Mark 10:47b “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
There was a blind man begging by the roadside at the city gates of Jericho. Jesus and His disciples were leaving the town and the blind man prayed an earnest eight letter prayer, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”. This passionate prayer of the beggar was packed with praise and petition. He acclaimed Jesus as the Son of David, according to the scriptures and petitioned his plea. His name was Bartimaeus (which means “son of Timaeus”). The name Bartimaeus is a fusion between Aramaic and Greek. ‘Bar’ in Aramaic means ‘son’ and ‘Timaios’ in Greek means ‘honour’, however, in Hebrew it means ‘defiled/impure’. The name was probably given to him as a mockery as he was born blind. The allegorical meaning of the name is “spiritually blind”. Hence he was addressed as ‘unclean’, ‘impure’ and ‘unwanted’ day in and day out.
When Bartimaeus cried out to Jesus, people around him shunned and tried to shut up the blind defiled beggar. Yet, he cried until he was heard by the Master. Jesus stopped, called him and healed him. Jesus did not even touch Bartimaeus. “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” (Mark 10:52a).
We might be branded as unclean, defiled and impure by the world but Jesus will still hear our earnest prayers. We might be unwanted by our family or friends but Jesus will stop as soon as we cry for help. We might think that we are at a dead end but Jesus can give us a brand new start. All we have to do is just pull out an earnest pocket prayer, “Jesus have mercy on me”.
The power of pocket prayers:
1. Unclean: A quick cry for healing brought light into the eyes and life of Bartimaeus. The man who was branded as accused, the son of disgrace and the son of defilement became the man of honour and the talk of the town. Bartimaeus didn’t cry for healing; he cried for mercy. Mercy canceled the maledict and gave him sight. Our pocket prayer for mercy washes away the uncleanness into holiness.
2. Unwanted: Bartimaeus was unwanted and unloved by his family and friends. The man who was rejected and discarded became the centre of attraction when he cried for mercy. The prayer for mercy will change the unattractive outcast to a wanted sought after man of honour. We still speak and preach about Bartimaeus, the son of debasement. Mercy anoints the unwanted as God’s appointed.
3. Undone: The life of Bartimaeus had no hope and no future. He had no sight but he had insight to turn his hopelessness into fruitfulness. When you feel undone, used and misused, don’t crash. Cry out for mercy. “Have mercy on me” is a powerful pocket prayer of desperation.
Cry for mercy will change the trajectory and tapestry of our life.
Luke 10:48 Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
Prayer: Dearest Lord Jesus, I need new mercies everyday to overcome the accusations, awful comments and abuse that I face in life. Have mercy on me and cover me with your grace. Amen
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