You would have observed from the previous accounts that that Bartimaeus received his healing at his first encounter with Jesus. By his display of faith his eyes opened and he saw the light of day from which he had once been deprived. He did not only behold with his naked eyes the author of his breakthrough, but he determined to also follow him. When the encounter is spectacular we cannot but want to follow Jesus.
On one occasion, Jesus chased out demons by the name of 'Legion' that had inhabited a man and made him violent to the point that "no one was strong enough to subdue him." (Mark 5:4) After he came to his senses, he offered to follow him. Jesus asked him to "Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you." (Mark 5:19)
There are some people who like Bartimaeus will receive their breakthrough at the first encounter with the Lord or after one touch or at his utterance. "Go your faith has healed you." (Mark 10:52) For others it is not so evident. It took half way through a dinner in Zacchaeus' house for him to have offered to give back all he had stolen as a custom officer. Prior to that Jesus never said a word. His presence was enough to work out such a miracle in the life of Zacchaeus. (Luke 19:1-10)
Bartimaeus' case differs slightly from another blind man who was brought to Jesus for healing. This man lived in
Notice that Jesus had to take him away from the crowd and out of the village before he could perform any miracle on him. He had cursed that village before for its unrepentant spirit. "Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you,
Another phenomenon to note is that he spat in his eyes prior to touching him enquiring afterwards if he really could see. His response came as a surprise. He said he could see figures like trees walking. "I see people; they look like trees walking around." (Mark 8:24)
It was evident that at the first touch, the blind man did not receive his sight completely He required a second touch, another intervention. That was exactly what Jesus did. "Once more Jesus put his hands on the man's eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly." (Mark 8:25)
Was this a difficult case for the Lord to handle? No, not really! "Ah, Sovereign Lord, you who made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you." (Jeremiah 32:17) Nothing is too difficult for him. Rather it had to do with the fellow. Some of us don't get it right the first time, unfortunately; you'd have to hammer it into our heads several times over before it becomes clear. His faith was not as solid as that of Bartimaeus who it seemed was desperate for sight – the reason he shouted his head off literally.
This fellow looked the lazy type. It did not seem like he took the initiative himself; others did on his behalf. Was he really convinced he could have received his sight? Would that have been the reason why he saw only faintly and vaguely?
You probably are like this fellow. This is not the first time that you have heard of the Lord and what he is able to do in your life. You know he can turn your life around, but you are hesitant. You have heard about the good news of the gospel several times over but have not yet taken the initiative or made the move to come to Jesus. You want others to bring you.
His appeal to you today is for you to come. "Come to me, all you who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls: for my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-29)
If you should browse through the pages of the Bible you are certain to come across several instances where Jesus demonstrated that he is able to heal us, to provide for us and to intervene our behalf to the Father. In other words, there is nothing he cannot do for us provided we do not ask wrongly or with evil intentions.
How persistent you have been asking would determine and influence the response. God is a Father and he wants to bless all his children. Even at the cross, on the point of death our Lord Jesus offered one of the brigands a place in heaven. "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." (Luke 23:43) He had asked "Jesus remember me when you come into your kingdom." (Luke 23:42)
When the Lord God assured Abraham that he would grant him his wish of having a child even in his old age; Sarah, his wife, laughed at the idea. She was in her nineties understandably and had not experienced the hand of God in her life as yet. "Why did Sarah laugh and say, will I really have a child, now that I am old? Is anything too hard for the Lord?" (Genesis 18:13-14)
Doubting will get us nowhere. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." (Proverbs 3:5-6) Let him be the Alpha (the beginning) and the Omega (the end) of your life this 2010. Amen!
