Day 31
Moving Towards Christ
There are interesting and ironic twists concerning Jesus and His ministry on Earth. One of those events is recorded by Mark.
Blindness was a widespread problem in Jesus’ time. There were very few cures. The Jewish and Roman cultures had very little concern or care for blind people. In fact, most Jewish people saw blindness as a punishment either for the blind person’s sins or the sins of the blind person’s parents. So, money, food, and care came only from begging! Mark records the unusual circumstances of a blind man’s encounter with Jesus at the gate of Jericho.
Mark 10:46-52 (CSB) They came to Jericho. And as He was leaving Jericho with His disciples and a large crowd, Bartimaeus (the son of Timaeus), a blind beggar, was sitting by the road. 47When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48Many warned him to keep quiet, but he was crying out all the more, “Have mercy on me, Son of David!” 49Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called the blind man and said to him, “Have courage! Get up; he’s calling for you.” 50He threw off his coat, jumped up, and came to Jesus. 51Then Jesus answered him, “What do you want me to do for you?” “Rabboni,” the blind man said to him, “I want to see.” 52Jesus said to him, “Go, your faith has saved you.” Immediately he could see and began to follow Jesus on the road.
The ironic twist is not that people were telling the blind man to stop bothering Jesus. It was that the blind man jumped up and came to Jesus. One would expect the blind man to remain seated and that Jesus would come to him. After all, the man was blind! The blind man was so desperate to see that nothing would keep him from getting to Jesus; not raucous crowds, not fear of losing his coat, or a blind walk! The blind man concluded that if he could get to Jesus, Jesus would heal his blindness.
Jesus is the cure for what cripples you. This could be fear, addiction, broken relationships, or lack of purpose. Jesus is calling for you. Don’t let the advice from others, or the uncertainty of calling out to Jesus keep you from living your life to the fullest! Jesus is calling. Get up and run to Him!
There are interesting and ironic twists concerning Jesus and His ministry on Earth. One of those events is recorded by Mark.
Blindness was a widespread problem in Jesus’ time. There were very few cures. The Jewish and Roman cultures had very little concern or care for blind people. In fact, most Jewish people saw blindness as a punishment either for the blind person’s sins or the sins of the blind person’s parents. So, money, food, and care came only from begging! Mark records the unusual circumstances of a blind man’s encounter with Jesus at the gate of Jericho.
Mark 10:46-52 (CSB) They came to Jericho. And as He was leaving Jericho with His disciples and a large crowd, Bartimaeus (the son of Timaeus), a blind beggar, was sitting by the road. 47When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48Many warned him to keep quiet, but he was crying out all the more, “Have mercy on me, Son of David!” 49Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called the blind man and said to him, “Have courage! Get up; he’s calling for you.” 50He threw off his coat, jumped up, and came to Jesus. 51Then Jesus answered him, “What do you want me to do for you?” “Rabboni,” the blind man said to him, “I want to see.” 52Jesus said to him, “Go, your faith has saved you.” Immediately he could see and began to follow Jesus on the road.
The ironic twist is not that people were telling the blind man to stop bothering Jesus. It was that the blind man jumped up and came to Jesus. One would expect the blind man to remain seated and that Jesus would come to him. After all, the man was blind! The blind man was so desperate to see that nothing would keep him from getting to Jesus; not raucous crowds, not fear of losing his coat, or a blind walk! The blind man concluded that if he could get to Jesus, Jesus would heal his blindness.
Jesus is the cure for what cripples you. This could be fear, addiction, broken relationships, or lack of purpose. Jesus is calling for you. Don’t let the advice from others, or the uncertainty of calling out to Jesus keep you from living your life to the fullest! Jesus is calling. Get up and run to Him!
Posted in 40 Days - 2022