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 (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!” 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.
Jesus, having just told his disciples, the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, was leaving Jericho with his disciples accompanied by a large crowd when they heard a blind man crying out to Jesus. He was seated along the roadside, begging, but when he head that Jesus was passing by, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Even though many people told him to be quiet, he called all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!" Hearing this persistent cry, Jesus stops and says to his followers, "Call him." So they bring the good news to the blind man: “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” With this, he throws down his coat, jumps to his feet, and comes to Jesus, the One he has heard holds the power to change his life. He comes quickly to Jesus, fully expecting a life-changing experience, and when Jesus asks, “What do you want me to do for you?” he answers without hesitation, “Rabbi, I want to see.” In this blind man's heart is the faith to believe Jesus can give him the one thing he has longed for these many years, the ability to see clearly. Seeing Bartimaeus' faith, Jesus simply says, "Go, your faith has healed you." Mark relates that the man was immediately healed, and he followed Jesus along the road. He will no longer be a beggar at the side of the road. Bartimaeus will go through his life telling everyone, I met Jesus as a blind man, but He healed me, and now I can see. When Jesus came near, Bartimaeus was ready; and he called out in faith, accepting the miracle Jesus had for him. He was never the same. James says, Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. (James 4:7-8)
The Christ in us, our hope of glory desires to meet our needs and to empower us to live victoriously over the enemy of our souls. He does not want us to live as beggars, beneath our privileges as his children. God has blessed us with resources in Christ our Lord. We are filled with the resurrection power of the Holy Spirit, so we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength. We have the privilege to read God's Word, to pray, and to fellowship with other believers. Our churches are full of brothers and sisters in Christ who will join with us in prayer and encourage us in our faith walk. People are there who need our help and our words of faith. Paul talked to the Romans concerning what Moses said about the righteousness that is by the law and the righteousness that is by faith. He said the righteousness that is by faith tells us, “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. (Romans 10:8-10) The King James version says we believe the word is nigh us. Since Jesus Christ is the living Word of God, we have a great confidence in him for He truly is in our mouths and in our hearts, and He is what we confess to a hurting world. Understanding this relationship moves us forward as soldiers in the army of the Lord. Just as with Bartimaeus, after we have been saved and made whole, after we have confessed Christ as Savior and Lord, we are ready to follow Jesus wherever He leads us. Just as our Lord came to serve and to save the lost, we identify with our brother Paul who said, Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. (1 Corinthians 9:19)
Doubt, fear, and unbelief often prevent us from going forth as a strong force for the Lord. We need a clearer image of who we are in Christ. He did not leave us as powerless and fragile creatures. The scriptures contains hundreds of verses, confirming our position of strength in the Lord. Paul told the Ephesians: Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Then he goes on to specifically name each piece of armor: the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, shoes made from the gospel of peace, the shield of faith to stop the devil's flaming arrows, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit (which is God's Word). Now to make all this work, Paul instructs them to pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests and to be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. (See Ephesians 6) We must take advantage of what God has provided for us if we are to overcome. The victory is already ours: Christ has won. Paul told the church in Rome: Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. (Romans 8:35-37) We read in Revelation 12:11 this beautiful sentence describing believers when the enemy is finally defeated, And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. Today, we stand with the saints of all the ages, declaring, Christ has come! He has set us free, and with Bartimaeus we will follow him!
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