Inspired by Todd Agnew
Valerie Rae Hanneman
Mark 10:47-49 (NLT) “When Bartimaeus heard that Jesus from Nazareth was nearby, he began to shout out, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" "Be quiet!" some of the people yelled at him. But he only shouted louder, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" When Jesus heard him, He stopped and said, "Tell him to come here." So they called the blind man.”
There’s been a change in my circle of friends these past 11 years. My friendships back then were more varied. They ran the gamut from drug addicts to community leaders. Most were not religious, some stridently anti-religious and even a couple of Christians. These days my circle of friends had undergone a real change. My closest circle of friends are all Christians and only one does not attend Fresno First Baptist. My broader circle of friends that I socialize with are also all Christians. My circle of friends and I have Jesus as a common bond, we have a common language, and common beliefs. Because of what we have in common, I am more comfortable with them than with anybody else. But I don’t think Jesus is real happy with me when it comes to who I am friends with.
Jesus was leaving Jericho to go to Jerusalem. This was His last journey - He knew He was going to be crucified in Jerusalem. As He walked He was surrounded by a crowd. The closest to Him were His disciples- His closest circle of friends. Around them were the rest of Jesus’ followers. This was at the end of His ministry so the “free food” hanger-ons were gone. Those who flocked to Him because He was the latest version of the “hot to be seen with” had gone. Most of those still following Him on this day would be the core of the yet-to-be-born Church.
A blind beggar sits outside of Jericho and when he hears Who is going past him, he shouts out to Jesus. The crowds surrounding Jesus tell him to shut up. Blind Bart, being the socially polite man he was, ignored them and shouted even louder to get Jesus’ attention. Jesus stopped, told those around Him to get Blind Bart. When Blind Bart stands before Jesus, Jesus heals him.
There are three interesting dynamics on this day. The first and most important (always) is Jesus. Son of God, Messiah, Savior - He was, is and always will be the only hope mankind has. Then there is Blind Bart. Knowing that he is physically blind, maybe knowing he was spiritually blind as well, somehow he knows that the only hope that he has left is Jesus. Then there is the crowd. In the inner circle are the disciples. They have lived with Jesus for three years, seen all the miracles, received all the teaching. Their t-shirts have Jesus slogans on them. Ask them on this day and they will tell you that they will die for Jesus. The rest of the crowd follow Him by choice as well. Their donkeys have bumper stickers that say “Follow me to Saturday School!”
Imagine the scene with me - see Jesus walking down the road to Jerusalem, around Him the crowd hanging on every word, intent on Jesus. See Blind Bart by the city walls - he desperately needs Jesus - but when he calls out for Jesus’ mercy - it is the Jesus-followers that turn on him - “Shut Up! Go Away! He is busy with us!”
That just blows me away! How could they do that? How could they block out a soul in need of Jesus! Then I pause, and I get this little shiver of feeling down my neck - and it feels like guilt.
My circle of friends and I are intent on Jesus. We choose to grow in Him, we choose to worship Him, we choose to serve Him, and we choose to support each other within Him. And there is nothing wrong with that - it is what we are supposed to do. But by being so close to each other do my friends and I block others from reaching Jesus?
As I walk through the office at work there are people that I love to stop and talk to. I ask about their family, about their churches, we talk about Jesus. But for most of my co-workers, it is a quick “Hi!” and I am on my way. I don’t have anything in common with them. I don’t build any type of a real relationship with them because they don’t know Jesus. Am I so intent on Jesus that I block them from reaching Jesus because I don’t build a relationship with them?
Jesus did not come to earth to be in relationship with those who had something in common with Him. And I praise Him that that is true. I had nothing in common with Him - none of us did - so where would we be? Jesus came to get those He had nothing in common with.
When Jesus stopped at Blind Bart’s cry, He did not go back to Bart. Not did He call out, “Come here, Blind Bart!” Instead He turned to the ones who had just tried to set Blind Bart aside and told them to call Blind Bart. What must that have been like for those in the crowd? Just a moment ago they had tried to block this outsider from Jesus, and they turn to see His eyes on them. Did they see disappointment in His eyes when He said to them, “You go get him, and you bring him here.” Did they feel a shiver of guilt?
Jesus wants us to build up our community of faith, he told us not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together. But He didn’t tell us to get comfortable and stay there. He told us to go out into the world and make disciples.
As long as I am content to live within my circle of friends that I have so much in common with then I run the risk of seeing disappointment in Jesus’ eyes. I don’t want to hear Him chide me into going and bringing somebody to Him - somebody that I blocked earlier from Him.
I think on Monday morning when I walk through the office, I am going to stop to chat with my Christian friends. But I am also going to stop and chat with somebody I have nothing in common with. Maybe, with Jesus’ help, I will find a little something that we have in common - and from there build a relationship that will someday have Jesus in common.
LORD Jesus, forgive me for my comfortable life, surrounded by my comfortable friends. You did not call me to be comfortable, You called me to be Your hands and feet - to go out and bring others to You. I surrender myself to Your call.
Contact Valerie or sign up for the e-Ministry of Fresno First Baptist at valerie@fresnofirst.org