BLIND FAITH

“Be on your way. Your faith has healed you.” –Mark 10:52

The blind beggar Bartimaeus had faith, and Jesus immediately healed him of blindness (Mk 10:52). Bartimaeus expressed his faith in Jesus vocally, publicly, and repeatedly, even after he was scolded and told to keep quiet (Mk 10:47-48).

Bartimaeus also expressed his faith when “he threw aside his cloak, jumped up and came to Jesus” (Mk 10:50). When a blind man throws away his cloak, he had better be healed, or he may never find his cloak. Moreover, a cloak was worth much more in Biblical times, for it was used as collateral and shelter (Dt 24:12-13).

Bartimaeus expressed his faith by fearlessly (Mk 10:49) coming to Jesus (Mk 10:50), accepting Jesus as his Rabboni, that is, Teacher (Mk 10:51), and following Jesus, that is, becoming His disciple (Mk 10:52).

To please God, we must live in faith (Heb 11:6). To live for Jesus and to love Him with all our hearts, we need faith. To move mountains (Mt 17:20) and to conquer the world, we must have faith (1 Jn 5:5). To accept the grace of salvation, we must have faith (Eph 2:8). Have faith as Bartimaeus had faith.

PRAYER: Lord, I have faith. Help my lack of faith (Mk 9:24, our transl).

PROMISE: “They departed in tears, but I will console them and guide them.” –Jer 31:9

PRAISE: Praise Jesus of Nazareth (Mk 10:47), Son of David (Mk 10:47, 48), Rabboni (Mk 10:51), “the Resurrection and the Life” (Jn 11:25), Lord, and God!