Mark 10:50 (NIV), “Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus”. 

What an amazing story! The Bible tells us that Jesus came to give recovery of sight to the blind. Let me set the scene, Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem , He would never pass this way again. As the crowds followed Jesus, sitting on the roadside was this man Bartimaeus, who was blind. When he heard that it was Jesus who was passing by, he lifted his voice and shouted, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” It is interesting to note, that Bartimaeus recognised and addressed our Lord as the Son of David. It was ironical that while the nation of Israel was blind to the presence of the “Messiah”, a blind Jew had true spiritual sight! Many rebuked him, telling him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David have mercy on me!” Jesus stopped and said, “Call him”. So someone said to Bartimaeus, “Cheer up! On your feet He is calling you!” 

Now notice what happens next. Throwing his cloak aside, Bartimaeus jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.  He threw aside, “his cloak”. This cloak identified him as being a beggar and being blind. He threw it aside and jumped to his feet and came to Jesus. Right away he no longer wanted to live the way that he had lived, but rather, he wanted to change. Jesus healed him, and he received his sight, and followed Jesus along the road. 

My friend, there comes a time in everyone’s life when Jesus comes across our path in such a real way. Will we throw aside our old way of life? Will we throw off the cloaks that identify us with our old way of living? Will we throw way our cloaks of sinfulness and jump to our feet to be clothed in Christ Jesus and a new way of life, and follow Him?  

Jesus calls each of us by name. He will stop where you are, where you are sitting today, by the roadside of life, but you have a choice to make. Will you let the crowds discourage you from reaching out to Jesus, to calling out to the Son of David for a miracle in your life? If you want anything from Jesus, you have to ask Him. As you call out to Jesus today for that miracle in your life, don’t let what other people think, put you off from pressing in and receiving something from the Lord. 

Bartimaeus had to stand up and take a step towards Jesus in full view of everyone. It takes faith to stand up and go forward to receive something from God. The Bible says in Hebrews 11:6 (KJV), “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him”. 

Just as Jesus healed Bartimaeus, so that not only could he see, but he could start a new life. So also, Jesus will stop by you at the roadside of life, as you call out to Him, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.” As you do, hear these words to encourage your heart, “Cheer up! On your feet He is calling you!” Your miracle is only a few steps way, all you have to do is reach out to Jesus in faith, for he is the same yesterday, today and forever! He is the same healing, delivering, saving, life changing and miracle working Jesus today, as in the days of Bartimaeus. 

God bless you my friend, Matthew.

 

Mark 8:8 (NIV), “The people ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over”. 

This story in the book of Mark paints a beautiful picture of servant-hood. This lesson on servant-hood comes on the back of the disciples going to preach, and seeing the power of God confirming His word, as they anointed the sick with oil. Those who were anointed were marvelously healed, delivered, and set free, by the power of God.

But here is the humility of His followers, they gave what they had to feed the hungry and they served the people. 

Jesus looked up to heaven then gave thanks for the offering of the fish and loaves. He then broke them up and gave them to His disciples to serve among the people; so few disciples feeding so many.  Is that not the case today? When God wants to feed the hungry soul with His manna from heaven, where are the workers to serve? Jesus looked up the heaven and gave thanks, not only for the fish and the loaves, but to God for what was about too happen.  From five loaves and two fish, Jesus fed a hungry crowd of not only five thousand men, but on top of that, all the women and children. Jesus, through the power of God, did the miracles, and the disciples served.  

The disciples not only served the crowd, but when everyone of one of them were satisfied, the disciples picked up the twelve basketfuls that were left over. Not only did they give to the Lord what they had to feed the hungry, but God blessed them with so much more in reply. Not one disciple complained, but they served the people with joy in the Lord. Obedience brings blessing, and serving brings joy. 

My friend, we are called to serve God and each other. We are called to serve those who are hungry in their soul for the manna from Heaven, which is the gospel of Jesus Christ. True discipleship is to serve God with everything that you have, to help those in the ministry, and to do what you can to serve, so that the hungry are fed. If that means, feeding the poor, or serving those in need, or simply putting our faith in action by picking up something and doing something for God, then let us adopt this verse as not only our statement of faith, but as an attitude unto the Lord. Ephesians 6:7, “Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord”. 

Unfortunately the work of the Lord is hindered so many times because, as the Bible says in Matthew 9:37 (Amplified Bible), “The harvest is indeed plentiful, but the labourers are few”. When we give ourselves to serving the Lord, let us do so in whatever area He has called us to, with joy. As we serve in His harvest field, feeding the hungry souls with His bread from heaven, Jesus will give us a miracle harvest. He will cause the “baskets” of our churches to over flow with His blessing as we learn to serve as the disciples did. 

God bless you my friend, Matthew.