One of the spiritual practices that I find enriching is to simply journal insights that come as I reflect on a particular text. Here is a journal entry from some recent reflection on the story of Bartimaeus the blind man (Mark 10:46-52). I later used this passage to open a spiritual retreat for a ministry leadership team.
- 46 ? ?They came to Jericho.? When Gem and I visited Israel, we drove from Jerusalem down the hill to the Dead Sea and saw Jericho, which is a bit south and east of Jerusalem. We did not visit. Jericho was, of course, a key story in Israel?s history. Through obedience and not through human strength the walls fell.
- 46b ? Bart was at the gate of the city that Jesus and his followers were exiting. A large crowd was also tagging along to see what Jesus would do.
- 47 ? Bart was begging for his sustenance. Apparently, he knew something of Jesus? reputation because he cried out for more than alms. He asked for mercy from one he acknowledged as Son of David. This was a royal title--a kingdom title. He affirmed that Jesus was a rightful Lord (as opposed to Caesar or Herod).
- 48 ? The crowd feels that Bart is disrupting what Jesus is doing, so they basically tell him to shut up. This does not prevent Bart from shouting over them, again, ?Son of David, have mercy on me.? Do I allow the fickle voice of the crowd ? of conventional wisdom ? to deter me from seeking from Jesus just what I need?
- 49 ? Jesus heard Bart?s plea and answered it by telling the crowd who had been discouraging him to go ahead and call him. They were likely excited to see if this would be another occasion for a miracle. Are we following Jesus for what Jesus wants to do, or are we following Jesus for what we want Him to do? These aren?t necessarily the same thing.
- 49 ? Again the fickle crowd. First, they are rebuking Bart, then they are saying, ?Cheer up! On your feet! He's calling you.? The crowd is an unreliable source of information, guidance or support.
- 50 ? Bart drops everything and feels his way to Jesus. What might be more important to me than Jesus these days? Am I willing to drop it if it means being free to come fully to him?
- 51 ? I love Jesus?s question to Bart, because I believe it is a question that he is often asking us, ?What do you want me to do for you?? It is more a personal question than a ministry question. As pastors or leaders, we might be tempted to tell him what we want Him to do for others, but his question, first of all, is, ?What do you want? How can I help you??
- 51b ? Bart?s simple request goes beyond alms. He?d like to see. We don?t know how long he has been blind. Perhaps he lost his sight as an adult. Perhaps he has been blind from birth. Regardless, he believes that Jesus has power and authority to restore his sight. What apparently impossible request do we want to entrust to Jesus?
- 52 ? I love Jesus?s response to this simple request, ?Go, your faith has healed you.? Jesus acknowledged the quality of his faith that was willing to push past the discouraging crowd to come to Him. Jesus affirms his simple belief that Jesus wanted and was able to heal him in this way.
- 52 ? Jesus says, ?Go.? Bart decides to follow. Perhaps Jesus was saying, ?You don?t belong here at the city gate begging any longer. Go on your way. Live life. And following Jesus would be a very good way to do just that.
