THE SON OF DAVID

For this devotion I want to share something to make us think. I was presented with this challenge by another Minister so I am presenting this same challenge to you this morning. Question, aside from blind Bartimaeus does the Bible mention any other person by name that Jesus physically healed? Not cast out a demon or raised from the dead but physically healed? I couldn't think of one.  Not Jairus's daughter, the Bible never mentions her name.  Not the woman with the issue of blood, the Bible never mentions her name. Even the man with the legion of demons, the Bible never mentions his name. And the guy who Jesus healed that they tore the roof off of, the Bible never mentions his name either. So let's first deal with the name Bartimaeus. Bar means 'the son of.' So what I believe the correct interpretation of how to read this scripture is...this is the blind son of Timaeus. To me this makes sense. So if my assessment is correct this means the scripture was really telling us again his dad's name, not the name of the son. It was saying the son's condition but the dads name. So again it would read,...'This is the blind son of Timaeus. Here's my assessment:  We have Niccodemus, Jairus, and Gamalieo who were all religious leaders. So if the Bible is mentioning Timaeus by name he is more than likely an important person. But why is this so significant? Stay with me. Let's go back to Mark chapter 8. In Mark chapter 8 Jesus asks His disciples, 'Who do people say I am?' If you recall the account they mentioned names like Elijah and John the Baptist, plus a few more. But then Jesus asks, 'Who do you say I am?' Remember that. So now, let's continue..... Why would Timaeus's blind son refer to Jesus as the son of David? Now this is just my take. Remember I was just presented with a challenge. If Timaeus was a religious leader or Pharisee then his blind son grew up hearing his dad read the Torah and prophets and prophecies of the coming messiah over, and over, and over again. This means the blind son of Timaeus heard about Jesus most of his life. That He was the Messiah and He would be the son of David. Ok. So now he knew the prophecies and now he's hearing about Jesus and what He was doing in the regions, His signs, His miracles, His wonders...so he didn't need his eyes to know exactly what his ears had listened to growing up all of his life. He knew who Jesus was. The blind son in essence was saying...I know exactly who this is and I'm getting healed today! Have mercy on me. Just imagine, to be blind but yet have insight to know who the Messiah was. So let's get back to Mark Chapter 8. Here's the challenge ...how do you answer the question of who Jesus is? Who do you say He is? Again, although Timaeus's son was blind we know that  faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Today is a great day to ask yourself who do you say Jesus is? Remember it was Jesus who left us our pattern and design to follow in life.  How you answer this question will always determine if you will ever have the faith ...based on what you heard...to step into your Jeremiah 29:11 and trust God. Or will you be led by the voices of men. Our actions reflect our answers to who we say Jesus is everyday not only in what we say but what we do. What you do matters and tells the entire story of who you say Jesus is. When we act on what we believe then we walk into what God has assigned for us based off the pattern Jesus left for us. And we do this by stepping into our Jeremiah 29:11. If not we stay stuck. Think about this...We do things for many reasons, but if Jesus isn't the center of it...if He is not your why...then ask yourself...who is Jesus to you? Is he what your friends say? Is He what your leaders say? Is He what your peer pressure says and people around you? Your trusted leaders?Those who are trying to pull you in other directions?  Do you know Him? I challenge you this morning...step into your pattern. Step into your Jeremiah 29:11. Today is an awesome day to assure yourself that you are walking by faith and not by sight. And the results are up to the Lord. Grace.