A simple request, a loaded answer, an amazing outcome!

I know some people that can read large amounts of a book or the Bible and retain it all. I'm not one of those people. I take things in small amounts, digest them, incorporate them, and then move to the next little chunk. So that is how I tend to read the Bible...in small amounts at a time. Today's little chunk was just awesome to me! I found it in Mark chapter 10, verses 46-52.

It's not a crazy teaching passage, or some super ginormous thing that happens. You have Jesus walking down the road, and there is this blind guy named Bartimaeus that hears about Jesus coming through. He doesn't know where exactly Jesus is at so he just starts screaming for Jesus. "Jesus! Jesus! Son of David! Have mercy on me!" (it's interesting here that he did not call Jesus of Nazareth, but Jesus, Son of David which is a term reserved for the Messiah...he was showing faith by calling Jesus this title).

People around Bartimaeus are getting annoyed and embarassed of their local blind beggar. As they were telling him to be quiet, Jesus calls for him to be brought over.

Jesus asked Bart what he wanted Him to do. Bart has one simple request. "I WANT TO SEE!"

I think that Jesus was pleased with this answer because in that moment, Jesus not only granted Bart's eyes to see, but his heart to see as well.

Jesus tells him, "Go your way. Your faith has healed you."

How do I know that Bart's heart could see too? Well, the outcome tells it all.

Verse 52 says that instantly Bart could see, and then he followed Jesus down the way!

Jesus told him to go his way, but out of his gratitude and thanks, He followed Jesus!

Let me ask you today, have you allowed Jesus to open your heart so you can see? What if you were to ask Him today, "Lord, help me to see You clearly, and to see people the way you see people." Do you think something would change with how you treated others? What about how you saw the grocery store checkout person? The mailman? The drive-thru attendant? Your waiter? Is your response to follow the way that Jesus leads you? If not, why? Why don't we go down the way that Jesus is going and see where He takes us? Give it a try. I know you won't be disappointed.

Have a great day!

Ron Foster

Friday

Today represents a day that changed everything. Today represents the day that Jesus accomplished on this earth what He came to do. He came to die. What happened on this day? I found a cool site that walks you through the final week of Jesus (click here to check out the full week). But let's look at what happened today.

1:00-1:30am Jesus is confronted by Judas and the soldiers

1:30-3:00am Trial 1 with Annas

1:30-3:00am Trial 2 with Caiaphas (Jesus is beaten between trials)

3:00-5:00am Jesus held at Caiaphas'

5:00-6:00am Trial 3 w/Jewish leaders

6:00-7:00am Trial 4 w/Pilate ("I find no guilt in him")

7:00-7:30am Trial 5 w/Herod (Jesus silent, so sent back to Pilate)

7:30-8:30am Trial 6 w/Pilate (tries to appease people by flogging - 39 whips with a cat of nine

tails - Jesus...people demand death, so Pilate grants it)

8:30-9:00am Roman soldiers continue to beat on Jesus, place crown of thorns on His head

9:00-12:00pm Jesus forced to carry cross through town, nails in His hands, nail in His feet,

raised up on the cross

12:00-3:00pm Final 3 hours on the cross

3:00pm Death

? Burial

Did you know that Jesus went through all of this voluntarily? Why would someone choose this? Well, the answer is simple...YOU. Because our sin separates us from God, and the payment/penalty of our sin is eternal death (separation from God forever), the only one who could pay that penalty for us did. The righteous Judge, the King of Kings, and the Lord of Lords who pronounced us guilty got up from His throne, took off his robe and traded it in to pay the penalty for us and make a way for us to now have eternal life (relationship and communion with God forever). Thank you, Lord, for thinking of me, for loving me as You went through this horrific and good Friday.

Have a great day,

Ron Foster