Vol. 3 No. 6 – 2-11-2018
The crowd sternly told him to be quiet, but he kept crying out all the more. Luke 18:39
It is always exciting to meet a person that refuses to simply accept “NO” for an answer!
There have been mid-major sports teams, winning this year because of their commitment and conviction that refused to allow themselves to go down to defeat. We can learn a lot by observing how others react.
Have you ever had an experience where you had to stand up to a Goliath, like David, as an insignificant little shepherd boy who was still wet behind the ears, you prevailed?
Our text in Luke tells of a blind man standing firm in the opportunity to have his blindness healed. A man in sheer, desperate persistence, facing odds perhaps 10,000 to 1 (or more than that).
Blind Bartimaeus did not even have the opportunity to read a braille edition of the Scriptures. He never heard of Pat Riley’s book, The Winner Within (you might have read the chapter on breaking through self-imposed barriers). Blind Bart did not have some formula for success; he was only aware that if he missed this opportunity with Jesus, failure would more than likely follow.
Zacchaeus, a wealthy citizen lived in a fancy home, perhaps a town home in a wealthy section of town. Jesus had left out of a luncheon, heading up from Jericho, 18 miles through the “Canyon of Blood” to Jerusalem. As He walked, He taught. We ought to do so as well. No one crosses our path by accident.
There was a tramping of the crowd accompanying Him that caused Blind Bart, the beggar, to ask about the commotion.
Jesus of Nazareth is passing by!
Ordinarily, as a beggar, Blind Bart would have sought to make capital out of the crowd. Extra shekels would be available. More passers-by meant more money in his box. However, on this occasion, sight was more on his mind; more important than money. He deliberately sacrifices financial advantages for eyesight; for an encounter with the Christ.
How much we could learn from that little note.
Twice he cries out: “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” The first time it was a soul-stirring lament that attracted attention. The second time it was an eager scream of ungovernable emotion. Jesus pauses. Blind Bart had no sight in either of his eyes; he knew what he wanted most of all; he wanted to pass from darkness into light. He wanted to quit being a beggar and become a follower; move from crying for a few coins to being a person praising God.
His cry enters into the Heart of Mercy:
Receive your sight, your faith has made you well. And immediately he regained his sight, and began following Him, glorifying God; and when all the people saw it, they gave praise to God (18:42-43).
When was the last time you cried out in faith to God; then glorified Him for what He did, following Him so that you might have an impact on those who gather around you?
Maybe it is time.
A man is not finished when he is defeated;
H is finished when he quits
