Wednesday, October 28, 2009
YOU CAN SEE BARTIMAEUS
INDEED, YOU CAN NOW SEE !
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The following lesson is from the Gospel of Mark.
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As Jesus was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a sizable crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind man, the son of Timaeus, sat by the roadside begging. On hearing it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and said, "Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me.
Many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he (Bartimaeus) kept calling out all the more, "Son of David, have pity on me." Jesus stopped and said, "Call him." So they called the blind man, saying to him, "Take courage; get up, Jesus is calling you." He threw aside his cloak, sprang up and came to Jesus.
Jesus said to him in reply, "What do you want me to do for you?" The blind man replied to him, "Master, I want to see." Jesus told him, "Go your way; your faith has saved you." Immediately he (Bartimaeus) received his sight and followed him (Jesus) on the way.
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So what have we learned from this beautiful piece of scripture? Bartimaeus had heard many stories of Jesus (Y'shua) and of His curing the sick. Bartimaeus committed blasphemy when he said: "Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me." He broke the Jewish Law by acknowledging that Jesus was the "Son of David" or "Son of God." For this alone he could have been stoned. Bartimaeus had no proof but Bartimaeus had Faith!
So then Jesus (Y'shua) asks a rather foolish question..."What do you want me to do for you?" Surely Jesus (Y'shua) knew that Bartimaeus wanted to see. Jesus wanted to hear Bartimaeus say: "Master, I want to see."
There is an old saying: "There are none so blind as those who will not see." Unlike the Scribes, Pharisees and other religious leaders...Bartimaeus had FAITH and TRUST. He wanted his sight and trusted that the man known as Jesus (Y'shua) could restore his sight.
Now when you ask God for something, be realistic. Don't ask for a million dollars, simply ask for good heath and good health for your family and friends. Ask that you might have enough to survive. Remember that God knows everything about you and understands all you will ever need. Remember Bartimaeus. When it comes to FAITH and TRUST Bartimaeus gets five stars.
