THE CRY OF FAITH
09th Mar 2022
I love the interchange of words between Jesus and Bartimaeus in Mark 10. Jesus is passing the place where Bartimaeus is begging, and he begins to cry out as loud as he can for Jesus to have mercy on him. Those around try to shut him up, but he responds by crying even louder. I don’t think it was the noise that arrested Jesus, more the utter cry for help, the longing for change, the desperate tone that carried the message, “You alone can help me.”
Jesus’ response was in the form of a question, “What do you want me to do for you?” There was no hesitation in the reply, “I want to see!” Jesus saw the faith that made that statement and responded with the words, “Go, your faith has healed you”, and he received his sight and followed Jesus down the road.
He had heard about Jesus, most people had. Amazing things had been happening, but now Jesus was physically nearby and it was possible he might receive, a touch or a prayer - anything. He wasn’t going to miss this opportunity. Something was going on inside Bartimaeus - hope, belief, possibility, faith, yearning, desperation, desire, hunger - every emotion demanding to meet with Jesus. All these came together in his cry and Jesus responded, stopped and called him. Jesus said his faith had healed him. So how do we develop or receive this kind of faith?
I know it is present when all human answers and resources have failed, when there is no answer other than divine intervention. Somehow Bartimaeus believed Jesus wanted to heal him. Its unlikely he had heard the report of the leper who talked to Jesus saying, “If you are willing you can make me clean” or the answer, “I’m willing be clean.” He was clear in his answer, “I want to see” that believed Jesus could heal him and would want to.
He didn’t hesitate to follow Jesus down the road. Life was changed that day, nothing would ever be the same. He would no longer be begging, he would need to work. He was no longer restricted to life in a certain place, a whole new world opened up to him that day.
Some of us are not prepared for the changes that will come with healing, some don’t believe Jesus is willing, some don’t believe in His ability to do the impossible. Some aren’t really desperate, are quite happy with the medical route. I want my faith to increase, I hear Jesus’ words, “What do you want me to do for you?” I want to be as clear and expectant as Bartimaeus.
Disappointment is a great enemy to faith. Spend some time talking to the Lord and asking Him to speak to you personally. Pursue Jesus with the same passion and desperation shown by Bartimaeus.
He won’t fail you.
by Joyce Sibthorpe
