March 10, 2025

Week 10: What Has Your Heart? | Pray Through the Gospel of Mark

WEEK 10 – What has your heart?  

For the next 10 minutes or so, we are going to turn our attention to God in prayer. He desires to meet with us today. To talk to us. To share His heart with us. Take a few deep breaths and say the following prayer:  

God, You are here, now. And I am loved by You.   

Now take a moment and pray this simple prayer that can be said in the span of a breath. 

 Open my eyes, Jesus.  

 As I read the following passage from Mark listen with the expectation that God is moving towards you, to speak to you, through these Spirit-inspired words today.  

46 They came to Jericho. And as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a large crowd, Bartimaeus (the son of Timaeus), a blind beggar, was sitting by the road. 47 When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48 Many warned him to keep quiet, but he was crying out all the more, “Have mercy on me, Son of David!” 

49 Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called the blind man and said to him, “Have courage! Get up; he’s calling for you.” 50 He threw off his coat, jumped up, and came to Jesus. 51 Then Jesus answered him, “What do you want me to do for you?” “Rabboni,” the blind man said to him, “I want to see.” 52 Jesus said to him, “Go, your faith has saved you.” Immediately he could see and began to follow Jesus on the road. 

Throughout the Gospel of Mark Jesus is healing people as He proclaims the good news of the Kingdom.

Blind eyes are opened, hearing and speech are restored. Not only do these things confirm that Jesus is the Messiah but these physical conditions also speak to the spiritual condition of all people. We are unable, without the help of Jesus, to see, to hear. We need Him to heal us.  

Bartimaeus knows his need. He knows he has nothing to lose. He’s not worried about his reputation; social consequences bear no weight. When he’s told to be quiet, he cries out all the more.   

“Have mercy on me, Son of David!”  

This name carries more weight than we realize.

He’s calling on a covenant of promise and he’s put the weight of that covenant promise squarely on the shoulders of Jesus. And Jesus doesn’t shrug it off. He responds in the way that He responds to everyone who calls on Him in faith. He calls them closer. Then He asks, “What do you want me to do for you?”  

Jesus responds to the faith of this man that is expressed in defiance of social decorum, that’s a little loud, abrasive, and undignified. And after he is healed, he begins to follow Jesus. Now that he can see he doesn’t want to let Jesus out of his sight.  

Let’s pray.  

Jesus,  

You are my only hope.  

And I won’t let this opportunity pass me by without crying out to You.   

Have mercy on me, Son of David.  

Open my eyes. Help me to see You. 

You are Messiah. King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  

And You’re calling me close. 

I want to go where You go. I will follow You wherever You lead.  

Hear the Word of the Lord:   

Psalm 36:5-9   

Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens,
    your faithfulness to the clouds.
6 Your righteousness is like the mountains of God;
    your judgments are like the great deep;
    man and beast you save, O Lord. 

7 How precious is your steadfast love, O God!
    The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
8 They feast on the abundance of your house,
    and you give them drink from the river of your delights.
9 For with you is the fountain of life;
    in your light do we see light.  

AMEN.