Imagine ...
Imagine a man in a bad life situation.
Disabled.
Impoverished.
Really (as they say) right 'down on his luck' in a hot, dry place, dependent on others for most things ... a man right at the end of his rope.
And then into the frustration and boredom of this beggar-man's life, on what was otherwise quite an ordinary dull day, a commotion cropped up in his town.
He couldn't make it out at first, but it appeared that a real 'Mr. Big' was passing through the area.
He was surrounded by the significant people of the place and a really big crowd ... our man couldn't get anywhere NEAR Him for the chance to ask for the help the visitor could give, but our man KNEW that guy could really make a difference to the whole of whatever life may still stretch out before him.
The chances started passing our man by
And then he noticed from where he sat in the dust, from the volume of the voices, the big chance was passing ... past.
The Big Man was on His way out of town and our man found himself, still really thirsty, sitting in the Last Chance Saloon.
The hope of help he'd had was fading quickly away.
Ok, so now you've got an idea of the picture ...
Let's put some names to these faces
"When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout,
‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’"
Jesus was on a journey ... and it seemed to many that that He wasn't coming back.
He'd just announced to His followers that He was going up to Jerusalem to face arrest, trial and death.
So Blind Bartimaeus (that's our man) ... his window of opportunity, as he sat begging that day, was now very clearly CLOSING.
In growing desperation, Barty began to put up a shout: "Jesus, Son of David, have MERCY on me'".
He had nothing to offer Jesus for the favour he was after.
And Barty (so used to begging for money) could only now beg for Christ's mercy.
But Barty was keen to honour Jesus, and acknowledged Him as God's promised Messiah.
Now that acknowledgement was far from risk-free.
'Son of David' was a brave thing to call Jesus because powerful people of the place were now more than mad at Him and had started moving murderously against Jesus.
Barty was in Last Chance Saloon, and he was casting himself on the mercy of God's Saviour without thought for his own prestige or safety.
Barty was for following the Saviour.
The Point
Just before this incident is recorded, Jesus deals with a very different man.
A healthy man.
A sighted man.
A wealthy man .
The sort of man you'd think Jesus could really do with getting on His side.
But the key issue is this: Jesus was looking for single-minded not self-reliant followers, and we have no reason to think anything's changed.
Jesus was not (and is not) recruiting people with influence to give much-needed support to His cause.
That's not necessary ... Jesus is not short of help, or the ability to be successfully getting things done!
- That first man was relying on his wealth and position and Jesus sent that man away to come back when he'd sorted that out
- But blind Barty was trusting himself to Jesus, and that's what it actually takes:
"‘Go,’ said Jesus, ‘your faith has healed you.’"
Mark 10:52a
The rich man went unhappily away.
But of now sighted Barty, it's made very clear, the absolute opposite is true - look at this!
"Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road."
Mark 10:52b
The Takeaway
When Jesus heard the mercy-cry of Bartimaeus, His response gave hope to the blind man and to everyone else who is willing to let go of the end of their rope and trust to the Saviour to catch them.
"Jesus stopped and said, ‘Call him.’
So they called to the blind man, ‘Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.’
Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus."
Mark 10:49
That cloak was all the protection against the night's desert cold that begging, blind Bartimaeus possessed.
- He dropped everything he had to come to Jesus.
You can't be Christ's follower without that willingness. - Our world is full of people like Blind Bartimaeus ... unattractive people who seem to be unlikely to have anything they can add to Christ's Kingdom and cause ... living close to the end of their rope.
"‘Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.’"
Here's the call coming from from Christ to you ...
a call to decisive and destiny-defining action
If you've seen this today for the very first time, don't hesitate in the Last Chance Saloon.
Get in touch NOW with the contact form below.
Here's a new song, just published, for you to think it over with
Whatever sort of rope you've reached almost to the end of, we're waiting to welcome you into Christ's crowd ... because the journey He was taking that day didn't end up with the grave but with His glorious resurrection.
There is hope with Him at the end of the rope.
So what's you story?
Reach out and and start to tell me (confidentially) on the form that you'll find below here.
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