Being Loved and Being Healed by Jesus

Jesus and his disciples came to Jericho. As he and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" Jesus stood still and said, "Call him here." And they called the blind man, saying to him, "Take heart; get up, he is calling you." So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. Then Jesus said to him, "What do you want me to do for you?" The blind man said to him, "My teacher, let me see again." Jesus said to him, "Go; your faith has made you well." Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way.
-Mark 10: 46 – 52. 

We have learned over the past weeks about how much Jesus loves us!  We have also learned that part of loving is serving:  Last week, we read the disciples called to Jesus and He asked them, “What do you want me to do for you?”  James and John asked for power, to help Jesus “govern” the world but Jesus told them that to be a leader, they needed to serve others, not just sit on a throne and rule.

 

This week, a man calls out to Jesus and Jesus asks him, “What do you want me to do for you?” Bartimaeus could not see with his eyes and asked Jesus to be have mercy on him and let him be able to see.  This time Jesus gives the man what he wants.  He adds, “Your faith has made you well.”

We see at a physical level:  We see the beautiful moon early this morning, the colors of the sunrise on our hills and mountains, a dancing roadrunner across our street, a child who fell on the playground, a person who has torn clothes. 

Jesus enables us to see at a heart and soul level:  We can see God’s hand in making the sun and moon and the stars and hillsides and the roadrunner.  We can see the fear in the heart of the child who fell and wishes for his mom or dad.  We can see the hunger for love in the eyes of the person who has torn clothes. 

Bartimaeus was blind and wanted to be able to see his family, his friends, to be able to work and to enjoy the sunrises.  What might we need for Jesus to do to help our bodies?  What do we need Jesus to help us see?  If he walks with us in our hearts, what would Jesus see as we walk along each day? How do we need our faith to see these important needs?

Lord Jesus, have mercy on us!  Give us faith to let your love heal us; Help us see the needs of others through your love.  Amen.

  

Questions to Consider with Children:

*Questions about healing: 

·      What are some memories of ways you have ever asked Jesus for his mercy, his forgiving love for you? 

·      What are some memories of ways you have ever asked Jesus to heal your body?

·      What are some ways you have ever asked Jesus to heal your heart?

·      What are some ways you have ever asked Jesus to heal your relationship with Him and God, with your spirit?

*Questions about seeing:

Imagine Jesus is in your heart or walking alongside you each day.  What could you see in the body, minds and souls of the people you meet?

·      What hurting bodies might you see? Might you see people who are hungry, cold, lost, injured?

·      What hurting relationships might you see?  Might you see people without friends, who have experienced meanness, unkindness? 

·       What hurting spirits might you see?  Might you see people without God’s love in their lives, people who need God’s forgiveness to heal their wounded heart, people who might need to feel connected to God, to feel awe and wonder, to believe in God’s truth?