I RISE (August 2018)
Mark 10:1, 46-52 (NKJV)
46 Now they came to Jericho. As He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the road begging. 47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48 Then many warned him to be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 49 So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called. Then they called the blind man, saying to him, “Be of good cheer. Rise, He is calling you.” 50 And throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus. 51 So Jesus answered and said to him, “What do you want Me to do for you?” The blind man said to Him, “Rabboni, that I may receive my sight.” 52 Then Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road.
Another episode was being entwined in the fabric of Bartimaeus’ story after he answered the call. In Maya Angelou’s poem: Still I Rise, the air of determination pervades the words penned by her:
You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I’ll rise.
Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I’ll rise.
Bartimaeus also displayed that determination. In response to Bartimaeus’s persistence, the disciples said, “Rise! He calls you.” Jesus then asked, “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus granted Bartimaeus’ request, to be able to see, knowing that life would be different for him after he received his sight.
On the other side of Jesus’ calling, Bartimaeus changed his stance/ position, mobility, vision, perspective, testimony and mindset. The miracle created a thirst for God. Bartimaeus could also say, like the Samaritan woman, “Come, see a man.” Jesus told Bartimaeus that his faith made him whole and Bartimaeus’ eyes responded by becoming: adapted to receive light; accommodated to transfer from near to far and vice versa; adjusted to convert images. He also had to practice hand-eye co-ordination, being independent, not being led by the hand anymore, but making decisions as to when and where to go. Being an asset would probably also be new to him.
He rose to new responsibilities. Looking forward and widening his peripheral view opened a whole new world for him. Maybe there were days when Bartimaeus wished he were blind again. The new vision seemed overwhelming. He forgot how burdensome it was when he was blind. Stumbling, bumping into things, darkness, being a burden were the norm.
Does our innermost desire project our not wanting to rise? When Bartimaeus stood, he had to move forward, toward Jesus, with resulting progress. It may be that that’s the reason Jesus asked, “What do you want?”
The healing process begins with our first step. The action of rising takes us further away from the ground and toward higher heights and realms to soar. Like the mythical bird, the Phoenix, that rises from the ashes, we rise to the depth-perception of spiritual eyes. In response to receiving our sight, we must decide what/ who we will follow. Rise, He calls you. Answer, “I rise!” To rise, our ponderings should point us to a progressive pathway. Contentment with circumstances or a resolution to fate will skew our thinking and create a blind-spot.
Before Jesus came to Jericho, Bartimaeus lived a degrading life of darkness and despair. The Healer came to town and Bartimaeus determined that he would not be denied. Physical blindness did not deter him from big dreams. Maybe he had planned that whenever he heard that The Nazarene would be in town, he would position himself. No doubt, he inquired as to the path Jesus would take.
Isn’t it amazing that Jesus came by exactly where Bartimaeus could hear that He was around? The crowd could not obscure his vision. Maybe he had big dreams about life after restoration. He would no longer be inhibited by limitations. Jesus gave him the advantage he lacked for years. He could have sat there and reasoned, “Well, I’ve been here all my life. I have no skills, but to beg. After all, everyone knows that I am unable to…. Maybe they will still pity me.” That would have been the easy way out. But, when Jesus comes by when we call His name, something happens. Dignity and class were placed on the back burner when Bartimaeus yelled, “Jesus!” Can we hear him?
Does Jesus hear us when we call? (Jeremiah 33:3) Bartimaeus reasoned, “I am no longer in darkness. I am free to make strides, so I will rise and go to the “source of my strength”. Then, voices evolved into faces. Uncertain steps became strides and leaps. The faceless voices that assisted him for years, now caught his attention and gratitude was in order.
Jesus also asks us, “What do you want? Do you really know what you want? Do you want to see?” Will you rise to the occasion?” Rise. He calls you. Answer by saying, “I rise.” Then what? For us also, the voices of people on Despair Drive and Hopelessness Highway must be given faces. Then we will be more personable in our gait, stance and interactions. As we rise from inhibitions, the Holy Spirit commands us to expand our territory and discard any cloak that defines us based on our circumstances.
Bartimaeus formerly functioned within the confines of his helpers. He was bound by their decisions. But, when he rose in answer to the call, his major need was met. His eyes could now see beyond what he heard and had envisioned. He stepped into action. There was no longer the need to be led. He could be a leader and empathize with others who were suffering the same malady.
What are our plans when we rise? Whether we whisper, breathe or shout His name, it effects change. The atmosphere responds. Jesus responds. Angels respond. The easy thing would have been for Bartimaeus’ voice to be drowned out by the crowd; to be intimidated by suggestions; and to succumb to quietness. When we rise, those who have lost their vision, must be assisted. (Acts 26:18). The spiritual eyes need to be opened to written visions, insight, interpretation, beauty, expanse and horizons.
Take a moment. Take inventory right now. What is the occasion; talent; dormancy? Will we rise and follow in the new-found direction of sharing Good News? Sing and worship where your only audience is God. What’s on the flip-side of “I RISE”?