Then Jesus said to [Bartimaeus, a blind beggar], “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man said to him, “My teacher, let me see again.” 52Jesus said to him, “Go; your faith has made you well.” Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way. (Mark 10:50-52, NRSV)I ran across the movie, “Soul Surfer,” on TV the other day. You may remember that “Soul Surfer” is the story of Bethany Hamilton. She's a world-class surfer. As a teenager, Bethany was surfing near her home in Hawaii, and a 14-foot tiger shark attacked her, bit through her surfboard, and then bit her left arm off. Since then, her response to the tragedy has made Bethany a worldwide inspiration.
Besides being an awesome surfer, Bethany is also an awesome Christian. Her pastor said, "I think she's always had a heart for God. I have the feeling that the experience she's gone through has brought this out even more. She had that faith and that hope all along, but it seems to have increased." Bethany has experienced full healing…body, mind, and spirit.
What's necessary for this kind of healing to happen? Basically two things: it takes the power of Jesus and the presence of faith. The power of Jesus is always present. Faith is what we bring to the table -- to trust Christ to be true to his promises. Faith takes persistence in prayer and in the walk of faith. Sometimes it takes a while to heal. The important thing is to stay in the partnership. Jesus wants to partner with us -- his grace and power, our faith and trust -- to make us whole again.
When Jesus healed Bartimaeus, the Gospel says he "followed Jesus along the road" (Mark 10:52). That isn't an accidental choice of words. Bartimaeus not only became a sighted person that day; he became a disciple of Jesus. The story’s focus is on Bartimaeus seeking, calling out for Jesus, then his response to the question, and then his action following the healing. The point isn't about the healing; it's about the following.
We come before God with many needs, many hurts, many wounds, many illnesses, and many anxieties. But there's only one Healer. And ultimately, there's only one healing. We find that healing not by focusing on our problems, but by getting lost in the wonder of the Healer. Christ the Healer is faithful; he's powerful; he has a desire to make us well. He's with you wherever you are, and he asks you the question, "What do you want me to do for you?" How will you respond in faith? How will you pray?
