Mark 10:46-52
New International Version
Blind Bartimaeus Receives His Sight 46 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. 47 When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”48 Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
49 Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” 50 Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.
51 “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him. The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.” 52 “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.
Thursday - October 28
In Mark 9:36-37 Jesus held up a small child as the model citizen of the kingdom of God, not his supposedly great and important disciples. In Mark 10:13-16 his great and important disciples rebuked the parents who were bringing their little children to Jesus. Jesus became irate with them and demanded, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.” In Mark 17, a rich, and supposedly great man at keeping the law, walked away from Jesus because he care more about his wealth than he did about following Jesus to the cross where wealth is useless. In this passage, a blind beggar is lifted up as the model disciple! He is desperate for mercy from Jesus. He leaps up in excitement when he is called. He casts aside the ONE possession he has in his excitement and Jesus declares to him, “Your faith has made you well.” The Greek word translated “well” is the same word as “save.” His faith in Jesus has saved him.