2-17-23

In Mark 10:46-52 we read the story of the healing of Bartimaeus. Jesus and a large crowd were leaving the city when the blind man called out to him. Many people nearby told him to be quiet and leave Jesus alone but instead he called out to him again “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus told them to bring him so Bartimaeus jumped to his feet. He asked Jesus to heal him and Jesus replied, “Go, your faith has healed you”. IMMEDIATELY he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.

There are so many accounts of Jesus healing, it struck me how simple this one was. No rubbing of mud for the eyes…. Just, “here you go”. 

At this point, Jesus and the 12 have been traveling all around from town to town telling everyone of Jesus and his father. Can you imagine how exhausted Jesus might have gotten? Yes, he is God, but when he was here on earth, he was fully man. He had the need to eat, sleep, and spend time with the Father. So, very often we read that Jesus was sneaking away to some quiet place, away from the crowds where he could go and pray. 

At times he had hundreds of people with him, at other times he had thousands. Everyone was pressing in to get closer to Jesus, either to be healed or just see or touch him. Put yourself in his place for a minute. His job wasn’t necessarily to heal people, it was to bring them to faith. Many people did become believers because of seeing the miracles. It seems though that it would have been exhausting, all the people vying for his attention, healing so many… I can understand why he wanted to get away and spend time with the Father. 

Do you ever feel that exhaustion? Maybe not from crowds pushing in around you, or hundreds of people trying to get your attention, but life isn’t easy. Bill collectors and doctors calling, kids screaming, needing something, the boss emailing, here’s more work, as if you didn’t have enough, friends and family with good intentions wanting something…. HELP! I need a quiet place to go talk to Jesus! If Jesus, Son of David, needs to take time out to spend with the Father, why would I think I would be different?

Let’s work on making that prayer time a little more intentional. If you have to get up 15 min earlier so you can pray before the kids start running and screaming…. It’s a small thing for a big reward. 

Shirlene Peterson