Read Mark 10:46-52
Don’t Be Condescending!
Jesus was traveling to Jericho with his disciples along with a large crowd. As they were leaving the city, a blind man, named Bartimaeus, was sitting by the road side begging. When he heard it was Jesus who was in his midst, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Many rebuked him, telling him to be quiet. But he shouted all the more. Jesus stopped and called the blind man to himself. The crowd also called him to Jesus saying, “Cheer up! Come to Jesus! The blind man threw his cloak aside, jumped to his feet, and came to Jesus. Jesus asked the man, “What do you want me to do for you? ” Bartimaeus responded, “I want to see!” Jesus responded, “Go, your faith has healed you!” Immediately he received his sight and then followed Jesus.
A blind begging on the side of the road was obviously not a popular person. It’s not much different than today. When we see a person begging for money, or see a homeless person on the street, we observe a lot of people walking by them, giving them no attention. I’ve done that myself, a lot!
At some point the blind man calls out to Jesus for his Mercy, for his help. Even though this beggar is calling Jesus, people still pay him no attention. In fact they tell him to be quiet. Why? If you’re in need and pleading for help, the last thing you want to hear a group of people say is, “Be quiet!” How condescending is that! It definitely gives the impression that your needs aren’t important enough. Or give the impression that people feel because you’re blind or homeless, then you are inferior to the rest of the world. Therefore, your needs aren’t worth the time. But if it’s us having the problem, then it’s the most important need in the world.
Be Jesus to others, including the so-called inferior people who the world says their lives don’t matter! And what you’ll find is:
1. The mercy you show others is the amount of Mercy God will show you when you’re in need.
2. The person you help in the name of Jesus will see Jesus in you and they themselves may want to follow Jesus.
Let me make a suggestion: Don’t Be Condescending! If you see a need, don’t base the value of the need on how attractive the person is, how clean and smelly they are, or how annoying they are, or how popular they are. See them as one of God’s creations who God loves and we should love them too.
