Real Hope: A Call to CourageNäide

Bold

I am not a courageous person. Boldness is something I ask God for, as I need the Holy Spirit’s power to help me stand up or speak out. There’s a lot I admire about blind beggar Bartimaeus. Along with being one of the only people in Mark’s Gospel who accurately sees who Jesus is, Bartimaeus also is courageous. Despite being unable to see amid a large crowd following Jesus, the beggar shouts loud enough to be heard above everything else. Bold. When others try to silence him, Bartimaeus gives it more volume. Bolder.

Here is a man living with a disability, presumably homeless, jobless and without status. Someone not expected to demand attention or acknowledgement. But Bartimaeus was so emboldened by who he knew Jesus was and what He could do (read all of Mark 10), nothing stifled his courage. Notably, similar courage is in me or you if we also have called out to Jesus. Takes courage to weigh up the costs of following Jesus and then to do so.

As we follow Jesus, I need to remind myself such courage remains in the strength and certainty He provides.

Written by BEN MCEACHEN