In Mark chapter 10 the account has Jesus on his way to Jerusalem and he is passing through the city of Jericho. There are all kinds of people following Jesus that day. And as he is coming down the road into town, there is a guy who is blind called Bartimaeus sitting beside the road and he hears people calling out Jesus' name. He begins to shout "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" He is yelling so much the people are yelling at him to be quiet! But Jesus heard him, called for him and Bartimaeus jumped up and threw off his cloak...and made his way to Jesus. Jesus asked what he wanted him to do and Bartimaeus said "Let me see again." And Jesus said "Go, your faith has healed you...and he could see." It was his faith that allowed the healing and one of the ways he demonstrated his faith was what he did with his cloak. He threw it off. It might have been all he had. He needed it to keep warm, it was used as his bedroll and as he sat beside the road, he would lay it out in front of him for people to drop coins that he would use to live off of. When he threw aside his cloak that day, he discarded his ultimate safety net. He could do that because he was certain that after meeting Jesus, he wouldn't need it anymore. It was the tool that made his darkness tolerable. Like blind Bartimaeus, we can't receive a new life while we hold fast to the old one. What God wants from us is faith that allows
us to drop the tools that make our darkness tolerable and to be healed so that we can see and in some special way be able to see the face of God. Whatever you are clutching to make your life bearable, God is giving you and me the opportunity to come from darkness to light. And to let go of whatever it is that makes the darkness bearable. Bartimaeus did and his eyes were opened and he followed Jesus down the road before him. You and I can do that today...whatever it is...trust him enough to let it go. Here's our Bible verse for today...
Mark 10:50-52 Throwing off his cloak, Bartimaeus jumped up and came to Jesus. (51) "What do you want Me to do for you?" Jesus asked. "Rabboni," said the blind man, "let me see again."
(52) "Go," said Jesus, "your faith has healed you.” And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.
Remember I'm praying for you,
PJ
us to drop the tools that make our darkness tolerable and to be healed so that we can see and in some special way be able to see the face of God. Whatever you are clutching to make your life bearable, God is giving you and me the opportunity to come from darkness to light. And to let go of whatever it is that makes the darkness bearable. Bartimaeus did and his eyes were opened and he followed Jesus down the road before him. You and I can do that today...whatever it is...trust him enough to let it go. Here's our Bible verse for today...
Mark 10:50-52 Throwing off his cloak, Bartimaeus jumped up and came to Jesus. (51) "What do you want Me to do for you?" Jesus asked. "Rabboni," said the blind man, "let me see again."
(52) "Go," said Jesus, "your faith has healed you.” And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.
Remember I'm praying for you,
PJ