The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Mark 10:46-52, “And they came to Jericho. And as He was going out from Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the road.
47 And when he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
48 And many were sternly telling him to be quiet, but he kept crying out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
49 And Jesus stopped and said, “Call him here.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take courage, arise! He is calling for you.”
50 And casting aside his cloak, he jumped up, and came to Jesus.
51 And answering him, Jesus said, “What do you want Me to do for you?” And the blind man said to Him, “Rabboni, I want to regain my sight!”
52 And Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he regained his sight and began following Him on the road.”

Desperate situations call for desperate means. A great multitude was following Jesus; and Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, was not to lose this opportunity. He cried aloud “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” And despite the repeated efforts of the crowd to silence him, Bartimaeus would not be silenced!

Those who are prideful, do not cry for help. Yet, those who are sincere and persist, are always in the focus of Jesus. Does it seem strange to you that Jesus said, “Call him here”? He knew that Bartimaeus was blind; He could have said, “I will go to him.” Instead He said, “Call him here.” Despite Bartimaeus’ difficulty, Jesus required him to initiate faith before He would meet the need.

Bartimaeus immediately threw aside all his possessions, leaped to his feet and, despite his handicap, found his way to Jesus. We often seek human means of help in our weaknesses. We are all-too-often unwilling to divest what we possess to procure what we need. It would do us well to always seek the Master. He, who enabled life from the beginning, gives help to all who live in difficulty. We must fully trust Him by faith to meet our needs. He never fails!

Notice too, that Bartimaeus had previously possessed sight. When Jesus asked what he wanted, he said, “Teacher, I want to regain my sight!” What had caused Bartimaeus’ blindness, we are not told. It might have been the result of an enemy; it might have been the fault of his own sin. Whatever the cause, it was erased completely when he exercised faith in Christ Jesus! And so it is with us. Faith in Christ is the remedy to all afflictions. We have but to acknowledge Jesus as the Great Physician, and ask for His help, “…casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you” (1 Pet. 5:7).

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom