HOPE IS FOUND IN JESUS | Northstar Church

“When Bartimaeus heard that Jesus of Nazareth was nearby, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” – Mark 10:47.

Just one of the great stories in the Bible is the story of Bartimaeus. Bartimaeus is a blind beggar whom Jesus healed. On his way out of Jericho, Jesus was surrounded by a crowd when, from the roadside, Bartimaeus called out to Him to be healed. The following events tell us something profound about God’s nature and shed light on the type of faith and prayer that pleases God.

As Jesus walked by him, Bartimaeus heard who was passing and called to Him: “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” The people told Bartimaeus to be quiet, but he kept calling out even more loudly and persistently than before. This is further proof of his faith. Jesus responded to Bartimaeus’s cries by telling His disciples to call the blind man over. Blind Bartimaeus jumped up and went to Jesus, and Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” (Mark 10:51). His answer “Rabbi, I want to see.” Jesus said to him, “Go, for your faith has healed you.” Blind Bartimaeus instantly recovered his sight and followed Jesus (vs. 52).

When Bartimaeus heard Jesus was passing by, he already knew that Jesus had healed others. He probably thought, “Maybe, just maybe, Jesus will heal me too.” Bartimaeus was feeling hopeful, but it wasn’t quite faith yet. Faith is not wishful thinking. We need to demonstrate our faith. Bartimaeus shouted and refused to stop. People around Bartimaeus tried to quiet him. They told him to shut up. They tried to stop his faith from getting what he wanted. But that only caused Bartimaeus to shout louder. Bartimaeus wouldn’t let anything keep him from receiving his sight. He got louder and louder. And guess what happened? Jesus stopped and called for him.

Jesus has whatever we need. We, like Bartimaeus, must put our faith into action. Genuine faith is what we do. So how do you know if you have real faith, one that will stand up to life’s biggest pressures? Take a look at your actions and see if they back up what you say you believe. People today long to see the kind of action-orientated faith that comes from seeing people live out what the Bible says by putting their faith into action.

When we put our faith into action, our lives will reflect the life of Jesus. This is what a relationship with Jesus is all about. It may not be easy. But we do not do it alone. If we trust Him, if we place our faith in Jesus, He will be with us, and He will empower us to do His work – He will make it possible for us to put our faith into action.

Discussion Questions:

What are the barriers to doing something every day that requires faith?
How does your faith go beyond mere words? Why is a mere intellectual agreement to the truth not enough?
How is your faith being expressed through deeds? In what ways does your life match up with what you say you believe?