Scriptures Weekly 53 - Are You A Nobody?

During the time of Jesus 2000 years ago, the Jewish leaders called Pharisees and the Scribes who wrote down the Law of God beginning with Moses, pretty much were the elite of their society. They expected their new King after Solomon would arrive in beautiful splendor and power establishing this kingdom on Earth again. Unfortunately they didn't connect the scriptures stating the new King (Messiah) would come as a humble servant with no riches nor external beauty and power, and He would seek and save the poor and distraught who needed a physician. That the Kingdom would not be on or of this world, but in the hearts of men and of Heaven.

The Bible here shows the Master seeking and looking in close detail towards those poor in spirit, the downtrodden, the blind, those with evil spirits and hundreds of people with physical infirmities. In fact, the Jews would think if a person had a infirmity they would conclude the person was being punished by God! This scripture gives us a glimpse into the daily life of Jesus the great physician and redeemer singling out one poor soul who was a nobody. The more and more you read Gods Word, you will notice God uses individuals to do his work and will! This holds true today.

Mark 10:46-52,

" ⁴⁶ Now they came to Jericho. As He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the road begging. ⁴⁷ And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” ⁴⁸ Then many warned him to be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” ⁴⁹ So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called. Then they called the blind man, saying to him, “Be of good cheer. Rise, He is calling you.” ⁵⁰ And throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus. ⁵¹ So Jesus answered and said to him, “What do you want Me to do for you?” The blind man said to Him, “Rabboni, that I may receive my sight.” ⁵² Then Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road.

Some important lesson points God leaves us:

1. Jesus disciples were present to watch and learn from Jesus who chose a nobody to heal, not a egocentric Pharisee.
2. Notice God reveals the blind mans name and his father to us in His Word. Why is this? Because God is interested in individuals and is a personal Savior. The great God of the Universe desires a relationship with just you.
3. The blind man had faith enough to call out for the "Son of David" asking Him to have mercy on him.
4. Verse 49 is astonishing! "Jesus stood still." Why do you think He stopped? He saw the mans great faith. The disciples then went over and told Bartimaeus to be "of good cheer". Why?  Because they had already witnessed the Masters healing power that came from the Father.
5. Secondly, Jesus called him. This is still the way people come to God today, they must be personally called in the heart and mind.
6. Bartimaeus throws away his only possession, his garment covering being submissive to Jesus. His heart and mind is willing to lose everything to be healed!
7. As the Lord says in His Word here (Mark 10:51) and to us today, He asked Bartimaeus what he wanted Him to do. The blind man now in full submission expresses his desire to be healed of blindness.
8. In Mark 10:52, notice after Bartimeaus received his sight, he followed Jesus. The nobody became a somebody according to God.

We today can take this lesson  to mean in faith we are to pray for our needs according to His will and not our will. That as we are called and obey the gospel of Jesus Christ, we are no longer a nobody. Bartimeaus received his sight because of his strong faith. For this was the work of God before the people, and the disciples again proving Jesus of Nazareth to be the Christ, the new King, a branch of David spoken of in the Law of Moses fulfilling the prophesies about Him in the Old Testament.

Hopefully you are a nobody like Bartimeaus, a person who no longer wishes to be identified as a part of this world, but as a new creature in Jesus Christ and His heavenly Kingdom. If not, turn your nobodyness into somebody before God by obeying the Gospel.

Many blessings...