Short and Sweet
The text this week is Mark 10:46-52. This is a very short and sweet text. It concerns a blind man who sees Jesus approaching and takes the opportunity to ask Him for help. One thing that seems important here is that the blind man did not go anywhere to find Jesus. He was in his hometown of Jericho and heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth. This points to a broad truth. Jesus will find us and will meet us at our moment of greatest need. It is fine to seek out God, but remember Good is pursuing us, and He will find us. The only question is will we hear Him coming and will we trust Him.
Go Big or Go Home
The man in this story, Bartimaeus, certainly heard Jesus approaching and he clearly acted out of faith. He cried out to Jesus to have mercy on him. Many tried to quiet him, but that just made him shout louder. This man’s faith was not going to be denied or go unheard. Jesus of course hears him and calls him to be brought to Him. The man makes his request to be able to see again. Jesus tells him that his faith has made him well and that he can see again. The man then follows Jesus along his way.
We should be so bold as Bartimaeus, son of Timaeus. He trusted Jesus so completely that he was willing to expose himself to the admonitions of the crowd, not to mention possible public ridicule. He simply did not care; his faith was so deep. He needed Jesus’s help, and he was neither too shy nor too proud to beg for it. We should be so faithful as this man.
The lesson for us is simple and clear. Be bold in our faith. Be loud and (not) proud about seeking God’s help. Do not be afraid to ask God for those things that matter most. Trusting God so deeply as Bartimaeus will produce such boldness. Trusting in God’s love so profoundly will make us see again all that God has done for us. Then how joyfully will we follow Jesus just as Bartimaeus did. Be like Bartimaeus. Believe, then obey.
Praise Be to God
