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They came to Jericho. As he and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside. 4When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" Jesus stood still and said, "Call him here." And they called the blind man, saying to him, "Take heart; get up, he is calling you." So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. Then Jesus said to him, "What do you want me to do for you?" The blind man said to him, "My teacher, let me see again." Jesus said to him, "Go; your faith has made you well." Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way. (Mark 10: 46-52).
If you have a smart phone, is your vision limited, or expanded? On the one hand, if you are addicted to it, your range of vision is a small screen. Your eyes are focused on what it on the screen. On the other hand, one could make the case for having access on that phone to almost all of the information out there. One can Google this or Google that, and trip on a curb; or miss out on some wonderful scenery that God has provided. This is, of course, an argument with you that I don't want to have, but compare it to today's gospel lesson. Jesus encounters a blind man named Bartimaeus, forced into being a beggar because of his inability to see. Though Bartimaeus could not see, he did hear and listen and learn; His first reaction to hearing that Jesus was near was to shout out a declaration of faith not yet found in the Gospel of Mark, he calls Jesus, the "Son of David." He knew the lineage and prophecy behind the Messiah and to call Jesus a Son of David was to declare to those hearing, "This is the Messiah!" Yet, his cry was for mercy and healing. Those around him when they heard Jesus calling to him encourage him, "Take heart; get up, He is calling you." From his usual place as beggar he arises quickly and comes to Jesus. Jesus asks him what he would have him do, and Bartimaeus replies he would like to see again. Something had blinded him. He had once had vision, but now was blind. His request was to regain that vision so that he could once again fend for himself and leave this world of begging.
And unlike some of the other healings of sight, Jesus does not spit and make a paste, nor touches him, Jesus simply said, "Go; your faith has made you well." Just like that. A word from Jesus and this blind man regains his sight immediately. His first reaction is to follow Jesus on the way (road).
No longer limited by blindness, this man rejoins society like never before. His faith had blessed him, and for a way, followed Jesus, and you know the topic of most of his conversations for many years would be how his life had been changed forever by the Son of David, the Messiah. How much do you suppose Bartemeaus had missed during his blind years? Did he have a family? Children? Did he miss seeing them grow up? Crawl? Walk? Run? I know he probably missed sunsets and sunrises, the smiles of his friends and family, seeing rain fall on the earth. Now, I believe, beyond seeing what was happening, because he knew the One behind all things, he could see even more.
Because you and I know Jesus, and because at one time, Jesus came and touched our lives and restored us to fullness of life, what do you see that others can't? And what are you sharing about what has changed in your life?
PRAYER: Awesome God, thank You for that touch upon my life. May it not be a one-time event some years ago, may it be a daily occurrence where as I pray or as I read Your word, you touch me again, and restore my faith and vision to You and what You are doing in our midst. Let my sight not be limited to small areas, but to the big picture of possibility in Your realm. This I pray in Thy name, O Jesus, my Lord and healer, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
