By Lee Roy Anderson
As Jesus went out of Jericho, blind Bartimaeus sat by the highway begging. And when he heard that Jesus was passing by, he cried through the crowd, Jesus, Thou son of David have mercy on me. Mark 10: 47.
Many charged him to hold his peace but he cried a great deal more, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me. Mark 10:48. Then Jesus stood still and called for him to be brought. Bartimaeus cast away his garment rose and came to Jesus. Jesus asked him what he should do for him and he replied, Lord that I might receive my sight, Mark 10:51. Jesus said to him, Go thy way thy faith hath made thee whole and immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus in the way. Mark 10:52.
Jesus calls the spiritual blind today to repent and to follow him. Because man is blinded he goes on in his blindness. That is the reason Jesus touched so many blinded eyes while he was here. To show us how man can be blinded not only physically but he can be blinded spiritually as well. Spiritual blindness is much worse than physical blindness. There is a spiritual dimension of man to which he is blind, until and unless he receives a spiritual birth.
This is the reason we need to be born again, John 3:3.
The natural man cannot receive understand the things of God, 1 Corinthians 2:14. The new birth tunes us into the spiritual world. We only can have a spirit birth when we come to Jesus turn from our sings or repent of our sings trust him and take him by faith. Man is a blinded being and he needs his eyes opened spiritually.
John Newton, who was a captain of a slave ship, answered Jesus’ call, and become a minster for Jesus. And he wrote the hymn Amazing Grace, Amazing Grace? How sweet the sound? That saved a wretch like me? I one was lost but now am found. Was blind but now I see. ‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear and grace my fears relieved. How precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed. Thro many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come. ‘Tis grace hath bro’t me safe thus far and grace will lead me home.
There is no greater thrill than having an eternal purpose for living to know where you are to know where you’ve been and to know where you’re going by the grace of God.