Mercy, the Heart of Christ10:46 他們來到耶利哥。當耶穌與他的門徒和一大群人離開耶利哥的時候，有一個盲人─底買的兒子巴底買，坐在路旁討飯。
10:47 他一聽說是拿撒勒的耶穌，就喊說：「大衛之子耶穌啊，可憐我吧！」
10:48 許多人責備他，叫他不要作聲。可是他更大聲喊叫：「大衛之子啊，可憐我吧！」
10:49 耶穌就站住，說：「叫他過來。」他們就對盲人說：「你放心，起來，他叫你呢！」
10:50 盲人馬上扔掉外衣，跳起來，走到耶穌跟前。
10:51 耶穌問他：「你要我為你做甚麼？」盲人回答：「老師，我要能看見！」
10:52 耶穌說：「去吧，你的信心治好你了。」盲人立刻能看見，就跟隨著耶穌走了。
Scriptures: Mark 10: 46-52
46Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (that is, the Son of Timaeus), was sitting by the roadside begging. 47When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"
48Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"
49Jesus stopped and said, "Call him." So they called to the blind man, "Cheer up! On your feet! He's calling you." 50Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.
51"What do you want me to do for you?" Jesus asked him.
The blind man said, "Rabbi, I want to see."
52"Go," said Jesus, "your faith has healed you." Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.
Outline:
Today’s passage marks a critical juncture in Mark. This is the last story before the account of Jesus’ return to Jerusalem for his final days. The setting of this encounter is Jericho, in the valley of the Jordan River – where Jesus first appears in Mark’s gospel. Jesus’ ministry began in that region with the call to repentance (1:15) and the call to follow (1:17). Now Jesus comes to heal a blind one, who will come to see and to follow.
- Calling out to Christ (v.46-48)
The blind man Bartimaeus was not a nameless beggar; he was the son of Timaeus. The Scripture does not tell us who Timaeus was, but even having a name already implies certain stature. Bartimaeus was most likely not born blind (as the man in John 9 was), otherwise the gospel writer would have informed us. Blindness in ancient time was more than a disease – it was often seen as the consequence of sin. Therefore, we can reasonably deduct that Bartimaeus came to Jesus for restoration, in both sight and status.
Bartimaeus addressed Jesus as “Son of David”. According to the Jewish tradition, Son of David has great powers of healing. It is also a messianic title that acknowledges the kingship of Jesus. This is the first time in the Gospel of Mark that Jesus was referred to in such a way. Later on, in the triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Mark 11), everyone would have proclaimed Jesus in the same way. Isn’t it amazing that disciples often misunderstood Jesus, whereas a blind beggar saw Christ clearly?
Bartimaeus cried out to Jesus to “have mercy on me” twice, even after the crowd tried to ‘shaush’ him. Mercy, or the exercise of mercy, belongs to God. It is given to those who do not deserve mercy but nevertheless receive it out of grace. Psalmist cried out to God, “Be merciful to me, LORD, for I am faint; O LORD, heal me, for my bones are in agony.” (Psalm 6:2). Or in another passage, “O LORD, have mercy on me; heal me, for I have sinned against you." (Psalm 41:4)
Reflection: How often do people put their trust in the wrong object, or to the wrong person? How often do people plead for mercy to someone who has neither authority nor compassion to give mercy? In time of my desperate need, to whom do I cry out for help?
- Going to Christ (v.49-50)
Upon hearing Bartimaeus’ pleading, Jesus stopped (v.49). In an action-packed Gospel story where Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem to fulfill his final destiny, he stopped and stood still. Then he instructed the disciples to call for the blind beggar. It is interesting that Jesus did not approach the blind man, which would have been the easier thing to do. Rather, he stood still and waited for a response.
Bartimaeus responded by “throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus” (v.50). To a blind beggar, a cloak (or tunic) was probably the only worthy possession he had. It kept him warm at night, and without it, he would have most likely died from the cold outdoor. The action of throwing the cloak aside is, therefore, much more than dramatic, it is symbolic. Bartimaeus was ‘throwing all caution to the wind’ and blindly trusting in Christ.
Reflection: When I cry out to God for help, what do I do to meet God half way? Am I willing to totally and blindly trust in God?
