Devotional Day 51

Scripture

Mark 10:46–52

Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (which means “son of Timaeus”), was sitting by the roadside begging. 47 When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48 Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 49 Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” 50 Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus. 51 “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him. The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.” 52 “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.

Devotional

In this wonderful moment of the healing of Bartimaeus we can see so much about the heart of Jesus to show mercy to those who need his help. As Jesus was leaving Jericho and on his way to Jerusalem, a blind man sat by the side of the road begging to survive. What a hard and desperate life Bart must have lived, no family was looking after him, he was left all alone day after day to depend on the kindness of strangers. Homeless, poor and destitute he suffered in his affliction day after day.

Even so, even though Bart’s situation seemed hopeless, he did have faith. He might have been desperate, unable to help himself and completely in need of everything, but he did have faith. For when he heard that Jesus of Nazareth was walking by he cried out, shouting “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”. This statement is one of faith, it’s saying that he believed that Jesus was the Messiah and could heal him. Bart’s moment was here.

The crowd told him to be quiet, but Bart wasn’t going to quit - Jesus was all he had. There was nothing else that could be done for Bart, no one else was coming to help - no one else could give him sight. No, Bart needed Jesus - so he didn’t quit. He kept shouting out in desperation for Jesus to have mercy on him.

I’m almost brought to tears as I write this thinking of this man. What a heart. What beautiful humility, and powerful faith. He’s sitting there by the side of the road, broken and destitute and he’s crying out for Jesus to have mercy on him. Please have mercy on me! Please Lord!

This is such a wonderful example of how every single one of us should approach Jesus.

Are we not spiritually blind without Christ? Are our souls not destitute, impoverished and emaciated? Blindly begging in the vast cosmos wondering if anyone cares? We are all in need of Jesus as much as Bart was. We need Jesus - sin is wrecking us, life is pummeling us, and there’s no real hope apart from Jesus, the Son of David - and he’s walking by.

Are you desperate enough to call out?

Are you willing to fight for this breakthrough? To see victory over sin? To contend in faith for Jesus? Are you willing to push through the opposition and the scorn of those around you and not rest until you’ve been healed? This hunger, this desperation matched with a real belief that all you need is Jesus will activate serious faith in you.

Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.”

Bart’s persistence paid off. He didn’t relent, and Jesus stopped - a disciple walks up to him and he hears a friendly voice, very close now saying ‘cheer up, get up, he’s calling for you.’

Bart didn’t hesitate - he threw off his cloak, sprang up and ran to Jesus. Why? Because he knew he was going to see. He had already decided, that if he could meet the Messiah, he would be healed. He had faith. Jesus healed his sight and Bart began to follow Jesus.

Do you want to see? Are you desperate enough to contend for the Lord to heal you, to deliver you, to set you free? He can. Maybe you’ve been wrestling with this for so long that you’ve given up hope, thinking “if God wanted to heal me, he would’ve done it by now’, so what’s the point in getting my hopes up.”

He’s calling you.

It’s time to forget the past, stop overthinking. And run towards Jesus in faith.

Prayer

Lord - I run towards you now. I don’t have all the answers, and I have so many questions. But I’ve spent so long caught up in my own head. I’m tired, I’m done with all of this and right now I need to fall on your mercy. Please have mercy on me Jesus and heal me. Heal my broken heart, heal my brain, heal my emotional trauma, heal my body, heal my family, heal my life Lord.