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were thronging Him.
    Wow, let’s be like this woman and have the kind of faith that stops Jesus in His tracks! Let’s do whatever we need to do to receive from Jesus, even if it means taking big risks and crawling on our knees to navigate through a crowd. Let’s use our faith so we can hear Jesus saying to us, “Son! Daughter! Your faith has made you well. Go in peace.”

What Do You Want?
    Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus [that is, the Son of Timaeus], was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus. “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him. The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.” “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road. (Mark 10:46-52)

    This is the story of Blind Bart. This guy inspires me for many reasons. First, he wasn’t just sitting around like a victim someplace bemoaning the fact that he was blind. He was determined to do whatever he could with this life, and in that day and age, his option was begging. However, even in this, he was not content. He was always keeping his ears tuned to hear the chance for a better opportunity, and today was his day.
    Just like the Gentile mother and the woman with the issue of blood, he does not allow religion, theology, or the acceptable social norms stand in his way. He starts to yell for Jesus to come to him, but he is quickly told to be quiet by the people around him. As he heard the steps of Jesus getting farther away, he yelled all the more. Finally, Jesus stopped and asked for the man to be brought to Him. The same people who had just rebuked him were now rallying him with shouts of “Be of good cheer!” and they led him to Jesus.
    Blind Bart was like a person on the Price Is Right game show who has just been told to “come on down!” He knew he was going to be the guy who won the new car and the Showcase Showdown because he immediately threw off his garment and came to Jesus. Back in that time if a person was ill, they had to wear a garment that identified their ailment. This allowed the Jews to know who was unclean and who was not, and who was therefore allowed to be among the people. Even before he met Jesus face to face, Bartimaeus knew he would not need that sick robe any longer. He was about to get his miracle.
    When he got to Jesus, the Lord asked him, “What do you want Me to do for you?” I wonder if there were any snickers heard in the crowd. Wasn’t it obvious what Bartimaeus wanted? But Jesus could not do what He wanted to do for the blind man or what anyone else wanted, for that matter. It’s only by our faith that God can move in our lives. Bart could have said, “Can you give me a new job?” or “I’ve been looking for a spouse—whom would you suggest?” And Jesus would have said, “According to your faith, let it be done unto you.” But Bart got it right. He asked for his sight—and immediately he received it because that’s what he believed by his faith that Jesus could do.
    What do you want Jesus to do for you? Believe by faith and receive it. It’s all according to your faith. What is your faith saying today? Is your faith saying, “I’m healed, I’m prospering, and I walk in the favor of God?” Then receive it. Is your faith saying, “My marriage is blessed, and my kids are growing up to love and serve the Lord?” Then receive it. If you agree with the world, and the prophets of gloom and doom, then please don’t blame God when your