Disabled but not useless
This exposition is taken from Saint Mark Gospel Chapter ten verses forty six to fifty two. Jesus was leaving Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude followed Him; a blind beggar named Bartimaeus, son of Timaeus was sitting by the road side. When he heard that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by, he began to shout, “Jesus son of David! Have mercy on me! Many of the people passing by, some were His disciples scolded him and asked him to be quiet. But the blind man shouted the more, even more loudly, “Son of David, have mercy on me! This blind was disable but not useless; refused to be silent. There was something he could do, without help from anybody: could shout, seek and cry for help. Even though he was blind, he could hear. He did not allow circumstances or his disability to determine his destiny.
That perhaps was Jesus last chance of passing through Jericho and the blind Bartimaeus last chance to get help. Little wonder, he cried even louder, Jesus son of David, have mercy on me. You may not know how long the blind had been sitting on that road side. Nasty people had spat on him, and sometimes treated him as a nobody. He may have been lonely; have no wife, children and even relatives distant themselves from him. Sometimes he may have been harassed, persecuted and burgled by ugly disorderly societal people. Even though he could not join the crowd, but he cried to Jesus. He ceased the moment and obtained healing. This blind beggar was not begging for alms. He must have heard about Jesus teachings, revelations and healing power. The name Jesus was unique: Son of Joseph and Mary from Nazareth, one who claimed to be God, son of man, religious revolutionary, a strange teacher and perhaps, a miracle worker but how about son of David? It all depends on the Jesus, you know.
Some disable people depend on other people to do everything for them; they behave as if they have reached the end of the road. They want folks to be sympathetic on them and give alms. They want Government to place them in Assistance Program. But the biblical Bartimaeus was only blind but not dumb, not useless or finished. He was sensitive to his environment and could hear and shout. Some have ability to hear but neither listens nor pay attention to what happens around them. He may not watch television but could listen to news on radio. We have blind people who are educated; become prominent musicians, lecturers, administrators, politicians and preachers, etc. If I may ask: what is your disability? Are you as stammered as Moses? Yet he was among the most compassionate leaders in human history. Your disability may be a way for God to reach you. Do not allow folks to push you aside, discourage or dissuade you. Know that whatever you allow to rule you will disable you. You keep pondering: what’s wrong with me? I ‘m qualified to do some job but I do not have a job, year after year; it never gets better.
Two things are very significant about the blind man’s cry:
I] He called Jesus, son of David [Luke 1:32-33]. Jesus means the Savior; Son of David traced Him to His earthly great grand father; the one that will occupy the throne of David for ever. When one calls you a name that’s unique to your ancestor, you will be forced to pause or stop and try to know who the person is. Jesus stopped and turned around to see who he was that knew and called Him by his ancestral name. When Jesus stopped, the host of heaven stopped.
2] ‘Have mercy on me.’ Despite the noise of the crowd, Jesus stopped and turned to look, the blind cried the more and loudly: Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me! Why not glorious or compassion? Because mercy does not check your criminal records, past sins, credit reports, your disability and your excesses as well as your failings. Mercy is God’s prerogative to give; He gives whom He wants in His sovereignty and of course without recourse.
Do not allow your disability to shut you down; shout for help and mercy. When Jesus stopped, not only the whole crowd but the host of heaven halted and there was an open heaven. The King of glory gazed at him and to the greatest surprise of the crowd, said called him. Funny enough those disciples and crowd, who shouted him down to shut up, turned around and said to him, “Get up, He’s calling you.” When God remembers you, those who laughed at you shall surely laugh with you; there is a way where there was no way. When God’s face shines upon you, your enemies shall return to make peace with you; the sun shall shine in the midst of darkness. It’s my prayers as Jesus is still passing by, He will hear your cry and stop by for you. When He stops, He turns a sinner into a saint, a nobody into somebody and an ordinary person into extra-ordinary. Our God is gracious, compassionate and full of mercy.
The blind beggar took off his garment and jumped up and came to Jesus [Vs 50]. He took off his old garment of reproach, shame and beggary as well as disability. It was a dirty and torn out linen and perhaps stinky. He dropped his walking stick and jumped up, left behind his disability; moved forward to an encounter with Jesus, the Christ, and the Lord of all. He who opens a door and no one shuts and if He shuts, no one opens; the encounter that brings one into a new beginning, new era and new dawn. He heard the voice of the Master calling, come unto me all that are heavy laden and I shall give you rest and peace. Jesus asked him: what do you want me to do for you? The blind answered: “I want to see.” The blind man was specific and brief. Immediately Jesus said to him, “Go, your faith had made you well.” Praise the Lord, for instantly the blind man received his sight. The blind did not ask for alms, wealth, riches, new wife, or better fortune. The man did not only have faith but kept his priority right. He knew what was most critical to his life and destiny.
When the Son of Most High God is present, the anointing is in the place, the power of God to heal is present, cry for help and hold God on His promises. Do not ask for everything, just what’s prime or critical for you; make your request concise Do not miss your opportunity or allow that descending and distracting voices of the crowd to shut you down. Remember that God heals without side effect. Do not be afraid to cry for help. Today is the day of salvation and Jesus is still passing by. Lift up your voice and shout to Him. Cease the moment and don’t be silent. Take your problem to Jesus and lay them at His feet; He knows all your struggles and is ready to turn your situation around for good. Let this life time chance not slip by. God is just and faithfully and will honor His promises, fulfill and satisfy those who call on Him in truth.
Reach: Evangelist Ogbonnaya, Godswill at: weefreeministries@yahoo.com or P. O. Box 720035, Houston, Texas, 77272.