HEARTS AND MIRACLES (5)

“So Jesus STOOD STILL and commanded him to be brought to Him…” – Luke 18:40a    

JESUS will stand still for HEARTS that can believe Him for MIRACLES: “So Jesus STOOD STILL and commanded him to be brought to Him. And when he had come near, He asked Him, saying, “What do you want Me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, that I may receive my sight” Then Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight, you FAITH has made you well” (L.18:40-42). Amid the multitude, the Son of God stood still for a Heart that caught His Heart’s attention! Though unnamed in Luke’s account, this is the story of the Bartimaeus of Mark 10:46-52.

This blind and destitute man who heard that Jesus was passing by, encountered a special Moment of Grace, a once in a life-time opportunity that he dared not pass up! He was determined to get near the one Person who could meet his need. He knew who Jesus was and had heard of His fame for healing, but until now had no means of making contact with the Son of David – the awaited Messiah. Here are few additional heart-related lessons from this Story of Passionate and Focused Faith:

God rewards Faith and Persistence: It took rare courage and bold persistence for Bartimaeus to get the attention of Jesus over the din of a throng milling around Him. They were annoyed with his persistent shouts, but with his loud outburst, he overpowered those who tried to silence him; he caught the Saviour’s attention. This reveals something vital about how God interacts with us. Jesus could have ignored or scolded him because he was interrupting His talk and disturbing His audience. Jesus showed that acting was more important than talking. The man was in desperate need and Jesus was ready not only to empathize with his suffering but to relieve it.

The blind man saw Jesus with Eyes of Faith: An orator can command attention and respect, but a person with a Helping Hand and a large Heart is to be cherished more. Jesus commended him for recognizing who He is with the eyes of faith and granted him physical sight as well. Do we recognize our need for God's healing Grace? Do we seek Jesus out with persistent trust in His Goodness and Mercy? Bartimaeus was not only grateful for the gift of Faith and of physical Sight, but for the opportunity to follow. He immediately followed Jesus and gave glory to God (v.43). The crowd also praised God when they saw this double miracle of spiritual and physical vision, being set free from double blindness: The blindness of the body and of the heart. The man became the means of others giving Christ Glory!

Our relationship with Christ is personal: God is relational. He wants us to have an intimate Heart-to-heart relationship with Him; our eyes kept firmly fixed on Him; not distracted by anyone or anything. That’s what Jesus saw in Bartimaeus that He stopped and stood still! It’s a pretty big deal for the Saviour of the world, the awaited Messiah, to stop and wait for the blind man whom many people wouldn’t have even noticed.  God-Immanuel stopped and waited for the blind man to make his way to Him. In like manner, we need to focus on God and Him only. We have a race to run, and must pay attention to the path set before us, undistracted by what others say to or about us.     

We have been all blind – spiritually blind, and chosen wrong paths. This miracle is a reminder that Faith removes the blindness and equips us to live in the Light of Christ. He graciously calls us: “Come to Me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Mt.11:28). In coming to Him for Help and Healing, we must trust Him as Saviour and Lord. Wherever the gospel is preached, or the written words of truth circulated, Jesus is passing by, with a fresh opportunity to open the eyes of hearts. It is not enough to come to Christ for physical healing; we must continue to follow, honour, and obey Him all the way.