These days, while I was meditating, the Lord was taking me to the story of this man named Bartimaeus. Jesus was leaving Jericho with his disciples and the story says that “by the road” was this blind man who, when he heard that Jesus was passing by, began to shout: “Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me.” The people around him tried to stop him, but he kept shouting louder: “Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me.” Then Jesus, hearing this man, stopped and sent for him. The people, seeing that Jesus stopped, went to look for him. The story goes that that man jumped up, dropped the cape that covered him, stood up and approached Jesus. Then came the crucial part of this story, Jesus asks this man: “What do you want me to do to you?” And then, Bartimaeus, without having to think much about the answer, said: Master, that I my recieve my sight. Immediately Jesus replied: “You can go, you are healthy, because you trusted God.” At that moment, this man regained his sight and followed Jesus “along the road.”
Many walked with Jesus and recognized him as Lord, Teacher, Prophet. But to recognize and call Jesus as the son of David, was to recognize that He was the fulfillment of all that was written. Recognizing Jesus as the son of David was the perfect and complete prayer that led this man to his total miracle. He recognized (he had no doubts) Jesus as he passed by, he attributed the presence of the Father in him and he was able to do this through the intervention of the Holy Spirit. There is no other way to recognize the fullness and deity in Jesus if it is not through the intervention of the Holy Spirit in your life. To call Jesus the son of David is to recognize him as the son of the living God, the way, the truth and the life. That is why only those who recognized him could ascribe this title to him (which the Pharisees and religious could never do)
Bartimaeus was physically blind, but his interior had been enlightened, implying that his spiritual vision had received an alignment with eternity. That was why Jesus did not have to speak major words with him. Bartimaeus had received the clear account of who Jesus was, and not only did he receive it, but he was not afraid to shout it publicly. As he shouted, “Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me,” he was announcing: I know who you are, I recognize you and not only do I know who you are, I also know that in you is everything that I need. This man was only physically blind, because his interior was clear as the light of noon.
That is why he got the attention of Jesus. Jesus stopped, because Jesus stops before those who recognize Him, before those who can see who He is and what He is capable of doing in their lives. That is why Jesus’ response was so immediate and clear: Go, your faith has saved you. Bartimaeus had already reached the revelation that would define his life. That is why he could, without thinking, let go of the cloak that covered him. No longer would this layer hide the light that was within Bartimaeus, it would not stop the operation of God in his life and throughout his life. This man had released what made people recognize him for his old life, his life as a blind, a beggar, powerless, the inertia that stopped him. Now, without this layer on him, the light, the new reality of this man would be exposed so that all could see the power of God in him.
Jesus is passing today and, just like where Bartimaeus was, the crowd (all around) is making a lot of noise, but this is precisely what makes his presence known, it is something that cannot be hidden. He is closer than ever before, so close that he can hear you calling out to him above whatever voices may be sounding. Align your prayer today to the prayer that connects you to the throne of God. You just have to recognize who He is and that He has everything you need. In Him is fullness, He Himself is the way, the truth and the life. That is why Bartimaeus entered the path, because he entered Jesus. His life would no longer need. As soon as he entered the road, he passed from darkness to light.
After you can understand who He is, then feel him approach you and ask: What do you want me to do to you? Bartimaeus asked for something that would never allow him to go back in his life. “Master, let him regain his sight.” Bartimaeus was asking never again to blur, never again lose the clarity that all he needed was in Jesus. Bartimaeus wanted to remain in the light, never again in darkness. Because when you can find the light, you never want to be in darkness again. That is why he not only asked to see the light, but he went after it and never lost his way again.
This is the time to recognize what Jesus is and how much you need him. He longs to take the right place in your life and displace all darkness. He is in front of you and extends the question: What do you want me to do to you? It’s your time to respond, let’s go. The son of David, the fulfillment, the fullness of God is here and awaits your answer today.
