A Story of Faith

There is a story found in Mark 10 about a blind man named Bartimaeus. He had heard about Jesus and the miracles He performed. He also heard that Jesus was coming his way, so he made a plan. He would sit alongside the road upon which he knew Jesus would travel. Bartimaeus would have heard the crowd first. Crowds are noisy. People talking all at once, children running about calling to each other. It was in the midst of this racket that Bartimaues called, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” It’s interesting he called Jesus, Son of David, rather than son of Joseph. Bartimaeus is already believing in Who Jesus is and that Jesus is the One Who can help him. It’s also encouraging to note that Jesus heard his cry above the din of the crowd. The hubbub of life can distract us from what is important, but nothing in this world distracts Jesus from us and our well being.

The crowds told Bartimaeus to be quiet. They saw him as a trifling nuisance, but Jesus heard him cry and saw him as a man in need.. Jesus asked an interesting question, considering the man’s blindness was no doubt obvious. Jesus asked, “What do you want Me to do for you?” The answer to this question would reveal much about the man. Bartimaeus answered, “My Rabbi, I want to see.” His use of the title, “Rabbi,” wasn’t simply calling Jesus, Mister; it was a title denoting Jesus’ spiritual authority. Bartimaeus had already called Jesus, Son of David. Now he called Him, Rabbi. Addressing Jesus as Rabbi, Bartimaeus then gives his request, “I want to see.”

Here Jesus says something else most interesting: “Your faith has healed you.” Have you ever wanted Jesus to answer your prayer so badly, that you tried your best to muster up faith? To pray in faith has been a quandary among Christians throughout generations. How can we strengthen our faith? Look at the example of Bartimaeus. He came in meekness, trusting that Jesus would help him. He already believed Jesus was Who He said He was; the Son of David, the Son of God. He believed He had spiritual authority from God. He did not come demanding. He came in honesty, asking sincerely, “Have mercy on me.”

You see, Bartimaeus was fully aware that next to Jesus, perhaps next to anyone, he wasn’t anything much. A blind beggar making his own way through the days of his life hoping someone might toss him a piece of bread or a coin to purchase something. Even so, in his feeling of being nothing much, he came to Jesus, asking for mercy, sharing his need to see.

Don’t you and I at times feel like nothing much? After years of knowing Jesus, do we still struggle with some issue, some sin that plagues us? Does this keep us from coming humbly to Jesus? It’s a demonic lie that says, “you’re not worthy to bother Jesus.” Refuse to listen and follow instead the example of Bartimaeus — go to Jesus recognizing Who He is, be humble and ask for mercy. Then, knowing He forgives again and again, present your need. His answer will always be what is best for you because His plans are always for good and not bad (Jeremiah 29:11).

More than physical sight, we all need spiritual insight. How wonderful that every child of God has the Holy Spirit within, teaching, guiding, strengthening. He reminds us daily that Jesus is our everything to get us through anything at all. We were all once blind. Eyesight can grow dim in the midst of life’s busyness, so take time to go to Jesus. In His presence, our spiritual blindness will be made to see.