Mark 10:46-52 “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 your feet! He’s calling you.” 50 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.” NIV

Oil and gas and gold are precious commodities in today’s economy. There are reserves of these commodities hidden under the surface of the earth, waiting to be discovered and used for the benefit of humanity. Some companies specialize in exploring to find new deposits of these minerals, and their fortunes are made or lost on finding new reserves. But it has often been need, for example, recent spikes in the price of gasoline or gold, that drives them to search for and find these new deposits.

The amount of undiscovered oil or gold under the surface of the Earth is limited, but the stores of the mercy of God are unlimited. Yet it is still need which drives us to explore and find out about the mercy of God. Blind Bartimaeus had a need to see again that drove him to explore the limits of the mercy of Jesus. Although we don’t like being needy, it is often our needs for healing or support or reassurance that drive us to explore and discover the deep riches of the mercy of God for ourselves.

Pr. Peter Kirby Zion Lutheran, Carlinville IL kirbypc@frontiernet.net