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“Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! Get on your feet! He’s calling you.” Throwing his cloak aside he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus. “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him. The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.” “Go.” Said Jesus; “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.” - Mark 10: 46-52 (NIV)
In this passage we find ourselves peeping into the life of a blind man who was called Bartimaeus. Bartimaeus was a beggar who was known all over town. His father, whose name was Timaeus, was also blind, which made the case even worse. Bartimaeus had to depend on the people of the town to give him money as they passed by. He lived a rough life, and I’m sure he must have had some days where he was depressed.
You won’t find the word depression in most translations of the Bible, but the idea is certainly there. The feeling that life is bad and unlikely to get any better is as old as humanity, and the Bible presents us with many people who felt abandon by man and by God. In the midst of the deepest depression, people of faith have found that their one consolation is this: that God is in charge, and regardless of what afflicts us in this life, our ultimate destiny is in God’s hands.
The Bible says that when Bartimaeus heard that Jesus was close, He began to shout. He began to scream so that he might attract Jesus’ attention. “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” The other folk in the crowd were trying to get him to be quiet. But the more they tried the more loudly he shouted, “Son of David, have mercy on me.”
My brothers and sisters, we cannot allow anyone to stop us from calling on Jesus. For in the time of trouble Jesus is really the only one who can help. There are so many people in the world today who will try to stop you from calling out to Jesus. But as we look at the many horrible things that are going on in the world today, someone needs to call on Jesus.
Secondly, once we have called on Jesus, and He gives us directions, then we must follow the directions that He has given. You see the reason why our communities, our churches and even the world is in turmoil is because we have not followed the directions that Jesus has outlined for us in Scripture. Jesus did not give Bartimaeus hard directions. He simply said “get up.” And Bartimaeus jumped up and went to Jesus. Jesus asked him, “what do you want me to do for you?” Bartimaeus responded like any other blind man would respond, “Rabbi, I want to see.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus.
Jesus wants us to depend on Him. He wants us to come to Him with our pain and confusion. He wants us to come to Him when we are in trouble and when we need healing. He is just waiting for us to seek His face in all things. When we seek Him then He will hear and answer our prayers. We cannot forget about how good God has been to us. We cannot forget all of the mountains the Lord has allowed us to climb. When Jesus healed Barimaeus, he didn’t forget what Jesus had done for him. He didn’t go off somewhere and throw a party. He didn’t go all over town bragging about his blessings to make other people feel bad. But the Bible says that immediately he followed Jesus.
There are many things that Satan will try to use to trouble us. There are many things going on in the world that will cause us to be sorrowful about. But the Scripture reminds us today that Jesus is calling. Our backs may be up against the wall of life, but we can cheer up because Jesus is calling. Our world is filled with sickness and disease. Our world is filled with war and rumors of war. Our world is filled with violence and abuse, but those of us who know God understands that He is still on throne, and has all power in heaven and in earth. Cheer up, Jesus is calling!
Rev. DeWayne Moore
Youth Pastor
Macedonia Baptist Church
Denver, CO |
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