48 Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" 49 Jesus stopped and said, "Call him." So they called to the blind man, "Cheer up! On your feet! He's calling you." 50 Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.
Bartimaeus was a blind man who was running short on hope. As I read his story in Mark 10, it is very easy to associate him with many people today. You know who they are. They are the marginalized, the outcast, and the poor / needy. How did it come to this? Blind and begging with no shot at rising off of the mat. Where does any dream slowly fade away into hopelessness? Everyone has a story. Bartimaeus did.
There are crucial intersections in all of our stories. They are not just any random intersectons, but Divine encounters. How we navigate those intersections determines how our stories play out. Here is good news: as long as we have breath, the potential for participating in a story of redemption is never out of reach. The real tragedy comes when life is cut short before one can realize the full potential that life can be.
Bartimaeus found himself at one of those Divine intersections. Bartimaeus decided to take a shot on Jesus of Nazareth, who was passing by. Upon realizing who he was (Luke 18:37), Bartimaeus pleads for mercy. Through Jesus, Bartimaeus' story takes a radical turn. In a jacked up, sin wrecked world, we have to believe that Jesus still is a dispenser of mercy. We need to also believe that no one is beyond the reach of this Jesus who is 'full of compassion and mercy' (James 5:11). If we are the ones on the mat, may our faith be increased to the point where we can reach out to the One who gives mercy. But, if we are the ones in the crowd, we have a message to ring out. 'Cheer up! On your feet! He's calling you' (Mark 10:49).
Divine intersections bring choices. If we avoid or ignore them, our stories work out a less than desirable ending. Also, if we fail to herald the Good News to others, we fail not only ourselves, but others as well. 'He is calling you.' In the midst of pain, brokenness, and hurt. In sadness, grief, doubt, and discouragement. In the mess, the mundane, and weakness. In the midst of it all, the call rings out: 'Cheer up! On your feet! He is calling you.' May we have the courage to step into his mercy and redemption. May we have the compassion to bring others along.
Lord, give us eyes to see you. Give us the courage to ask, 'What is going on?' Give us faith to believe that you alone can dispense the mercy we so desperately need. But also give us eyes to see those around us that need hope. The greatest thing we can do is to point them in your direction. And may they find you in us as you move in us and through us, calling to you world. Amen.
Click here to hear Casting Crowns: 'Does Anybody Hear Her'
Bartimaeus was a blind man who was running short on hope. As I read his story in Mark 10, it is very easy to associate him with many people today. You know who they are. They are the marginalized, the outcast, and the poor / needy. How did it come to this? Blind and begging with no shot at rising off of the mat. Where does any dream slowly fade away into hopelessness? Everyone has a story. Bartimaeus did.
There are crucial intersections in all of our stories. They are not just any random intersectons, but Divine encounters. How we navigate those intersections determines how our stories play out. Here is good news: as long as we have breath, the potential for participating in a story of redemption is never out of reach. The real tragedy comes when life is cut short before one can realize the full potential that life can be.
Bartimaeus found himself at one of those Divine intersections. Bartimaeus decided to take a shot on Jesus of Nazareth, who was passing by. Upon realizing who he was (Luke 18:37), Bartimaeus pleads for mercy. Through Jesus, Bartimaeus' story takes a radical turn. In a jacked up, sin wrecked world, we have to believe that Jesus still is a dispenser of mercy. We need to also believe that no one is beyond the reach of this Jesus who is 'full of compassion and mercy' (James 5:11). If we are the ones on the mat, may our faith be increased to the point where we can reach out to the One who gives mercy. But, if we are the ones in the crowd, we have a message to ring out. 'Cheer up! On your feet! He's calling you' (Mark 10:49).
Divine intersections bring choices. If we avoid or ignore them, our stories work out a less than desirable ending. Also, if we fail to herald the Good News to others, we fail not only ourselves, but others as well. 'He is calling you.' In the midst of pain, brokenness, and hurt. In sadness, grief, doubt, and discouragement. In the mess, the mundane, and weakness. In the midst of it all, the call rings out: 'Cheer up! On your feet! He is calling you.' May we have the courage to step into his mercy and redemption. May we have the compassion to bring others along.
Lord, give us eyes to see you. Give us the courage to ask, 'What is going on?' Give us faith to believe that you alone can dispense the mercy we so desperately need. But also give us eyes to see those around us that need hope. The greatest thing we can do is to point them in your direction. And may they find you in us as you move in us and through us, calling to you world. Amen.
Click here to hear Casting Crowns: 'Does Anybody Hear Her'
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