18 Some of the people said, “Let’s get rid of Jeremiah! We will always have priests to teach us God’s laws, as well as wise people to give us advice, and prophets to speak the Lord’s messages. So, instead of listening to Jeremiah any longer, let’s accuse him of a crime.”
Jeremiah Prays about His Enemies
19 Please, Lord, answer my prayer. Make my enemies stop accusing me of evil. 20 I tried to help them, but they are paying me back by digging a pit to trap me. I even begged you not to punish them.
Who can I cry to but you?
Who knows the reality
of all that is happening,
but you?
Who understands rejection,
false accusations,
having your help
thrown back in your face,
but you?
That is why I can turn to you,
cry out to you,
trust you,
because you have been to these places
and you are with me
as I face them.
Faithful God,
I cry out to you,
in my pain,
my anguish,
my fear.
You know what it’s like when you want something, but you’re not sure what it is. Something to just fill the gap. Like being a child in a sweet shop, so much choice, and not being able to decide…
46 Jesus and his disciples went to Jericho. And as they were leaving, they were followed by a large crowd. A blind beggar by the name of Bartimaeus son of Timaeus was sitting beside the road. 47 When he heard that it was Jesus from Nazareth, he shouted, “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!” 48 Many people told the man to stop, but he shouted even louder, “Son of David, have pity on me!”
49 Jesus stopped and said, “Call him over!”
They called out to the blind man and said, “Don’t be afraid! Come on! He is calling for you.” 50 The man threw off his coat as he jumped up and ran to Jesus.
51 Jesus asked, “What do you want me to do for you?”
The blind man answered, “Master, I want to see!”
52 Jesus told him, “You may go. Your eyes are healed because of your faith.”
Right away the man could see, and he went down the road with Jesus.
I love this story, it’s full of colour and action. Bartimaeus hears Jesus pass by, and starts shouting to him. People tell him to stop, but that doesn’t stop him and he cries out all the louder. Jesus calls to him, and he jumps up, throws off his cloak and runs to Jesus. He knew what he needed – and he knew Jesus could help. And all done with such enthusiasm. I think I might have got fed up waiting by then, or been a bit slower to respond when Jesus did call me over.
ceridwen [CC-BY-SA-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)%5D, via Wikimedia CommonsDo we know what we need from God? Are we prepared to cry out him in our need? Will we carry on asking, even when others tell us to shut up? Do we jump up and run when Jesus calls? Do we allow him to touch us in our darkness?
