No Peeking

There is a cabinet in our family room that was always a favorite of my children.
It was the cabinet they would go to when their younger sibling was taking a nap.
It was the cabinet with checkers and chess, UNO and Dutch Blitz.
It had crayons, markers, Scrabble, magnetic letters, flash cards, tangrams, and puzzles.

I opened the cabinet the other day because I was looking for my clipboard.
I saw a game that I had forgotten about.
NO PEEKING.

It was always a lot of fun, but terribly difficult.
Assorted cardboard pieces were inside a drawstring bag.
The player was blindfolded.
By touch alone, you had to determine what piece you were holding in your hand.

Sounds easy enough, but it isn’t!
A key, an ice cream cone, a fork, or hammer are impossible to distinguish on touch alone.
The shape of so many objects feels like the shape of something else.
There was a lot of giggling and laughing as you realized how absurd your guesses were.

Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and His disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (that is the son of Timaeus) was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me!” Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On you feet! He’s calling you.” Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus. “What do you want Me to do for you?” Jesus asked him. The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.”
“Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately, he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road. (Mark 10:46-52)

After his healing, and in his excitement, the blind man followed Jesus.
Did you notice something?
The blind man threw his cloak aside!

Bartimaeus used his cloak for begging.
Now that he had his sight, he didn’t need to beg any more.
He followed Jesus and undoubtedly told others about how Jesus healed him.

What an encouragement it must have been to the people in his town.
What an encouragement to see the testimony of his changed life.
What a testimony to the goodness of God.

Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way; say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, He will come with vengeance; with divine retribution, He will come to save you.” Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then the lame will leap like deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. (Isaiah 35:3-6)

The blind man prayed a prayer that delights the heart of God.
Have mercy on me!
There is so much helplessness and dependence in that simple prayer.

It is a prayer that comes from the kind of heart God loves.
The kind of heart that acknowledges it needs God.

The blind man was healed of his blindness when he admitted he could not see.
He put his faith in the One that could heal him.
No rebuke, no discouragement could distract him from Jesus.

Bartimaeus wanted to see.
Jesus miraculously gave him his sight.
In addition to his physical sight, Bartimaeus received spiritual sight.
Healing and Salvation came to the blind man because of his faith in Jesus.

I want to see!

Bartimaeus asked for mercy.
Jesus called him.
Bartimaeus acknowledged his need.
He was able to see.

When something this wonderful happens, you cannot keep it to yourself.
You must tell others!
Perhaps they will call out to Jesus for mercy.
Perhaps they will begin to see.

I looked at the NO PEEKING box and noticed words below the name.
The challenging game of touch and tell.
How appropriate!

Bartimaeus received the healing touch of Jesus on his life.
He, that used to be blind, had to go and tell.

Bartimaeus could not distinguish anything when he was blind.
But now, because of Jesus, everything is clear.
Bartimaeus’ faith in Jesus healed him.

Our faith…put to words.
Have mercy on me!
Our life will never be the same!