Have Eyes That Do Not See

Many of the people of this generation have eyes that do not see. Some of them have been blinded by the previous generations example and response to God and His commands. The attitude verses the gratitude has created uneven and unstable platitudes which concerns the future generations. This is becoming a more a norm that ever before in the retraction of growth percentages in the Church.

There is a story in Mark that implies a sensible truth to this insensible reality that is happening before this generation of people. The story is about a man by the name of Bartimaeus who was blind and sitting by the roadside. He most likely had been sitting there for a long while and one could assume that he was familiar with his surrounding. This was the place where he would ask for help daily. His senses were keen, so he could hear from afar the commotion and rumblings of a coming visitor that was very close by. That visitor was Jesus and He was coming by Bartimaeus’s way. He began to cry out to Jesus for mercy, he stated….“Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” (Mark 10:47 ESV) but the crowd around him rebuked him and tried to silence him! But he cried out all the more….“Son of David, have mercy on me!” (Mark 10:48 ESV) This caught Jesus’ attention and He commanded “Call him” (Mark 10:49 ESV) because Bartimaeus was yet at a distance but his desire brought Jesus close to him. This analogy brings to the light how even though we may want to have Jesus’ undivided attention to meet our needs there is a crowd or an individual that wants Him all to themselves or him or herself! They tried to silence him but he became louder, so much so, that Jesus drew close by His command. The crowd then responded to him in a different way… they called him and told him that Jesus wants an appointed time with him! Bartimaeus jumped up and through of his cloak and came to him… A blind man jumped up and dropped the cloak and went to Jesus on his own! How marvelous is that? Jesus calls and he responds, blind, and pushed to the side by the bystanders! Yet he makes his way! This cloak may represent may things, such as: doubt, fear, frustration, sin, family difficulties, divorce, immorality, depravity, emotional issues, social issues, or just the fact that his character had been bruised through rejection! But he through it off! He did not take what was holding him from getting to Jesus earlier, he went to Jesus empty, naked, and full of desire! Jesus was there! Ready to help, freely to deliver, able to heal and save. Jesus asked what he wanted Him to do…? Bartimaeus answered, “Rabbi, let me recover my sight.” (10:51 ESV) Let me be healed, I want to be free of this hinderance, I want to get past this roadside seat that I have been at for so many years because of this blindness (spiritual blindness) that I have. Jesus responded “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way. (Mark 10:52 ESV) He would see now the road he was on, the light was new to him and he looked into the eyes of Jesus Christ. What did he do then? He followed Him on the way.

This depth of truth is keenly appropriate for the hour we live in. The generations that are out there searching blindly for truth are often over shadowed by the crowd and also silenced because of the crowd’s selfishness to keep Jesus all to themselves. The response of those generations should be as Bartimaeus’ was “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Shouting it louder than the crowd can say be silent! Pay no attention to thier rebuke, shout even louder and Jesus will call you even from a distance. Throw off that which has halted you and kept you in a rut or spot along life’s road. Let Him, Jesus, know what you want and be ready for His healing and saving power to restore you to His kingdom! Your spiritual eyes will be opened and then you also will follow Him on the way. The crowd that day did not want Jesus they simply wanted to witness what Jesus could do! That is the difference and that is why Jesus responded to the faith of Bartimaeus and his sight was made whole. This generation and others along with them are just wanting to see Jesus. If you are a person of the crowd type be silent! If you are searching for Jesus and you hear Him about Him then shout it as loud as you can: “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

Dennis

Remember prayer moves the Hand of God.