Mercy - Mark 10:46-49

[Elder-Shawn Denise Briscoe]

Blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the road begging. And when he heard that it was JESUS of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “JESUS, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Then many warned him to be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” So JESUS stood still and commanded him to be called. Then they called the blind man, saying to him, “Be of good cheer. Rise, HE is calling you.”

Bartimaeus sat by the road begging which is no different than the beggars that we see in our lives today. Just as the Law of Moses said that the poor will be taken care of; in this day and age it’s still done. We have soup kitchens that provide hot wholesome meals and we have shelters where they can bath and sleep. Most professional beggars have been misplaced in life; they are military veterans and those that have lost their employment which caused them to have lost their homes. Then you have the con beggars who because they refuse to work and desire to play on the sympathy of mankind will ask for money to satisfy their craving for alcohol, drugs or just to fatten their pockets. Those that live off the emotions of others will look the part of a beggar and return to a home fit for a King. I have known beggars who have put their children through college and never have been gainfully employed nor are they from wealthy families. Now Bartimaeus had two separate needs; first allow me to give you a back drop on him. Bartimaeus at some point in time had to have heard of the compassion, deliverance, healings, love, mercy and miracles done by JESUS. Bartimaeus had already purposed in his heart that if he could hear that JESUS was coming near; or if JESUS was near enough for him to travel to HIM. That he would ask JESUS to help him. Bartimaeus believed that if others were helped than he could be helped also. So hearing that JESUS was passing by; Bartimaeus yelled out hoping that JESUS would hear him. And wouldn’t you know it; the crowd or the disciples tried to shut him up. But I like Bartimaeus persistence; he yelled all the louder. He did not care what people thought of him; he was already in a bad place; he’s blind and poor. Most likely he’s even homeless. See this is the place where we must venture too; we must be sick and tired of being sick and tired of our circumstance; if you have heard about JESUS and what HE has done for others; you should desire that HE do the same for you. Care less about what others think of you; no one has been able to get you out of your mess this far. You’ve not been able to get yourself out of your mess thus far. What can you lose if you put your trust in JESUS and allow HIM to fulfill HIS promise for mankind? Did you know that when JESUS hears your faithful heart crying out to HIM though thousands and millions are yelling to get HIS attention; HE only hears the heart that is sincere, that has faith that is willing to trust in HIM? Your voice will be the voice that HE will hear in the midst of a roaring crowd. JESUS is moved by faith alone! JESUS will call you out of the crowd or come to you in the crowd. So take a lesson from blind Bartimaeus; allow JESUS to open your eyes to truth and to restore you to the purpose that HE had set forth for you in the beginning before you were in your mother’s womb. There is no reason for you to continue being blind or be a beggar. After all; the Word of GOD does tell us to come to the throne of GOD with boldness. Legitimate children ask orphans beg. http://about.me/amfbministry