By Judy Villanueva
Mark 10:46-52
Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus 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! 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.
As I read the story of Bartimaeus I am immediately intrigued by his determination to have an encounter with Jesus…and he doesn’t seem at all self-conscious about begging! I imagine the crowd walking by and he, hearing the commotion, crying out “What’s going on? Someone tell me what’s going on?” And, upon learning that Jesus was coming he yells for mercy! “Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me!” Can you picture it? Jesus is coming! Hope is passing by!
Everyone tells him to “shut-up!” “Stop bothering Jesus!” “Be quiet!” “Go away!” Hope discouragers, people who don’t want Jesus bothered with a beggar. I love that despite the rebuke, Bartimaeus shouts all the more! I’m not sure why this both amuses and confronts me, but it does! This man’s desperation and heart to go after Jesus “all the louder” makes me glad for him, but also, sadly aware of my own reluctance to ask for the things I need.
I love that Jesus hears the beggar’s cry and cares! He is not too busy or bothered to notice “hope” crying out for help! And, Bartimaeus is ready for his healing! He throws off his cloak and jumps up the minute he is told that Jesus is calling! “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asks. “I want to see.” And, Jesus gives sight to the blind man! I love Jesus!
As I watch Bartimaeus beg, I realize that I am out of touch with the fact that I am the beggar. Or, at least, I feel aware that my condition is no less desperate. I need the love of Jesus! I need His healing touch! I am desperate for His notice and never, never, never want to take for granted that, without Him, I lose the most joyous, beautiful, and blessed thing in my life. Watching Bartimaeus beg humbles me and encourages me in my helplessness…he inspires me to shout all the louder for all the healing and life that is found in Jesus.
“Jesus, I confess my pride and reluctance to know my blindness. Help me to cry out for the help I desperately need. Thank You that You call to me daily and ask me to tell You what I want You to do for me. Thank you that You always see me, always stop for me, and always meet me at my exact place of need. Amen.”
What about you?
Do you need Jesus today? Are you aware of what you need from Jesus?
Are you able to ask for what you need? If not, what keeps you from asking?
What is it you want Jesus to do for you?
This is what Jesus was “saying” to me as I read this passage. What is He saying to you?
Judy, what a beautiful reflection on our need for Jesus as begging for freedom from blindness…
I love your questions , Judy: Are you able to ask for what you need? If not, what keeps you from asking?
I would say, yes, we are but there are few things that hold us captive. And it is not the luck of faith that Jesus can do what we ask for..
More often, the reasons are not so visible.
Like Bartimaeous, we are limited to live fulfilling lives without Jesus’s power. Often we compensate our blindness with learning to listen better or use sense of touch.. Then we do not have to beg, living prideful lives. Pride holds us down…
Then, fear, luck of confidence and laziness. What would I do with a VISION He can give me? I will have to do something with that vision or I would loose peace of mind. Discovery (new vision) gets me excited, like a child, calls for actions, but it is hard to persevere through crowded world…People tell you: “Shut up”.
Personally, often I struggle with seeing things that others cannot see. For example, a professional intuition: it comes from careful studies and an experience that other people simply do not have..How do I I use this insight humbly? How do you apply it ?
If I share it with others, would they understand? New vision calls us to expand our circle of influence and put yourself out on public display. For introverts it is a hard task to do.
I bet, when Bartimaeous got his vision, he was so ecstatic to see NEW for him things that people thought he is a nut…they didn’t what he saw, they took those things for granted.
He had to learn how to live a NEW LIFE.
And this can be scary for us too.
Nelli