“‘Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me.’ Jesus stopped and said, ‘Call him.’” (Mark 10:47, 49)

Ask someone how they are doing, and they will likely tell you how busy they are.  We seem to be always busy – demanding jobs and active families with children involved in numerous activities often result in our rushing from one place to another.  

The Gospel of Mark reports that as Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me.” (Mark 10:46-52) Above the din of the crowd Jesus hears this man call out to him and stops to hear his plea.

Jesus asks, “What do you want me to do for you?”  Bartimaeus says, “Master, I want to see.”  Jesus says, “Go your way, your faith has saved you.”  Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road. (Mark 10:51-52)

Are we willing to stop what we are doing to respond to someone in need?  Sometimes I have stopped; sometimes I have passed by. 

One evening while driving to a meeting, I came upon a man who had just been hit by a pick-up truck as he was crossing the road with a grocery cart.  The man was on the street in front of the truck and the grocery cart was under the truck.  As one of the first on the scene, I immediately pulled into an adjacent parking lot and ran to him.  I knelt to see how he was.  As the sound of sirens approached, he asked me if he was going to die.  Without thinking, I said, “No, you are not going to die,” I put my hand on his shoulder and started praying with him as a crowd gathered around.  The rescue squad arrived and pushed me aside.  They put him on a board and took him to a nearby hospital.  I inquired of the hospital, but since I didn’t know his name, was never able to learn whether he lived or died.

In later reflecting on the moment, I wondered whether I should have responded that he was not going to die since I did not know the nature of his injuries.  But then I came to understand that I was God’s delegate that evening, the first person on the scene to encourage and pray with him.   I had to accept Jesus’ promise that he and the Father’s presence were in me for me to say what I said.    

There is a blessing in stopping. Are we willing to listen above the din of the crowd and resist the pace of the moment to stop – and respond to the need of another on behalf of the Lord?