Greetings from Austin Street

Happy Saturday!  All is well here at 811. 

The candle is lit…

Dear God, open my ears so I may her when you come near to lead me in your way. I want to know you better. I want to know you not just so I can receive your blessings and gifts, but also so I can truly know and enjoy you more. You are my peaceful place of refuge.  Thank you for the amazing work you did in the prison today. Thank you that you have given those who many deem outside the realm of your love forgiven lives and lives of abundance because they know you and are in Your Presence. Thank you Lord. I love you Lord, in Jesus name, amen.

I love the story of blind Bartimaeus (Mark 10: 46-52) Bartimaeus was the blind beggar who called out to Jesus twice from his spot on the road. He called, “Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me.” And once again, in an even louder voice, “Son of David, have mercy on me.” Then Jesus asks one of his disciples to “Call him.”  The unnamed disciple calls and says, “Take heart. Get up. He is calling you.”  The next sentence says he immediately sprang up and throwing off his cloak and went to Jesus.

This story is important in the book of Mark because it closes out Jesus’ ministry in Galilee and it is the last healing story in Mark’s narrative. This story also points the way to Jerusalem as the next chapter begins with Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem .One of the key words in Mark is the word, “immediately.”  Things move fast in Mark.

I don’t know if Bartimaeus had called out frequently as other rabbis passed by, but this time one answered back. When the disciple called him over to Jesus, Jesus asked him “What do you want me to do for you.”  Bartimaeus replies “Restore my sight.”  That leads me to think that Bartimaeus could see in his past.  Jesus restores the sight of Bartimaeus and tells him to go home. But Bartimaeus in his amazement, his gratitude and belief in in Jesus did not go home.  He followed Jesus.  Bartimaeus followed Jesus, a man he had never met, in faith not fear. He knew in his heart that he belonged to Jesus. He had felt Jesus healing touch and could see where Jesus was going determined to follow him there. There meant Jerusalem.  Bartimaeus was a man who had lost his way. He made it to the road and stopped. Jesus heals his sight and now he understood that Jesus was the way and now it was his way also.

So tonight’s question…How do we respond to the call of Jesus to follow? Are we blinded by our weaknesses or are we faith-filled enough to allow Jesus to restore our sight and strengthen us to follow Him in discipleship?  See you in church!

“Jesus said to him,’ Go your way; your faith has made you well.’ And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way.”

Mark 10: 52

Take joy in the journey praying as you go in faith to follow the way of Jesus. Wear comfortable shoes and get some sleep. Love you all, Bruce and Gaylene