Devotion by Pastor Audrey
April 3, 2020
Mark 10:46-52 I have only printed some of the verses. Please take the time to read all of them. “…So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus. What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him. The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.” “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.
When this healing takes place, Jesus has predicted his death three times. He knows the horror and the glory he will soon experience. He understands the magnitude of what was about to happen to him - events that would change humankind forever. It’s understandable this insight could cause Jesus to be distracted and anxious. But Jesus reacts quite differently.
When I’m faced with an event that seems overwhelming, I tend to become focused on what I have to do and not on what people around me are dealing with. However, in spite of all that lies ahead of him, Jesus takes time to respond to Bartimaeus’ heartfelt request and heals him. Jesus could have ignored the blind man as he called out to him. He could have just kept walking; not wanting to deal with him. But Jesus doesn’t do this; instead, Jesus asks the man to come and be near him.
How do you respond to situations that make you anxious or afraid? Take some time to reflect on what it means to us that Jesus, the man, understands what it means to face fearful, life-changing situations. And how fortunate we are that Jesus, the divine, calls us to come to him and be near him when we face such events.