The Day Everything Changed!

The day dawned like so many others before it.  Slowly life began to stir on the streets of Jericho as the first rays of sunshine sought to dispel the darkness.  One by one the various shop-keepers readied their wares for the coming day, while the traffic of animals and heavy carts slowly started moving along the main road into the city.  Bartimaeus also stirred in his hiding place along the edge of the old city walls.  As a blind beggar living on the streets of Jericho, he always tried to find a safe spot every night where he could get at least a few hours of sleep.  But even then, most nights were filled with attempted robberies from other hungry beggars, and always, one had to watch out for the wild dogs that roamed the streets looking for someone or something on which to prey.

Like so many days before this one, Bartimaeus had to find his way to a place along the main street where he could beg for a few scraps of food or a little money.  It was not easy, for the people of Jericho were often unkind and unwilling to help.  And so, with little assistance from others, Bartimaeus simply felt his way along the street to a place where he could sit and beg for his life.  But today something different was happening!  All along the street people were talking about a man named Jesus who had visited Jericho and was now on his way to Jerusalem.  People were saying that this Jesus was the promised Messiah – the Son of David – and that he had the power to heal all kinds of sicknesses and diseases.  In fact, it was this same Jesus who was coming down the road that very minute!

“Jesus, Son of David,” Bartimaeus began to shout.  “Have mercy on me!”  Despite the protests of those standing next to him, Bartimaeus kept shouting.  “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”  Clearly, Bartimaeus was desperate!  If ever there was a time when he wanted something – now was that time.  He had nothing to lose in calling out to Jesus.  He simply thought, “If I can just get his attention, maybe – just maybe – he will speak to me and I will regain my sight.”  So, while the crowds were pushing and shoving, and the streets teemed with all kinds of activity, Bartimaeus tried shouting louder and louder in the hope that Jesus would hear him.

Of course, the wonderful thing about this story is that Jesus did hear Bartimaeus shouting his name.   Stopping in the middle of road, in the midst of a large crowd of people, Jesus simply said to those around him, “Call him.”  With that, Bartimaeus was on his feet, and throwing his cloak aside, made his way over to where Jesus was standing.  “What do you want me to do for you,” Jesus asked him.   For Bartimaeus, this was the question of a lifetime!   Here he was, a blind, unemployed beggar, who lived on the streets of Jericho, standing face to face with Jesus!  And so, from deep within he said those words that have echoed throughout history: “Rabbi, I want to see.”   Of course, he could have said so much more, but true faith is never complex; it never has to say a lot.  True faith simply, and confidently says, “Lord, I believe.”

Jesus’ answer was simple and direct: “Go, your faith has healed you.”  Here were the words that changed everything that day, for instantly, Bartimaeus could see!  He could see colour, he could see people’s faces, he could see trees, flowers, the blue sky – finally, the darkness of being blind was gone!  And yes, he could even see the face of the man who said, “Go, your faith has healed you!”   Such faith changes everything.  The power of God is released in response to the man, woman or child who simply and honestly puts their faith in God.  And this is what happened on that dusty road in Jericho so many years ago.  Bartimaeus simply believed that God could do anything – including making a blind man to see.

Herein lies the challenge set before us as the people of God.  The Lord is looking to see an awakening of faith to overcome what appears to be impossible to the human mind.  God wants us to dare to believe for the sick to be made well, for cancers to disappear, for mental illnesses to be removed, and for those who are lame, deaf or blind to find freedom to live life without hindrance.  Yes, today is the day of the Lord’s favor, and His hand is reaching out to “bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners” (Is. 61:1, NIV), for truly we standing in expectation to see the earth filled “with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea” (Hab. 2:14, NAS).