PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Mark 10:46-52
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“‘Go,’ said Jesus, ‘your faith has healed you.’” (Mark 10:52)
Notice how this blind man sees something in Jesus that ignites his hope.
‘Son of David’ was another way of saying God’s promised messiah.
While doubting minds debated and disputed, his desperate heart had no doubt.
Even those with Jesus did not ‘see’ who Jesus was (which is why they rebuked the man).
When no one else would have mercy on him, God’s promised saviour would.
It was this confidence, despite opposition, that marked him in Jesus’ eyes.
Persevering prayer, clinging to hope against all odds, trusting God…
These are the things that characterize the faith God notices.
Faith is not believing in a creed, it is clinging to God.
There are many people who claim to believe the creeds, yet cannot see who Jesus is.
“‘Are we blind too?’ Jesus replied, ‘If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.’” (John 9:40-41)
Am I more like this seeing blind man, or more like the blind people rebuking him?
Is my ‘faith’ a creed, or is it my heart desperately clinging to Jesus in hope?
PRAYER
Lord, more than a faith that understands, give me a faith that sees like this blind man, a faith that heals the heart, soul, body, mind!
“When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” This blind person calls Jesus “son of David” – the Pharisees kept pointing out that Jesus was from backward Nazareth – but this blind person calls Jesus a son of David – he knew that the Messiah would be a descendent of David – so I’m thinking he believed that Jesus was the Messiah – he believed and it was his faith that healed him when he asked Jesus to heal him! The blind saw better than the Pharisees. I’m thankful that I’ve come to know Jesus as my Lord and Saviour – but there are so many that are still spiritually blind -they haven’t heard or accepted Jesus as the Messiah. Help me to faithfully represent Jesus as a follower – that others may hear through the testimony of what I do and say – by the HS’s working!
Asking for help. Bartimaeus throws off his security blanket and exposes what he really desires. To see. He no longer has his downward look, but an upward look, looking on high, the source of all healing. And when healed he freely chose to follow Jesus. Jesus frees us to live for Him. And I too freely choose to follow Him.
1 I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
no turning back, no turning back.
2 Though none go with me, I still will follow;
though none go with me, I still will follow;
though none go with me, I still will follow;
no turning back, no turning back.
3 The world behind me, the cross before me;
the world behind me, the cross before me,
the world behind me, the cross before me;
no turning back, no turning back.