Mark 10:46-52 (NASB) says, “46Then they came to Jericho. And as He was leaving Jericho with His disciples and a large crowd, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the road. 47When he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48Many were sternly telling him to be quiet, but he kept crying out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 49And Jesus stopped and said, “Call him here.” So they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take courage, stand up! He is calling for you.” 50Throwing aside his cloak, he jumped up and came to Jesus. 51And answering him, Jesus said, “What do you want Me to do for you?” And the blind man said to Him, “ Rabboni, I want to regain my sight!” 52And Jesus said to him, “Go; your faith has made you well.” Immediately he regained his sight and began following Him on the road.”

 

As Jesus was leaving Jericho, He came across a man named, “Bartimaeus”, which the church oftentimes wrongly labels as “Blind Bartimaeus” because he did not remain blind. It is time we tear the labels off of people! When Bartimaeus heard Jesus was passing by, even though he could not see Him, he cried out for mercy. He refused to be silent and allow fear of other people’s commands, opinions or threats to rob him of the miracle he was destined to receive. When Jesus asked Him, “What do you want me to do for you?”, He already knew what Bartimaeus needed. It wasn’t as if Jesus was blind Himself and did not realize exactly what this man needed at this moment. Instead of Jesus being clueless, He wanted Bartimaeus to be real and confess what he needed! Confession is the key to breakthrough!

 

In today’s “faith-filled” churches, especially in the Pentecostal or Charismatic realm, we are continually conditioned to only speak positive things, which there is nothing wrong with that. However, faith isn’t denial! Faith doesn’t deny the current situation or circumstance. Faith simply refuses to accept defeat from adversity as the final result! If Bartimaeus was part of our modern-day word of faith movement, his response to Jesus would’ve been, “No, Jesus, I am good! I am just speaking and declaring life over my vision!” Of course, again, there is nothing wrong with that, but in this moment, Jesus didn’t want a religious response. He wanted Bartimaeus to confess exactly what he needed, which he did. And, of course, Jesus healed him as he regained the sight he once had!

 

Jesus simply wants us to be real with Him. He doesn’t want the fake us, but the real us, and in this faith walk, we can be real with what we are facing and how we are feeling. There is nothing wrong that! I do not believe our prayer life needs to sound more like grumbling or complaining, but confession that we need God now more than ever! It is that simple.