your faith has healed you.” Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus down the road.” Mark 10:51-52 NLT

Bartimaeus had been yelling & kicking up a ruckus & folks told him to shut up. He yelled all the more because he had heard what Jesus could do in folks. When Christ called him, the bible says he “threw his cloak aside.” That was significant. He was blind, having to beg for food, & he threw away what he held onto for security so he could get to Jesus. I suppose he had no plan to turn back to life as usual. The last part is the best, “he followed Jesus down the road.” He went from a blind beggar to a seeing servant.

So that brings me to a question. What did they call him after that? His nickname had been Blind Bartimaeus, but now the guy could see! I can imagine him running around all bug-eyed looking at everything for the first time! Blind for almost 40 years now eyes wide open. ‘Bug-Eyed Bartimaeus’ maybe?

Thing is, I get like Bartimeus a lot. I’m sitting around holding on to old ways & forgetting I wear the name ‘Son of Honor’ or ‘Ransomed One.’ I’m blind to all that God has around me & sometimes even that Jesus is near. My best bet, and yours too if you’re like me, is to drop the junk that’s holding me back & run to Christ to see the world through fresh new eyes!

OK, so I told you my nicknames as a kid. Daybo was the family name & ‘Eagle-Beak’ a not-so-favorite nickname. What did friends or family lay on you? I’m pretty sure Bartimaeus wouldn’t mind being called ‘Bug-Eyed Bartimaeus’ ‘cause that was SOME story to tell.

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