“And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus.” Mark 10:50
Dear Ones:
One of the great stories of the New Testament has to do with a blind beggar named Bartimaeus. There are many interesting, and arresting, aspects to the story, but one that is most important, and singular, is the determination of this man to be healed by Jesus. As he put it, “…Lord, that I might receive my sight.” (Mark 10:51) There are at least two factors that drive this man to overcome all the resistance of those around him, one is his blindness, living in the dark while others around him see. And the other is the humiliation of being a beggar, while those around him were not. But there is perhaps another greater reason for which Bartimaeus stands out among the crowd, a supreme reason for overcoming all resistance. It is his faith in God, specifically in Christ. We do not know how much Barimaeus knew of Christ. Certainly, he soaked up all that he could understand of Him from the conversations of those around him. What he came to understand was this: Jesus was “…the son of David,” definitely in the lineage of David. The second is that he KNEW that Jesus was merciful, thus, he cried out to Him on this basis. The third thing that Bartimaeus had learned, having made it his own by faith, was the knowledge that Jesus was the LORD. It is to Christ, as the anointed of God, the LORD Jesus, that he would appeal for the miracle which only God could do. It is for these reasons that we see him, that Mark tells us concerning him: “…casting away his garment, rose (rising), and came to Jesus.” Note that there is NO hesitation or reserve in this action. He cannot see, but he is determined to come to Christ at that moment, having flung off all that would hinder him. At this point, we might ask ourselves the question, “How long does it take for us to come, or to respond, to Christ?” How long does it take us to regain our footing, and recover, when we make mistakes, or are driven from the place of victory? What is God’s path to recovery?
First, it is very important that we understand what we are without Christ, and without the active working of His Spirit in the heart. Isaiah declares: “…all flesh is grass.” (Is. 40:6) He does not say that we are not endowed with an intellect, emotions, and a will to overcome and “reign” in life. What he is saying is that, by comparison with all of creation, and in particular, with the Creator, we are very little. Paul writes concerning Christ in comparison with us: “…by Him all things consist.” (Col. 1:17) David writes, “…Thou maintainest my lot.” (Ps. 16:5) It is evident that we exist physically, and in every other way, only because of Christ. Beyond the matter of creation, there is an impossibility that faces us that is irrefutably declared by the Lord Jesus: “Apart from Me, YOU CAN DO NOTHING.” (Jn. 15:5) “Grass,” which we are, can only become a “tree” by the Spirit of God dwelling in us. The Psalmist put it so eloquently, “God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.” (Ps. 46:5) The point is that there is no lasting fruit, knowledge of God, or experience of Life and victory without Christ dwelling in the heart by faith. How important is it then that we, in a fallen world, where we will remain sinners until Jesus comes, regain quickly our position of faith, that position of victory in fellowship with God? Bartimaeus, because of the acuteness of his suffering, was driven to immediately go to Christ when He called. Is it the same with us? Do we see the need to immediately deal with sin and failure by the means which God has provided, that we might immediately regain our footing? The Lord Jesus did not die on Calvary, that we should be slack in humbling ourselves under His mighty hand, believing Him for thorough cleansing by His precious blood, and the retaking of any ground ceded to our enemy. Let us remember the words, which demonstrate to what extent the Father went to, so that we should live victoriously by His Son: “He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us ALL, how shall He not with Him freely give us ALL things?” (Romans 8:32) The appropriation of these truths is to have its realization in the present moment, today.
Dear Father, give us grace not to be slack in allowing Thee do deal with all that would militate against the experience of Thy victory today. Enable us to recognize quickly the need, humble ourselves again under Your mighty hand, appropriate the blessing of forgiveness and restoration, quickly taking again the position of faith in Christ as our life, for Thy glory. We thank and praise Thee, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad