"Don't BOTHER Jesus!"

In the New Testament gospels of Matthew, Luke and Mark, there is a familiar story of a blind man who was sitting on the roadside and he heard a commotion and learned that Jesus was passing by nearing Jericho. This man is known to us a blind Bartimaeus (son of Timaeus) who had been afflicted since birth. (Mark 10:46-52) The Gospel of Matthew actually records that there were two men given sight that day and perhaps it was only Bartimaeus who spoke (Matt. 20:29-34).

It is recorded that the Bartimaeus, upon hearing that Jesus was nearby, called out to Him, "Jesus, Son of David (prophesied by Nathan to David about his Seed (Jesus) in 2 Sam 7:12-16), have mercy on me!" The fact that the blind man was able to honor Christ with His Messianic title no doubt pricked the heart of Jesus (confirming the man's spiritual belief [FAITH] that Jesus was indeed the Christ).

                                                        Blind Bartimaeus...

Then those people who went before him tried to quiet Bartimaeus. "Don't bother Jesus! You have nothing to offer. Stay in your place!" But the spirit man inside of the blind man recognized his opportunity to be free and cried out to Jesus even louder above the crowd, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" This man's faith stopped Jesus. Jesus then compelled the man to come forward. The temperament of the crowd changed quickly from chastisement to encouragement because of Jesus' response to the man.

The religious folk thought that Jesus was too important to be "bothered" with an invisible blind man buried in the crowd. Jesus showed them otherwise!

Now the crowd called the blind man forward and said to him, "Be of good cheer. Rise, He is calling you! So Bartimaeus threw aside his garment and was led to Jesus. Jesus then asked him, "What do you want Me to do for you?" He answered, "Rabboni (Aramaic for master or teacher), that I may receive my sight." Then Jesus said, "Go your way, your faith has made you whole." And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road.

It is extraordinary that the FAITH of this man made Jesus stand still. His FAITH literally stopped Him in his tracks. His FAITH was exercised in words (Son of David, Rabboni). His FAITH swayed the crowd in his favor. His FAITH is still being discussed after 2,000 years! His FAITH started a movement of BLIND people (lost people) being given SIGHT (light of Christ Jesus) and his FAITH led him to Jesus!

How does your FAITH compare to blind Bartimaeus? Can your FAITH stop Jesus?