Written by Jeff Bayard
Eight days ago, my wife and I started the Daniel Fast which I won't detail here, but it is what you would believe to be the diet of Adam and Eve before the fall and also the diet of Daniel and his companions while in the possession of King Nebuchadnezzar. Every day, we read a devotional in Susan Gregory's book, The Daniel Fast, and one in particular was fascinating. Think "Faith".
Mark 10:46-52
Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (which means "son of Timaeus"), was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"
Jesus stopped and said, "Call him."So they called to the blind man, "Cheer up! On your feet! He's calling you." Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus."What do you want me to do for you?" Jesus asked him.The blind man said, "Rabbi, I want to see.""Go," said Jesus, "your faith has healed you." Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.
Blind Baritimaes had a critical need. He was blind and an outcast, trapped as a beggar. He already knew and trusted Jesus as a healer, even though he had never seen or talked to Him before. He had faith in who Jesus was and what Jesus could accomplish. So strong was his faith, that he threw off his "beggars cloak" before he was healed.
Think about that a minute. As I have read three significant meanings about the "beggars cloak".
First, I read the "beggars cloak" was an issued cloak by the local authorities that gave him permission to beg and without it, he could no longer beg. Second commentary I read pointed to the fact the cloak also served as a blanket for inclimate weather or just keeping warm. The third commentary indicated the cloak symbolized his beggars life, and when he threw it off, he left his old life of sin behind, repenting and then followed Jesus. In either case, Bartimaeus KNEW he would be healed.
Another point was that Bartimaeus didn't ask for anything other than what he truly needed, he did not ask for money or food; but for his SIGHT, so he would no longer be a beggar, but a productive member of society. And then he followed Jesus, he had repented and followed.
Finally, notice the crowd that at first told Bartimaeus basically to shut-up, but he did not listen to those naysayers, and turned it up a notch and shouted out even louder, as he would not be silenced in his call to Jesus.
How often are we silenced by political correctness and scoffers?
Be strong in faith and of good courage this week,
Jeff Bayard
Publisher, Right Side News
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