journey onWord with us

How must it have been to be an ordinary fisherman approached by the One who breathed the world into existence and to hear the very voice of God invite you to come follow Him?  What would it have been like to be a pedestrian standing on the street corner catching a glimpse of the God of the universe in human flesh as He walked by?  Can you even imagine looking into the face of Jesus?  As I sit in my favorite reading and writing spot on this glorious fall morning, the sun is streaming in.  Everything in me wants to get up and adjust the blinds.  The sun is intense.  The air outside is chilled, but the sun is hot on my face.  I can barely focus on my computer screen through the spots in my eyes.  I choose to stop typing.  I fight to keep my eyes fully open and turn to face the penetrating rays.  Memories of Old Testament stories describing the blinding light of God’s “face” flood into my mind.  My morning experience pales in comparison, but seems a gift from God in light of my choice of characters and subject matter this week.

Jesus is on His way to Jerusalem for the last time in His earthly life.  The time has come for Him to walk the final steps of God’s great redemptive plan.  The journey to Jerusalem passes through the city of Jeicho, and Jesus has sacred appointments to keep.  As I think about the two we will consider this week, I am reminded of Jesus reading from the scroll of Isaiah one Sabbath day in the synangogue.

And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
Luke 4:17-18 (ESV)

As Jesus approaches the city of Jericho, a blind man sits amid a small crowd.  Scripture tells the story that as the group who is following Jesus passes by, the blind man asks someone near him what all the commotion is about.  He is told Jesus is walking by, and immediately the blind man begins calling out to him.  “Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me!” (Luke 18:38)  Some in either the group traveling with Jesus or the one gathered around the blind man attempt to quiet him.  “Don’t make a scene!” they are likely thinking in their hushes to the blind beggar.  “This is Jesus!  This is the Master!  He has a schedule to keep, more important places to be, and more important people to be with!”  But the man who is only blind physically, cries out even louder, “Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me!” (Luke 18:39b)  He will not be silenced, because He believes in the power of the Great Healer.  In reading his conversation with Jesus, it is clear this man has spiritual sight.  The loss of physical sight was his condition in this life, but He had heard of Jesus and already believed.  As an answer to the man’s cries, Jesus stops and heals the man’s physical sight.  In the man’s response of following Jesus after being healed, his spiritual sight is confirmed.

There is a brief and beautiful passage in a book I have from my grandfather Robb’s personal library.  Bible Characters contains excerpts from the sermons of three great preachers of the 1800’s.  In D.L. Moody’s section, there is an entry for Bartimeus (the blind begger of which we speak).  Mr. Moody tells a short fictional story based on the exchange between Bartimeus and Jesus.  In it, Bartimeus is speaking with a friend who is suggesting “There is a man of Israel who can give you sight.”  Bartimeus quickly responds, “Oh, no!  There is no chance of my ever receiving my sight.  I never shall see.  In fact, I never saw the mother who gave me birth.  I never saw the wife of my bosom.  I never saw my own children.  I never saw in this world, but I expect to see in the world to come.”

Mr. Moody’s story suggests Bartimeus never believed his healing would come on this side of heaven … but he did believe it would come.  The story of Bartimeus and Jesus has multiple layers of resonance and application in our lives, and one of them reminds us of that truth.  If you have placed your faith and trust in Jesus (and you are suffering on any level today), your healing is coming.

I can vividly remember standing next to a friend and brother who lost the love of his life in this world to cancer last year.  I remember him telling multiple people that although God did not choose to heal her here, she was healed now.  What incredible courage and faith, my friend.  What incredible courage and faith, Bartimeus.  Take heart, you who are suffering and yet remain faithful.  Your healing is coming.