I have often wondered about the incredible miracles of Jesus. In the first century there was very little in the way of medical care. There were no welfare systems to meet the physical needs of the people. There were many unfettered diseases that caused people to suffer a life of poverty and debilitation. They would be consigned to begging in the streets for any compassionate soul to take pity on them and throw them a few scraps or a couple of coins. The misery of this life would have been altogether stark.
One such story we read about in the Bible is in the book of Mark. It tells of a blind man named Bartimaeus. Jesus was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a large crowd was following behind him. Miracles being performed will certainly gather a crowd. Bartimaeus was sitting on the side of the road when he heard a commotion as the crowd was passing by. Curious as to what all the fuss was about, he asked others who were standing nearby. They told him it was Jesus of Nazareth. Clearly, by the text, it’s obvious he’s heard of him as word had spread throughout the region due to all the miracles he’d been performing among the crowds. Conceivably, this was Bartimaeus’ first big hope he ever experienced for the chance of a better life. In sheer desperation he cries out “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” The crowd told him to be quiet! They probably wanted to get a good look at this new prophet that was passing through their town without this insignificant beggar making a nuisance of himself. But Bartimaeus wasn’t about to be deterred. Perhaps he even felt the power of Jesus’ presence as he was passing by because he shouted out all the more, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” A blind man in need of sight is unhindered by the sight of an ordinary looking man—unhindered by the prejudice of the cultural expectations of a powerful looking representative of change. But Jesus isn’t impressed with the outward appearances either but rather the heart of a person. He knows this blind man believes he is his only hope. He genuinely needs and wants a Savior. And Jesus meets his need. He tells the crowd to call him to come forward. He probably can’t see him because he is sitting on the ground and the crowd has obscured his view. So Bartimaeus quickly jumps up and comes to Jesus and Jesus asks him, “what do you want me to do for you?” And the blind man said, “Rabbi, let me recover my sight” and Jesus said to him, “Go your way, your faith has made you well”.
This is the thing about faith—it comes with the recognition of need. Sometimes it can be physical, as in Bartimaeus’ life, but most often it is a soul-deep need. There seems to be a lot of that type these days. I recently read an article about a 200 year old Scottish practice called Hurkle-Durkle which has apparently been trending on TikTok. Another word for it is bed-rot, which sounds awful, and people consider it “self-care”. I guess this is where our pampered culture has finally ended up. No one wants to get out of bed and deal with life anymore. I think we can call it depression—plain and simple. Of course, when the Scotts coined the phrase it meant just to linger a bit in the morning to start your day peacefully. However, the 21st century has taken it to a whole new level. The stats show that people under 30 are the most miserable of all. How sad is that? It used to be the most exciting time of life. This was usually when life stretched out wide with endless possibilities. The future was something to look forward to with anticipation. So what has happened? Why do so many people feel like giving up?
It seems to me to be more of a soul-rot issue than anything else. The world has lost its way, hope has become like dust in the wind. God has been discharged from his duties. There is nothing to ground us in this contemporary perspective where everyone decides their own truth no matter how incredulous it sounds. The end result is utter chaos. There is a spiritual blindness that has rendered us disabled beggars. People grope for any crumb they can get to relieve the darkness that keeps closing in on them. Each new trend becomes a lifeline of hope that will pull us back to the light. But it is all snake oil, a fruitless effort that rebounds into a deeper abyss.
There is only one cure for this kind of blindness. It is Jesus, Son of David! He didn’t come to this world to do miracles, although out of his deep compassion he did many. No, rather he came to put an end to the spiritual death and blindness—the curse our Garden parents brought with their sin. What kind of love is this? What kind of God would send his own Son to die and rise again for a world that dismisses him? The kind that gives you a reason to get out of bed each day and give thanks. Bed-rot is for the dead. When Jesus calls you out and touches your soul the scales fall to the wayside and the vision of a new life bursts forth with meaning and purpose. It isn’t an endless fairytale of an easy and stress-free life, no, no— times can be just as hard as ever but the beggar becomes the heir apparent. The table is set with your name on the place card. There are no crumbs needed here. Instead, there is a rich diet of satisfying truth that fills the hungry soul and brings a miraculous healing. A place that transforms the soul-rot to soul-rest. And with this healing comes the stablility that God really is still in charge and that whatever darkness may try to push in, He is the light that will never be extinguished.
So, like the blind man, do you have a need? Lean in and listen…is he calling you to come forth?
“Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that the captives will be released, that the blind will see; that the oppressed will be set free.” Luke 4:18
“Then Jesus told him, I entered this world to render judgement—to give sight to the blind and to show those who think they see, that they are blind.” John 9:19