I Want To See

Close your eyes. What do you hear? Did you notice that you listened more intently when your eyes are closed? Were the sounds more distinct and clear? Think about when you pray with your eyes closed. Are you more focused on the words you say?

In Mark 10: 46-52 is a story of a blind man named Bartimaeus who was sitting by the roadside of Jericho begging. Because most occupations of that day required physical labor, anyone with a crippling disease or disability was at a severe disadvantage and was usually forced to beg. At the roadside he would hear people talking about Jesus and would stop them and ask them the news.

He would hear that Jesus healed the sick, raised the dead, cleansed the lepers and gave sight to the blind. Upon hearing of the miracles that Jesus performed he probably thought, “There is hope for me!” “If Jesus passes my way, I will call out to him and beg him to open my eyes! If he gave sight to a man born blind, he can surely heal me!”

Each time he heard the stories of Jesus his hope would rise and his faith would grow, giving him the boldness he would need to step out and meet Jesus. Then one day Jesus came to town. Bartimaeus heard the crowd grow louder and louder and when he heard that it was Jesus, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more.

His faith and hope was bigger than the crowds doubts and uncertainty. Jesus heard the shouts and stopped. Imagine the scene; Jesus and his disciples traveling through town with a large crowd following Him making their own noise and Jesus heard him over the crowd and said, “Call him.”

So they called to the him, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” Oh the excitement Bartimaus must have felt at those words; he was noticed and called by the Messiah. His response, “throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.”

Then Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” If Jesus asked you that same question what would your response be? Is there something in your life that you have thought about, hoped about and heard that He did for someone else that you desperately need?

His response was, “Rabbi, I want to see.” He believed that Jesus was the Messiah from the messages that he had heard. He believed that Jesus could do a miracle for him. He jumped to his feet at the call of Jesus and he spoke his deepest desire in faith.

Jesus’ response was, “Go. Your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.

The bible says, “faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.” (Romans 10:17) And, “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame. (Romans 10:8-11)

Bartimaeus heard about Jesus, believed and then stepped out in faith unlike the Pharisees who refused to see what was before their eyes. Our response to Jesus should be the same as that of the blind men—call on Him to give us eyes to see spiritual truth, recognize Him for who He is, and follow Him.

By saying, “Your faith has made you well,” Jesus emphasizes the necessity of faith. Bartimaeus had the kind of faith that pleases God—a wholehearted trust in the Healer. Jesus showed once again that God “rewards those who earnestly seek him” Hebrews 11:16) . Bartimaeus earnestly sought the Lord, and his actions reflected the kind of faith that is pleasing to God.

Going deeper: that same faith that believes God rewards those who earnestly seek him also knows that God can heal in three ways:

• Before the trial or storm
• During the trial or storm
• Through the trial or storm

Sometimes His healing is from the beginning and you are prevented from going through an illness or trial. Other times, He heals us during the trial or storm like the three Hebrews in the fiery furnace. And lastly He can heal us through the trial or storm which I believe is what He did for Brock. Healed him by taking him home.

All three options require the kind of faith that is pleasing to God. Trusting Him no matter what may come. That’s seeing through spiritually eyes. That is the prayer we should make when we face trials. Lord I want to see. I want to see what You desire from this. I want to see You during this and I want to see You through this.

However and whenever He chooses to heal is all part of His loving plan. There is purpose in each option. That purpose is to bring glory to God. Jesus said, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.” (John 9:3) Our trials are opportunities to display the works of God and He will be with us every step of the way. Lord we want to see.

My prayer

Father, thank you for Your word. For giving us the opportunity to really see You. Knowing that You are always with us in every trial and storm. You are the healer and sometimes that healing takes place in a different way than we imagined, but we can rest assured that You are not surprised by the events or the outcome. You are in complete control. Lord help us to see through spiritual eyes. Heal our blindness to Your will. Thank you for being with us every moment. In Jesus’s name, amen.

Where does my help come from?

Deuteronomy 31:6

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”