Desire to be more like Jesus
Mark 10:47 “When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Extra Reading: Mark 10:46-52
Jesus was accepting, compassionate and generous to people He met. In His ministry, Christ demonstrates these qualities towards those whom He encounters. As Christians we should model ourselves upon Christ in this respect. The grace and mercy of God was made known in Jesus Christ. God plans to make us like His Son each day we wake up to face a new day. Jesus felt no guilt; God wants you to feel no guilt. Jesus had no bad habits; God wants you to do away with yours. Jesus faced fears with courage; God wants you to do the same. Jesus knew the difference between right and wrong; God wants us to know the same. Jesus served others and gave His life. His plan, His ultimate goal is to make you into the image of Christ. Jesus assumed a Messianic title and comes as a descendant of David to fulfill God’s promises in the Old Testament of a future king who would establish the kingdom of God on earth. Grounds for identifying Jesus Christ as the Son of David are based on His human descent (Romans 1:3), His birth in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2; John 7:42), His healing ministry (Matthew 12:22-23). One of the signs of the Messianic age was the healing of the sick (Isaiah 35:5-6), and His ultimate victory (Rev. 5:5). ‘Son of David’ was a popular way of addressing Jesus as the Messiah, because it was known that the Messiah would be a descendant of King David (Isaiah 9:7). The fact that Bartimaeus called Jesus the Son of David shows that he recognised Jesus as the Messiah. His faith brought about his healing.
Beggars were a common sight in most towns. Because most occupations of that day required physical labour, anyone with a crippling disease or disability was at a severe disadvantage and was usually forced to beg, even though God’s laws commanded care for such needy people (Leviticus 25:35-38). Blindness was considered a curse from God for sin (John 9:2), but Jesus refuted this idea when He reached out to heal the blind. Acts 10:38 states, “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with Him.” In every nation there are hearts restless for God, ready to receive the gospel-but someone must take it to them. Seeking God is not enough-people must find Him. How then shall seekers find God without someone to point the way to Him? (Romans 10:14, 15). We need to express mercy to people around us who face numerous life challenges and are not aware that the solution is found in God. Jesus was open to all people. So, the gospel is also open to all people. There are people everywhere eager to believe. When we are eager to seek the truth and be obedient to the light God gives us, God will reward us richly. I once visited my sick aunt in a hospital in Pretoria. As the time was near for me to leave the ward, I asked to pray with her and all other patients who were accommodated there. The old lady situated at the corner of the ward said this to me: “Thank you, dear priest, for showing mercy to me. No one ever visits me and pray for me.”
Prayer: O God, make us an expression of your mercy to people we meet. In His name, Amen!
