Just some early morning thoughts from me to you…
Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (which means “son of Timaeus”), was sitting by the roadside begging. 47 When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
48 Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
49 Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.”…
51 “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him.
The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.”
52 “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.
Mark 10: 46-52 (NIV)
Each day, Bartimeaus would rise, put on his beggar’s cloak, pick up his tin beggar’s cup and once again head for the streets of Jericho. He would spend his day sitting alongside the street crying “Alms for the blind,” as the crowds passed by his way.
His definition of a good day was a tin cup full of coins. Just getting through the day sometimes was good enough. As we’ll see, this was to be a day where Baritmeaus learned that God was more than a God of “good enough!”
Today, Bartimaeus was expecting good results from the large crowd of returning pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem for the Passover. Jericho was also known for its fairly wealthy inhabitants, making begging a bit more productive.
But like many of us, blind Bartimaeus was regularly moved toward feelings of doubt, and toward underestimating the possibilities of a really good day. Today was no exception as those fears and doubts began to creep into his thinking.
But then he heard the commotion in the distance, and realized that Jesus was heading his way and nothing could stop him in getting access to the Master. He knew of Jesus and had heard of all the miracles He had performed for the past few years. If he could only get before Him, this day could be different—unlike any other in his life before.
He shouted out to get Jesus’ attention.
But the crowd doesn’t particularly like Bartimaeus and definitely not his screaming out, and tells him to be quiet. He shouts all the more. Jesus hears him, stops and says to the others “call him here.”
Bartimaeus jumps to his feet, throws off his beggar’s cloak and comes to Jesus—not an easy maneuver for a blind man in the middle of a crowd. When he got to Jesus, the Master asked him this question:
“What do you want Me to do for you?”
Bartimaeus responded: “Rabboni, I want to regain my sight,” to which Jesus responded, “Go, your faith has made you well.” Immediately, his sight was restored.
Jesus was impressed by Bartimeaus, and responded to him; but not to Bartimaeus’ understanding of Jesus’ Lordship, but instead to the boldness of his faith.
Blind Bartimaeus believed! He didn’t understand it all, but he believed that before him stood the Messiah—and He could make him well. He believed that Jesus could do more than just fill his tin cup this one day in his life; he believed Jesus could fill his life to overflowing.
What about us? Are we like Bartimaeus as we go through life, or are we like the Pharisees following Jesus? How many of us are bold in our faith like Bartimeaus—in our belief in Christ? How many of us get up each day with a big God and a bold view, believing that this will be a good day? Believing for starters that just being with God makes it a good day!
Or how many of us have a “tin cup mentality,” underestimating what Jesus can do with our lives? Are we simply happy with a few coins clanking in the bottom of our cup? Satisfied with just any step in whatever we feel might be the right direction, or a better direction than yesterday.
Jesus knows who you are, He seeks you, and each one of us out like He did Bartimaeus; He is aware of and wants to be attentive to our needs and asks each one of us the very same question He asked Blind Bartimaeus that day:
“What do you want Me to do for you?”
Have you ever stopped to realize that the risen Christ is asking you that question every day of your life?
What do you want Me to do for you today, Scott, or for you, ___________?
What is our response? Is it a timid “tin cup” response? Is it something perhaps like, “Oh just a few coins would be good, Lord, right here in my tin cup. Thank you Lord.”
Or is it bold, asking for more, asking God to help you to be all you can be? Do you ask to be healed, to have your sight restored, or to have the dream long held in your heart fulfilled? Do you ask that God would enlarge your life and all that you do. What bold request can you—and should you—ask of Him?
What do you need Him to help you with in your life? What areas of concern do you carry all alone? Which of your loved ones needs a special encounter with the Lord’s healing touch? What path do you need to ask Him to help you find the courage to decide upon, stay on, or begin to walk down? What area of your life do you want Him to enlarge and trust you with, so you can begin to have even a greater impact for Him and for others?
“What do you want Me to do for you, ___________?
What will be your response to Him?
Tin cup timid? Or bold faith? It will make all the difference in your life.
In His Name—Scott
Copyright 2015. Scott L. Whitaker. All rights reserved.
