From today’s reading...
They reached Jericho; and as he left Jericho with his disciples and a great crowd, Bartimaeus -- that is, the son of Timaeus -- a blind beggar, was sitting at the side of the road. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout and cry out, ‘Son of David, Jesus, have pity on me.’” Mark 10:46-47
Jericho was an important city to Israelites as it was the location of the first battle they fought in the overthrowing of Canaan, as documented in the Book of Joshua.
So in Mark, we see an important person perform an important act for another important person in an important city, so we should probably pay attention to the important lessons taught in these two important verses.
Notice that the blind beggar did what he could right where he was with what he had.
He literally stayed the course by placing himself strategically on the road that Jesus would be traveling so he could praise Him and seek His healing.
In the only such reference in the Gospel of Mark, Bartimaeus calls Jesus “Son of David,” linking Jesus directly to the great warrior king, thereby affirming the kingship of Jesus.
Then he asks for pity, for mercy, for healing from this great King.
You know the rest of the story, but today you can live it if you’ll only get in the presence of Jesus and ask Him to have pity on you, which is the only way to...
Stay the course.
Keep the faith.
Endure.
Now go sell something.