- Asking from Christ (v.51)
This week’s Scriptural passage connects to last week’s passage (Mark 10:35-45) in various ways. Both the disciples James and John, and the blind beggar Bartimaeus came to Jesus with a request. Both times Jesus replied, “What do you want me to do for you?” Whereas James and John asked for the seats of power and authority (to the left and to the right of Jesus in his glory), the blind beggar asked, “I want to see.”
We could read into such request a deeper spiritual meaning – such as the connection between seeing, perceiving, and believing. We could also say that Bartimaeus was seeing Jesus much more clearly than most other people with perfect eyesight. But to this blind beggar, his intention was clear, his need was clear, and he asked clearly without qualifier, “I want to see.”
Reflection: When I pray to God for something, am I clear about what I want, what I need, what I would like God to do for me? Or do I pray with a ‘moving target’ of ever-increasing desires that no God could ever fulfill?
- Following Christ (v.52)
"Go," said Jesus, "your faith has healed you." Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road. (v.52)
In last week’s passage of Mark 10:35-45, James and John did not get what they asked for. They got a valuable lesson from Jesus about the nature of a servant-leader. They were told repeatedly of the path of suffering and death, and were invited implicitly to follow. But we get a sense that disciples still did not quite understand; they still did not quite follow.
Whereas Bartimaeus received what he had asked immediately, without any delays or conditions. The pleading for mercy was responded with grace. The power of Jesus the Son of David was revealed. The compassionate heart of Christ was also revealed here. Even though he wasn’t told to ‘pick up his cross to follow Christ’, he nevertheless followed Jesus along the road. It was the road into Jerusalem where the glory of Christ would be made known on the cross. Where the world of darkness and blindness will come to see the light of Jesus Christ.
Reflection: Am I willing to commit myself to Christ as a response to everything that God has already done for me?
希望弟兄姊妹認真讀經，認真分享，把信仰的種子撥送出去！
如果您找不到適合的音樂，幫助你讀經及默想，
遠在天邊，近在眼前，以下是我們教會自產自銷的～
何不試試，閉上雙眼聽聽他們所獻給主的聲音，
相信這是世上靡靡之音所遠不能及的！
2009/10/16 週五 青年聯合聚會 敬拜讚美
點擊歌名可以聽到音樂及牧師的帶領
代禱事項
為教會
-- 為本教會吳柏翰牧師的牧會
-- 為教會的青少年事工禱告
-- 求神復興我們同工開始 求神復興同工禱告的心（TRC禱告部落格）
-- 為下週二晚上禱告會---雅各書（第5章 由賴由莉長老主裡 ）
-- 為下下週二晚上禱告會---雅各書總結（第1～5章 由蔡宜哲長老主裡 ）
可以點擊此處，先行參閱討論題目
-- 10月23日(本週五) 晚上7:30少年團契活動由Jesse 主領及大專團契及青契由 宥生 主領
-- 社青團契將在10月22日 週四 晚上7：00 舉辦溜冰活動，地點：Atrium Le 1000 de la Gauchetière 歡迎大家參加 詳情請洽會長吳家慶
-- 為12月20日預備的慕道受洗的朋友，11月8日截止報名
-- 請多鼓勵您身旁的年輕人來加入靈修默想禱告的行列！
--下週日，10月25日 下午2點將召開長執會，請為教會各項事工代禱！
為肢體
-- 為社青面對事業上和工作上的壓力
-- 為大專團契許多契友這幾天要面對考試禱告
-- 為董倫欣長老的腳傷（腫痛發炎）代禱
-- 為教會有十六名會友，參加郵輪旅遊活動一路出入平安！
-- 為Ivy的祖父過世，求主安慰
-- 為Ivy 的眼睛禱告, 他因為隱形眼鏡引起了眼角膜的損傷, 需要好好休息並且繼續去看醫生, 身體也不太舒服... (謝謝 微不足道 提供代禱消息）
感謝事項
-- 歡迎大專團契這週來的新朋友，Amy、Tom、Jeason
-- 歡迎本週日的新朋友 美佑姐的媽媽及姊姊還有看護小姐，Wayne Lin, Jack Huang, Michel P. 歡迎你們
