Good Morning,
Our devotional today is written by Brent Pennington who serves as one of our campus ministers for the Exodus Retreat Student Ministry. When not serving our TCU students, Brent is the Executive Pastor at Antioch Fort Worth. He previously spent over 20 years in Thailand as a missionary, college professor, and Head of School at Chiang Rai International Christian School, where he helped build and lead a thriving international learning community. With more than three decades of experience in education and leadership, he is passionate about investing in people and cultivating environments where students and leaders can flourish. He enjoys sharing and partnering in the meaningful work that takes place in education and spiritual communities. We are pleased to have Brent as part of our campus community and involved in the faith lives of our students. As you spend time today with Brent’s words and begin to prepare for Holy Week, may your cry also be, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.” –Rev. Lea McCracken, Associate Chaplain
Scripture: The Story of Bartimaeus (Mark 10: 46-52)
Blind Bartimaeus Receives His Sight (NIV version)
Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man—Bartimaeus (which means “son of Timaeus”)—was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.”
So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.
“What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him.
The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.”
“Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.
Reflection
Sometimes it is hard to know what Jesus is doing…where he is going.
In Mark chapter 10, Jesus gives his third emphatically clear statement about what awaits him in Jerusalem:
“We are going up to Jerusalem,” he said, “and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise.”
Two of his astonished followers quickly change the subject.
“Jesus,” says James and John, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.”
Surely Jesus winces a bit as he generously draws these Sons of Thunder out with a question:
“What do you want me to do for you?”
Their response? A request for seats of honor next to his throne.
Wait—didn’t he just tell them they were walking into a grave?
Of course, our prayers often reflect James and John’s confusion about God’s plans, and too often our prayers display these brothers’ same remarkable capacity for self-interest.
When the other disciples hear of the request, conflict begins to rise. Jesus draws the conversation back to the heart of his mission in Jerusalem:
“The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
No answer.
And on they go to Jericho. Actually, just a pass-through. At this time, Jerusalem must not be ignored.
But wait.
As the ragamuffin group leaves Jericho, a small interruption.
A cry.
Desperation fills both the tone and the words:
“Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
Through the rebukes and the scolding, the cry only grows stronger:
“Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
A blind beggar.
Jesus’ ears quicken to such cries—as they always do.
“Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
And Jesus responds with the same drawing-out question he asked James and John:
“What do you want me to do for you?”
The blind beggar answers:
“Rabbi… Teacher… I want to see.”
What does Jesus see in this request? The narrative does not tell us. For now, there is no need to sit down with the disciples and go over the plan again.
“Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.”
Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.
All we know is this: on Jesus’ way to the cross, a cry for mercy receives a much-needed response.
“Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
And the beggar sees.
The blind beggar’s response?
He received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.
Let Us Pray
Today, as you journey with Jesus on his way to Jerusalem, allow the blind beggar’s cry to be your cry:
“Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.”
It may help to start with some silence, and allow the Lord to lead you into this prayer. Many have found repetition of this simple prayer quite helpful.
And do not be surprised if the Master responds with the question:
“What do you want me to do for you?”
Give him your honest answer. Let him into your needs and your longings.
His desire is to help you see.
And once he has your answer, once he has your eyes…follow him.