Living in the Spirit
October 27, 2018
Scripture Reading: Mark 10:46-52
They 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.
When Bartimaeus asks Jesus, Son of David, have mercy* on me! what is he requesting? Strong’s Concordance says mercy or pity means to show mercy as God defines it, i.e. as it accords with His truth (covenant) which expresses “God’s covenant-loyalty-mercy” (i.e. acting only on His terms).
Bartimaeus was a blind beggar. My first reaction, if I had heard that cry was that he was asking for money. Jesus did not assume that and inquired, “what do you want?” Bartimaeus’ heartfelt, audacious answer was ‘My teacher, let me see again.’ Jesus healed him carrying out mercy as God defined it.
As followers of Christ, we are called to show mercy and to discern what God’s mercy is in relation to the many justice issues with which we are challenged. In the history of God, mercy always seems linked to justice. Mercy often demands intermediate, sshort-termresponses to long-term systemic problems. Feeding one who is hungry is a necessary short-term response; justice strives for a world where everyone has enough to eat. Jesus could have dropped coins in Bartimaeus’ cup and walked on but he took the time to discern the real problem and addressed it. As the Body of Christ active today, we are called to discern both God’s definition of mercy and justice and work toward their fruition throughout our world.
Such discernment is one of the guides we need to consider as we make our decision during the mid-term elections. There are no easy answers to solve the issues that we face. If ever there was a time to seek God’s definition of mercy and justice, it is now. Is that not always the truth in all “nows”?
Prayer: My teacher, let me see now your mercy and your justice and how they fit into my duties as a citizen of this nation. Amen.
*https://biblehub.com/greek/1653.htm