46And they came to Jericho; and as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great multitude, Bartimae'us, a blind beggar, the son of Timae'us, was sitting by the roadside. 47And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" 48And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent; but he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" 49And Jesus stopped and said, "Call him." And they called the blind man, saying to him, "Take heart; rise, he is calling you." 50And throwing off his mantle he sprang up and came to Jesus. 51And Jesus said to him, "What do you want me to do for you?" And the blind man said to him, "Master, let me receive my sight." 52And Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your faith has made you well." And immediately he received his sight and followed him on the way.
Bartimaeus’ story encourages me to persist in faith, openly bringing my needs to God, and embracing the transformation that comes through following Jesus. It reminds me that even in moments of discouragement or when others may try to stifle my call, Jesus hears and invites me to approach Him with faith and confidence. I have always felt that asking God to do things for me is an act of the ego. It is selfish and self-serving. But I sense that this is not just about the asking. The passage emphasises the power of faith. Even the fact that Bartiimaeus knows Christ as the Son Of David, means he affords him respect and position. Perhaps the moral of this story is pay respect to Christ.
ReplyDeleteYour reflection on Bartimaeus’ story brings out a central theme: the importance of reverence and recognition of Christ’s divinity. Bartimaeus calls Jesus “Son of David,” which, as you noted, acknowledges His messianic role. This title shows deep faith and respect, indicating Bartimaeus doesn’t just see Jesus as a miracle-worker but as the one with divine authority to transform lives.
DeleteYour view on asking as potentially self-serving is insightful, and this passage does suggest that the “asking” isn’t simply about personal gain. Rather, it highlights a humble dependency on God and an acknowledgment of His ability to fulfill our needs—spiritually, emotionally, and physically. By asking, Bartimaeus is not trying to inflate his ego but is openly affirming his faith that Jesus has the power to heal him. This level of faith brings both healing and the opportunity to follow Christ more fully.