Begin with two minutes of stillness and silence before God.

Okay, today, it was easy picking which awesome story out of chapters 9 and 10 to focus on. Easy pick. Blind Bartimaeus. By the way, spell check has not seen this name before.

This story is filled with good stuff. Let’s try to see it from the perspective of Bartimaeus, who as history records, was the only person healed by Jesus (not counting raising Lazarus from the dead - I guess that should count as a healing) who was mentioned by name.

Bartimaeus recognized his need. He was blind. He’d been totally blind from birth, and had no idea what color was, what the stars looked like, or that leaves on a tree were different. All he saw was dark. He was impoverished; the story says he was begging. Blind kids born into rich families do not find themselves begging. No, his livelihood depended on who would drop a coin into his cup that day to buy the next meal. He had nothing to offer anybody. He depended solely on someone else. He knew he had no value to the community. We find him on the side of the road, begging. People had to walk around him to avoid him. No one really saw his struggle, nor did they care.

But here is what I think about Bartimaeus. He may have been blind, but he wasn’t deaf. He heard all the talk about this Jesus guy. He heard about him healing people. Making blind people see, and making deaf people hear. Raising a little girl from the grave. He probably heard someone talk about being on a hillside and suddenly there was enough food for everyone to have lunch. He heard it all, and this became his hope. What if one day he got to meet Jesus? What if one day, Jesus happened to walk by his corner where he begged? Can you imagine the daydreaming he did while sitting on that corner? He had the perfect scenario in his mind of how this would work. He would be ready.

And then it happened. He began to hear the crowd. Something was up. There was some activity going on down the street. Was there a fight? Did someone’s donkey not yield the right of way? Was someone important visiting the synagogue? Then he heard it. Someone said the name Jesus. Someone said that it was Jesus coming down the road. Show time! Bartimaeus started crying out, “Jesus!” The name means “Savior.” Bartimaeus needed a Savior, not a preacher. He also cried out, “Have mercy on me”. He didn’t want Jesus to treat him like others, like society had taught him he should be treated; He wanted mercy whether he deserved it or not. Bartimaeus knew he must cry out, now.

And he knew he must be persistent regardless of what those around him said. Picture what was going on - everyone was crowding the streets, leaving their homes, streaming out of the markets. And here this dirty beggar, clothed in rags, was creating a scene. But when they told him to be quiet, he quietly sat back down and took up his place on the corner, right? No way, Jose. Not for one minute! He kept yelling for the Son of David to have mercy on him. Sometimes, you and I have to ignore the crowds, even well-meaning friends, when their advice doesn’t line up with what you feel the Holy Spirit is speaking to you. Word of caution here: Sometimes, we are just plain wrong and in need of some good counsel. The Holy Spirit will help you here. But there are times when we need to move ahead and cry out louder and more often. And you know the rest of the story. Jesus called him over and healed him.

The story reminds me: Don’t sit on the sideline watching the Savior walk by with your needs still stuck in your pocket. Cry out to the One who wants you to call out, wants you to be persistent, and wants you to enjoy His mercies that, as reminded in Lamentations, “renew every morning”.

So, what need do you have that you have not cried out about? What keeps you from doing so?

Take two minutes to reflect in silence.

Reflection:

• Use the S.O.A.P. Method to study God’s Word.
• SCRIPTURE: What stands out to you in today’s passage?
• OBSERVATION: What is this text saying? What is the context? How does it fit with the verses before and after it? Are there any commands, instructions, or promises? 
• APPLICATION: How can you apply this verse to your life? What does this mean today? What is God saying to you? 
• PRAYER: Respond to the passage in prayer. Ask God to help you apply this truth to your life and spend some time listening to what He may be telling you.

The Way of Jesus: 7 Marks of Discipleship

As we begin a new series, we encourage you to lean into the 7 Marks of Discipleship each week. The 7 Marks of Discipleship provide a simple tool to help us identify areas where we are thriving in our calling and where we can grow. Check here each week for a new 7 Marks Challenge that will encourage you to follow Jesus closer every day.