Getting Your Healing - The Bartimaeus' Way

The steps that blind Bartimaeus got his healing are the exercise of faith that will also help us get the answers that we need for the problems that we face. Let find out the details...

Bartimaeus' Way 

Mar 10:46  And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging.

• face up with his problem - blindness
• does the things he could to be independent - begging.  No worry of pride.
• go to the place where people will pass by - go to where the opportunities are.

Mar 10:47  And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth,

• Be opened to see, hear, and learn. Learn as much as you can about your problem and possible solutions
• He heard of Jesus, especially of the miracles Jesus did from the crowd.

he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.

• he took action, immediately, to get hold of the opportunity. 
• Opportunity is for those that are ready and seeking it.
• Don't just dream, talk and plan. Take action. Do it.

Mar 10:48  And many charged him that he should hold his peace:

• discouragements, criticisms, and obstacles will appear when you start to act.
• be not discouraged. 

but he cried the more a great deal, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me. 

• Stoicism will tell you that your obstacle is the direction that you should move to overcome it.
• P.U.S.H Pray until something happen.

Mar 10:49  And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee.

• initial success occurred. 
• Don't stop because of some success. Persist on.
• "A journey of thousands of miles begins with your first step" is often quoted. But Lao Zi in Dao De Jing 64 has an additional verse to tell us to continue on and to finish the journey. He said that many have given up on the way.

Mar 10:50  And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus.

• He gets rid of any load (garment) that will slow him down.
• Good is often the enemy to greatness.
• Act speedily to not lose the opportunity.

Mar 10:51  And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee?

• God does not overrule you. God is awaiting your request to fulfill it.

The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight.

• Bartimaeus is very clear about what he wants - his eyesight.
• He could ask for other things like lots of wealth so that he needs not beg for it.
• He just wants to see so that he can be free and independent to live and earn a living by his effort.

Mar 10:52  And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole.

• Bartimaeus' faith is seen through the actions he has taken. 
• Do our actions reveal our faith? Or are we just believers in our my mind and not in our heart? Does our believe cause us to act?

And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.

• Real faith brings forth the desired result.
• Most people after receiving what they want from God will go away to do their own things.
• However, Bartimaeus spiritual eyes and physical eyes (now healed) see things clearly. He follows Jesus - the healer. Many are spiritually blind. They want the gifts and not the giver. They are still self-centered. God could be just their means to satisfy their desires.
• Many commentators believe that we know this particular healed blind man's name is because he became an evangelist for Jesus. Many blind men were healed by Jesus. But we don't know their names.

Reflections:

Are we spiritually blind?

The Laodiceans did not think so. But Jesus said so. 

Rev 3:17-19  Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:  18  I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.  19  As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

Lessons Learned:

1. Get Our Desires Right - Spiritually and Physically.
2. Get our foundations for our faith - Where are the Promises of the Bible.
3. Act on our faith.
4. Continue till completion.
5. Seek After the Giver and not just His gifts.

Lim Liat (c) 23 July 2018