There are phrases in the Bible that are used only a very few times. And, when this happens it should get our attention. One such time is in Mark 10.
Mark 10:46-52- And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me. And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me. And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee. And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus. And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight. And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.
Jesus was walking through a city when a blind man called out to Him. I'm certain the Lord was use to this- people were always seeking Him out to be healed. But, something about this circumstance made the Lord stand still.
What was it about this blind man that could cause Jesus Christ to pause in His tracks? Certainly not his looks- he was a beggar! It wouldn't have been his wealth or his social status. But, there was something that caused the Lord to cease what He was doing and where He was going and focus on this man.
A couple things that we should consider is that the man didn't listen to the crowd. He recognized who Jesus was and what He could do and He cried out continuously for the Lord to help him. It took some strength to go against the rebuke of the people telling him to be quiet.
Another thing is that he had faith in what the Lord could do with a wretch like himself. He was a blind beggar. There was no hope of a reward. There was no promise of a faithful steward. There was just an amazing faith that if Jesus said for him to be healed, he would be!
Were these the reasons that Jesus stood still? Was it just a couple of simple things that got the Lord's full attention from the jostling crowd? I don't know what made the Lord stand still, but I do know the outcome of this encounter.
Micah 7:7- Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me.
It went against all the odds. There were many people in that town that wanted the Lord's attention. The odds were stacked against him that Jesus would notice a poor blind man sitting in an obscure corner of a street when there were many people thronging him in the crowd.
Matthew 6:26- Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
It showed that Christ is interested in a little life. There were other people more noble. There were those who could offer so much more. Yet, the Lord was compelled to help this man whom most people ignored as they walked by.
Isaiah 66:2- For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.
Showing attention to a beggar went against the status quo. How many people actually acknowledged the blind man? I'm certain there were many religious, piotous people who passed by him without showing any realization that he was there.
There were many things that worked against this man. But, once he got the Lord's attention some amazing things happened.
Psalm 119:130- The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.
The man now had more light on his situation. He knew what the Lord could do for him, and he knew he had nothing to offer that would make it worth the Lord's effort to heal him. Yet, he cried out for the Lord to heal him.
Psalm 34:6-This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
This man wasn't ashamed to confess his inability to the Lord, even in the presence of others! He knew what his limitations were, and he wasn't threatened by the understanding that someone else needed to save him from them.
Psalm 146:8- The LORD openeth the eyes of the blind: the LORD raiseth them that are bowed down: the LORD loveth the righteous:
This man knew what it was that blinded him, and He was asking Jesus to take that away! He was willing to take a chance on Christ. He was willing to risk failure.
Are you willing to call out to the Lord? Will you ask Him to stand still and help you?
Joshua 10:13- And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day.
There are endless possibilities that occur when we get the Lord's attention. The most amazing things happen when the Son stands still!
I Timothy 5:24- Some men's sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after.
II Peter 2:9- The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
One day, the sun will stand still for all of us, but the circumstances won't be favorable. Only a blind fool goes through life thinking "I've got this."
