Episode 982: Someone Who Sees

[00:00:00] Scott Maderer: Thanks for joining me on episode 982 of the inspired stewardship podcast. I'm

[00:00:07] David Smith: David Smith author of who's got your back making and keeping great friendships among men. I encourage you to invest in others, develop your influence and impact the world by using your time, your talents and your treasures to live out your.

[00:00:24] Having the ability to build real lasting friendships as a man is vital to doing this. And one way to be inspired to do that is to listen to this. The inspired stewardship podcast with the leadership provided by Scott.

[00:00:42] Scott Maderer: that's what makes this also a call story? And it's crucial that following Jesus is the result, but here there's not a typical reaction of a healing story. There's not the crowd looking at the miracle and going, oh my goodness. Amazing. [00:01:00] There's not any sort of recognition from the group. Welcome. And thank you for joining us on the inspired stewardship podcast.

[00:01:08] If you truly desire to become the person who God wants you to be, then you must learn to use your time, your talent and your treasures for your true calling in the inspired stewardship podcast, who will learn to invest in yourself, invest in others and develop your influence so that you can impact.

[00:01:29] and today's spiritual foundation episode about investing in others. I talk with you about mark chapter 10 verses 46 through 52. I also share why this isn't only about seeing with your eyes and I share why there is a reason that Jesus actually heals two different blind men in. Mark chapter 10 verses 46 through 52 goes like this, that came to Jericho as he and his disciples and a large [00:02:00] 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.

[00:02:09] He began to shout out and say, Jesus son of David have mercy on. Minnie 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. When 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.

[00:02:36] 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 you. Jesus said to him go, your faith has made you well immediately. He regained his sight and followed him on the way. So this is one of the passages in mark, and it's a rather [00:03:00] concluding a parable in this central section of God, of the gospel of mark.

[00:03:04] And it's the second healing of a blind. In fact it like any other healing story, the there's elements that are present, someone has a problem. There's something that complicates things. Jesus affects the cure. The result is confirmed. Other, see the cure. And then there's some response to the miracle.

[00:03:28] This is a healing story, but there's also a second story or second level here. This is also a calling story. In fact earlier in chapter eight, there was a healing of a blind man. And yet here we are healing a different blind man. Again, I think there's some reason for that, but I don't think it's so that we get the recognition that Jesus is out there, healing the blind and getting better at it or [00:04:00] anything like that.

[00:04:01] Instead. About the better message or the larger message of that. Seeing Jesus in this case leads Bartimaeus to following Jesus that earlier blind man is really past. And then in this story, you can see that there's an active seeking of Jesus. He begins to cry out Jesus son of David have mercy on me. And in fact, this is the first time in this gospel that son of David as a title is given to Jesus.

[00:04:39] So basically recognizing the king ship that he's related to king day. And in fact, this connection is clear. So he recognizes something in Jesus that maybe not everyone has. In fact, the proceeding [00:05:00] story in mark. The one right before this, Jesus asked James and John, what do you want me to do for you? The same?

[00:05:07] It's a question that he asks here, but here, James and John begin to ask for positions of honor and glory setting at the right hand of Jesus and all of that. And yet here, the blind man just asked for sight. And I think the site here is more than just physical site. That's being pointed out. It's actually spiritual sight.

[00:05:29] The blind man is asking to get spiritual in. That implication is that Jesus is being acknowledged here by Bartimaeus and his belief is why he gains sight. And because of that interaction, he then follows Jesus. That's what makes this also a call story? And it's crucial that [00:06:00] following Jesus is the result.

[00:06:03] It's happens time and time again in the gospels. And this is often where things in end in the story. But here there's not a typical reaction of a healing story. There's not the crowd looking at the miracle and going, oh my goodness. Amazing. There's not any sort of recognition from the group instead. It says.

[00:06:28] He puts down his things and he follows Jesus. He regained his sight and he follows Jesus. And the next passage here after this, it's turning to going to Jerusalem and it ends on the cross. So in a way he's seeing where this is going and yet he still follows Jesus. I think that's why this second story is there is because despite the fact that it is a [00:07:00] story of healing, it's also a story of calling.

[00:07:05] And I think oftentimes whenever we think about having our eyes opened and having our call called to us, that call is somehow turned out to us in a way. That if we don't really open our eyes, we don't see that's part of what this passage is calling for us to do to see what does it really mean to follow Jesus?

[00:07:37] Thanks for this.

[00:07:38] thanks so much for listening to the inspired stewardship podcast as a subscriber and listener, we challenge you to not just sit back and passively listen, but act on what you've heard and find a way to live your calling. If you enjoy this episode, do me a favor. Go over to [00:08:00] facebook.com/inspire.

[00:08:03] Stewardship and like our Facebook page and market that you'd like to get notifications from us so that we can connect with you on Facebook and make sure that we're serving you to the best of our abilities with time and tips there until next time investor. Your talent and your treasures develop your influence and impact the world.