Places of Desperation: Daily Thoughts from Mark (Mark 10:46-52)

We reach places of desperation in our lives.  Some of us let desperation drive us to despair.  Some of us maintain stiff upper lips.  Some of us take our lives.  Some of us call out for help.

Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem.  From Jericho there was a road to Jerusalem through the hills, a shot straight west.  He was facing death in Jerusalem, but he had to go.  So much was on his mind, but not too much to hear a voice of desperation calling out to him.

And they came to Jericho. And as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” And Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart. Get up; he is calling you.” And throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. And Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” And the blind man said to him, “Rabbi, let me recover my sight.” And Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way. (Mark 10:46-52, ESV)

Some people are more concerned about propriety in manners than in someone’s desperate need being met.  Bartimaeus (bar=son of) was in desperate need of healing.  Because he was blind he was relegated to begging to make a living.  Perhaps people were used to him begging and thought he was going to ask Jesus for money.  But his cry was something Jesus recognized as more than a plea for alms.  By calling Jesus “son of David” Bartimaeus was acknowledging his right to sit on the throne of his father and was, perhaps, acknowledging him as the Messiah.

We know that Bartimaeus had faith.  When Jesus called to bring Bartimaeus to him (after all, he couldn’t see but needed someone to guide him), Bartimaeus threw off his cloak.  The cloak was a person’s most valuable garment, the one that kept him warm at night, an essential piece of his wardrobe.  But Bartimaeus threw it off, seemingly unconcerned that he might not be able to find it again, being blind.  But he did not expect to remain blind.

Jesus very clearly says to Bartimaeus that his faith had made him well.  As Jesus says this his sight returns and he follows Jesus.  He becomes a disciple.  He was not just in this for a cure but believed in Jesus.  This is the way we come to Christ for our initial rescue and the way we must continually come to him for our whole life.  This is that faith like a child’s faith that Jesus talked about.  This is the kind of faith Jesus responds to.

Jesus will never fail to respond to someone who is desperate and seeking his help in faith.