Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus. - Mark 10:50
(Read Mark 10:46-52)
In this passage of Scripture we see that a blind man named Bartimaeus was sitting by the roadside begging. He heard that Jesus was passing by that way and he began to call out to Jesus. As he was shouting "Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me!" many people rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but nothing would stop him from getting his healing. Regardless of what the people were saying, he continued to shout even more "Son of David, have mercy on me." vs 48. He was persistent. Many people give up half way when they are praying for something important.. something that could change their life. It could be a new job, a breakthrough, a boyfriend, a family member or whatever else weighs heavy on your heart that you are praying and believing God for. Trust that He hears you and don't give up. If you want it that much, then it is worth pestering God for. After all, He does say in His Word, "pray without ceasing." and "ask and you will receive", and "ask and receive that your joy may be full". So many Scriptures speak about the power of prayer. It says in James 5:17-18 that Eljiah prayed that it would not rain for three and a half years and that is exactly what happened. Put your trust in the One who is faithful to answer all your prayers. He may not always give you the answer you want but He will never ignore your prayer. Trust me. Better still, trust the Word of God. "The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective."-James 5:16
Ask yourself this question. What if he kept silent? Would he still have received his healing or would Jesus have just walked by? I believe that the answer to this question is that Jesus passed by that way because He wanted to give Bartimaeus a chance to get healed but with that opportunity Jesus granted him, it also required for him to step out in faith. For all he knew, he faced possible rejection, but he took a chance and went out on a limb, risking embarrassment and being turned down. Likewise Jesus wants you to call out to Him, so have faith and do it. Have confidence when you pray and expect an answer.
Bartimaeus threw aside anything that would impede him. There's a lesson in that for us to learn. What's stopping you from coming to Jesus? Is it too much pride? Or maybe jealousy. Throw it aside (jump to your feet) and come to Jesus. Cast aside selfish living and immoral lifestyle. One man can't serve two masters (Matthew 6:24). It is either God or the devil.
I can only imagine that his life was never the same after his encounter with Jesus. Verse 52 says "Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road." Will you allow Jesus to work powerfully in your life? A miracle awaits you if you say "Yes". Fling off your coat and come to Him.
