I Want to See Again!

“What do you want me to do for you”? Jesus asked him. “Teacher,” the blind man answered, “I want to see again” Mark 10:51 GNV

I am particularly touched by this statement from a man called Bartimaeus who was blind. He was often referred to as “Blind Bartimaeus”. Bartimaeus had gotten an adjective to describe who he was; his condition (blindness) was used to define him.

When they brought him to the Lord, Jesus saw that he was a blind man, yet he asked him what he wanted from Him. Blind Bartimaeus did not mince words neither did he beat about the bush, but simply answered “I want to see again.” The story of this blind man is not new to us…even to young children in Sunday school. I remember the picture of the scenario in an old Bible story book. Bartimaeus went straight to the point without mincing words. He knew exactly what he wanted, and he mentioned it to Jesus. From this Good News Version of the Bible and from his response, I could deduce that Bartimaeus used to see before; it appeared he could use his sight previously until he became blind; hence the statement: “I want to see again”. The word “again” shows that he probably used to see before; he previously had a functional sight but something went wrong and he lost his sight. Whatever happened to his sight could not rob him of the memories he had when he could use his eyes freely and therefore, craved the use of his eyes again. He had experienced both sides: having sight and having no sight but he felt that having an eyesight is far better and more enjoyable than not having sight.

From this story, I see the need for us to understand what our needs are and present them exactly to Jesus without mincing words. If we are going to form ‘heroes and heroines’ or “big man/ big woman” it certainly shouldn’t be to Jesus. We dare not camouflage before Jesus. We must come just as we are before him, expressing our shortcomings and our need for His help. It is possible to ‘form’ before men possibly because of your status or position but this should not be so when we get before the Lord. To get His help, we must express ourselves in plainness before Jesus. If your prayer life has become mechanical and dry with your closet experience drained, please tell Him you want His touch again. Tell Him you need revival in your personal relationship with Him if you have become disinterested in prayer, personal evangelism/ reading/studying the word/ obedience to His instructions. Tell Him if you have become so unloving, unforgiving and harbor bitterness towards others, whatever your reasons; but that you want to be loving and forgiving again. Tell Him if the flesh and the carnal nature is ruling your life rather than the Spirit. Tell Him if your desires and affections are running wild rather than after Christ. Tell Him if your prayer life has only become a public display of religiosity at the expense of a robust private prayer life. Tell Him if you find more interest in strolling round on the the social media as against digging into the word of God.

What is it, that it seems you have lost in this Christian journey and would like it restored again? What is it that you used to have but is no longer in your possession. If you desire to have it again like blind Bartimaeus did, please, check yourself well and tell it to Jesus. Bartimaeus asked that he might see again and he got his sight back! He got it restored!

May whatever it is, that should not be lost but you have lost, be restored unto you as you call upon Jesus. May you receive again, those virtues and values that situations and circumstances of life or the world and Satan himself has stolen from you. May there be complete restoration of that which brings joy, gladness and fulfilment. Amen!

©Funmi Adebayo