by John Grant
“What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him. The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.” Mark 10:51
Each day, he would rise, adorn his beggars cloak, pick up his tin beggar’s cup and once again head for the streets of Jericho. He would spend his day sitting alongside the street crying “Alms for the blind,” as the crowds passed by his way. His definition of a good day was a cup full of coins.
This was a potentially good day. Jericho was a beautiful town rebuilt by Herod the Great as his winter capital. Today, he was expecting good results from the large crown composed of pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem for the Passover.
Like many of us, blind Bartimaeus was tempted to underestimate the possibilities of a really good day. But then he heard the commotion and realized that Jesus was coming his way and nothing could stop his attempt for access to the Master. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity.
He shouted out to get Jesus’ attention. The crowd doesn’t like him and tells him to be quiet. He shouts all the more. Jesus stops and says “call him here.” Then the crowd says, “Take courage stand up! He is calling for you.”
Bartimaeus jumps to his feet, throws off his beggar’s cloak and comes to Jesus, not an easy maneuver for a blind man in a crowd. When he got to Jesus, the Master asked: “What do you want me to do for you?”
Bartimaeus responded: “Rabboni, I want to regain my sight,” to which Jesus responded, “Go, your faith has made you well.” Immediately, his sight was restored and he followed Jesus along the road.
It was not a bad day for a blind man hoping to fill his beggar’s cup and ends up with sight and trip to Jerusalem with Jesus.
How many of us have “tin cup mentality,” underestimating what Jesus can do with our lives? As Jesus asked Bartimaeus, he also asks us the same question.
Stop and meditate on this for a few minutes. Jesus is attentive to our needs and is asking each of us: “What do you want me to do for you?” If you could answer with just one request what would it be? Never underestimate what Jesus can do with your life.
You can comment on this devotional online at:
http://thoughtsaboutgod.com/blog/2013/10/01/jg_tin-cup-mentality/
John Grant is a former Florida State Senator and is a practicing attorney