07/06/2024
This morning we will concentrate on a miracle that occurred on the outskirts of Jericho. It is the story of Bartimaeus, another blind man that was healed after calling out to Jesus, and there is a lesson in it for both believers and unbelievers alike. . Here is the account of what happened that day:
“And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me. And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me. And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee. And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus. And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight. And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.”
Mark 10:46-52 KJV
When we pray, we should be like Bartimaeus and call out boldly to the Lord. Our faith and trust in His ability to answer us should give wings to our prayers. Often, when we are in hopeless or desperate situations there will be those who tell us that God has a reason for not answering our prayers and to be quiet. They would have us dry our tears and drop our petition... Don't cry in church... Don't get depressed, just get over it... He isn't coming! That couldn't be further from the truth.
“Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise.”
Jeremiah 17:14 KJV
As Bartimaeus sat there on the side of the road he continued to call out, and in His voice Jesus heard the faith; a determined faith. What happened next is nothing less than incredible... Jesus stopped and demanded that those who just moments before had told Bartimaeus to be quiet to bring him forward. Jesus was about to teach the crowd a lesson and reward the faith of a blind man. He didn't ask Bartimaeus to come... He demanded those who had been trying to quiet him to bring him. Sound familiar? Jesus will always ask those who doubt or need their faith strengthened to do something that in the end will restore their faith.
“So the servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, 'Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.'”
Luke 14:21 ESV
As the crowd turned to bring Bartimaeus to Jesus, something wonderful happened... he didn't comb his hair or gather up his finest clothes... He dropped his cloak... he bared himself before the Lord. There is no more vulnerable posture than to be unclothed, and none that is more humbling.
You might say "Well, he was blind and couldn't see how he looked", and that is true, but even blind children are taught to dress themselves. Jesus saw him for who he was and the symbolism in that was bold. He wasn't put off by the nakedness; He simply asked "What wilt thou that I should do unto thee?"
When we pray it is important to drop our cloaks... To approach God as we truly are. We aren't fooling Him when we put on our best clothes or finest airs... He already knows us. What is important is that we acknowledge our unworthiness and His holiness. To do otherwise should be an embarrassment. He doesn't want us to come to Him as who we would like to THINK we are, but as who we TRULY are. Otherwise our prayer is like our actions... A ruse… a lie, and God sees through our lies.
So now Bartimaeus is standing before Jesus; humbled, unclothed, and yet in the fullness of his faith. He is believing that this man, Jesus, can heal him, and Jesus asks him what he would have Him do to him. Bartimaeus doesn't begin a long description of what he wants and why, or how he deserves to be healed... he simply says "Lord, that I might receive my sight." The humility and faithfulness of this nearly naked blind man (that is now standing before the Lord), is apparent. He might easily have thought "This is my one shot at sight, I need to present myself and my cause in the best light possible!" But he didn't... He simply asked "that I might receive my sight." This is the prayer of a man who has been beaten down by life and humbled, yet was still firm in his faith, and leaning on it.
Now the crowd turned to Jesus... What would He do? Would he say magic words? Would he jump up and down while calling on angels or even God Himself? They must have been utterly disappointed when he too spoke simply and confidently "Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole." a few brief words spoken without doubt by God's own Son, and in that instant Bartimaeus was healed, but the story doesn't end there!
Jesus told Bartimaeus to "Go thy way" and for most people that might have been to their home or to tell the story of this miracle to all who would listen, but that isn't what occurred here. Our scripture almost downplays what happened next... It is as understated as the exchange between Bartimaeus, a blind man, and the Son of God... It simply says, "and [Bartimaeous] followed Jesus in the way.” How do we react when we receive the answer to prayer, or a miracle?
As for the crowd? They saw their own self-images for what they were... Unworthy. Their attitude was that a blind man is lowly, and he doesn't deserve to come to Jesus before we do. Yet, Jesus taught differently, and on the road from Jericho He demanded that this blind man be called forward. Isn't it interesting that when Jesus did this the crowd immediately attached themselves to this lowly man? "And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee." As if they had never told him to be quiet? Yet in the end it was for these people that that this miracle was performed.
“But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
Matthew 19:30 ESV
So this morning when we pray we should continue to call out to Jesus from whatever crowd we find ourselves in, we should not be discouraged as we pray, we should humble ourselves before God and we should present our requests simply and without airs. Then, we should faithfully expect an answer, and when it comes... give Him all the glory, and our best thanks, by following Him.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for the miracles we see in our lives, and in the lives of those around us. Thank you Lord for including us in many of these miracles as you perform them, even if it is simply to bring you jars of water, or a blind man to you for healing. Thank you for using us to strengthen the faith of others as they see the result of our faith, and thank you for the miracles that have resulted from the faith of others because it has such a positive effect on our own. Help us to be faithful, and obedient Lord, and to give you all of the glory and praise for every miracle you perform, and for each word of prophesy that you speak to us, or ask us to give to others. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our Lord God who gives sight to the blind, and brings the unbelievers to their knees, and to salvation through faith and belief. We praise you Lord for all prayer, the answered and seemingly unanswered alike, but most of all for your miracles that bring us to faith, and cause the unbelievers in the world to believe. Bless those of us as we believe without seeing Lord, just as you said you would do when Thomas declared his belief upon seeing Jesus risen from the grave. You are merciful and full of grace Father, and especially as you reveal yourself in miracles that we would be drawn closer to you, and made pure and righteous in your Son Jesus Christ. Wash us clean today in the blood of Christ, and use not only the miracles He performs, but the miracle of His resurrection to give us eternal life and a seat at your table forevermore. Praise your name forever and ever Lord God.
“Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.””
John 20:29 ESV
“Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign not for unbelievers but for believers.”
1 Corinthians 14:22 ESV
Amen!
Rich Forbes