TAKE COURAGE – HE IS CALLING FOR YOU

Mark 10:46-49 – Then they *came to Jericho. And later, as He was leaving Jericho with His disciples and a large crowd, a beggar who was blind named Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the road. And when he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Many were sternly telling him to be quiet, but he kept crying out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” And Jesus stopped and said, “Call him here.” So they *called the man who was blind, saying to him, “Take courage, stand up! He is calling for you.”

These were the greatest words this blind man had ever heard, “Take courage, stand up! He is calling for you.” I’m sure these words clung close to Bartimaeus for the rest of his life, and why wouldn’t they? Before today Bartimaeus lived in a world of darkness and isolation, being blind he couldn’t really do what everyone else was doing but that was all about to change. Jesus was calling for him. Bartimaeus was used to being passed over and ignored but not anymore. So what did this blind man? He threw down his beggar man’s coat and went straight to Jesus. For the first time Bartimaeus wasn’t being left out, he was right in the middle of all the action in Jericho that day, he knew his life would never be the same. Here is how the Christ Centered Commentary describes this moment.

“Jesus hears the cries of a man who is hurting. The crowd wants to prevent this man from coming to Jesus, much like the disciples wanted to block the children. Still, Jesus heard his cry of desperation and stopped. With compassion He said, “Call him”. The crowd responded in obedience to this greater Son of David. They called the blind man, told him to “take heart” and “get up.” Jesus has heard his cry, and He will stop and meet this man at his point of need, his greatest need!”

Have you ever felt left out or overlooked? Maybe you were never good enough, rich enough, educated enough, or pretty enough; pretty much describes all of us. That’s how it had been for Bartimaeus until he heard those words from the Lord, “Take courage, stand up! He is calling for you.” Thankfully those days of being on the outside looking in were over, Bartimaeus was now in the center of God’s love,