Word@Work 123 - Mark 10:46-48
Published: Wed, 05/14/08
Word@Work from BeaconLight
Read Mark 10:46-48 Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (that is, 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!" (NIV)
Timaeus was a man with disappointed hopes. His name meant 'highly prized', presumably the joy of his parents. But his son (Bar-timaeus) was blind, a beggar. He was despised and ridiculed, a grown man treated like a child. Certainly not highly prized - at least, not by the social standards of the day! But when Jesus comes to town, even down-trodden Bartimaeus saw a ray of hope. Here was the Jesus everybody was talking about, the only man who really did make blind people see.
His call for help is interesting. Instead of asking for new sight, he pleads for mercy. Whatever his physical condition, he knew that he was undeserving of any favour from Jesus (who he called the Son of David - a messianic title). The blind man had more insight than those crowding around the Master: he knew that Jesus was the Christ; that He was holy and that that he, Bartimaeus, was unholy. That was why he did not dare to plead for healing, just mercy. The self-righteous crowd only saw a nuisance; but the beggar recognised no authority in their voices - he wanted Jesus to speak mercy over him.
Shallow religion still seeks its thrills in the crowd, but a deep hunger for God still calls out for mercy (Luke 18:13). And in Jesus' ministry, he kindly validated the spiritual healing, by restoring people's bodies and minds as well. However, easy-believe-ism and a insatiable grasping for divine fix-its has catastrophically devalued the gospel. The true message is not about what we can get from Jesus, but about 'peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ': and you cannot get that without first calling for mercy from Jesus!
Prayer: Father God, Thank You for the bold simplicity of pleading for mercy. Forgive my churchianity games which have eclipsed Your command to seek Your mercy so that You can remake us - as useable instruments in Your hand. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
You can read more of this Bible passage online - in English and other languages - share the Bible with your friends!
Timaeus was a man with disappointed hopes. His name meant 'highly prized', presumably the joy of his parents. But his son (Bar-timaeus) was blind, a beggar. He was despised and ridiculed, a grown man treated like a child. Certainly not highly prized - at least, not by the social standards of the day! But when Jesus comes to town, even down-trodden Bartimaeus saw a ray of hope. Here was the Jesus everybody was talking about, the only man who really did make blind people see.
His call for help is interesting. Instead of asking for new sight, he pleads for mercy. Whatever his physical condition, he knew that he was undeserving of any favour from Jesus (who he called the Son of David - a messianic title). The blind man had more insight than those crowding around the Master: he knew that Jesus was the Christ; that He was holy and that that he, Bartimaeus, was unholy. That was why he did not dare to plead for healing, just mercy. The self-righteous crowd only saw a nuisance; but the beggar recognised no authority in their voices - he wanted Jesus to speak mercy over him.
Shallow religion still seeks its thrills in the crowd, but a deep hunger for God still calls out for mercy (Luke 18:13). And in Jesus' ministry, he kindly validated the spiritual healing, by restoring people's bodies and minds as well. However, easy-believe-ism and a insatiable grasping for divine fix-its has catastrophically devalued the gospel. The true message is not about what we can get from Jesus, but about 'peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ': and you cannot get that without first calling for mercy from Jesus!
Prayer: Father God, Thank You for the bold simplicity of pleading for mercy. Forgive my churchianity games which have eclipsed Your command to seek Your mercy so that You can remake us - as useable instruments in Your hand. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
You can read more of this Bible passage online - in English and other languages - share the Bible with your friends!
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