As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!” 28 When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” “Yes, Lord,” they replied. 29 Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you”;

47 When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”48 Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

Perhaps you have heard the story of the persistent frog.  He and his fellow frog fell into a bucket of milk. Once they started swimming one frog saw there was no way out, so he gave up and drowned. The other frog kept swimming and did not quit. Just about the time his strength gave out his feet touched something solid. He found he could stand on it and, in a moment, when he got his breath he gave a mighty leap and jumped out of the bucket. Churning the milk for so long resulted in forming butter. Persistence paid off.

When Bartimaeus heard of Jesus coming he not only boldly shouted “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy one me.”, he did so persistently. Others rebuked him to quiet him down. But he shouted more. He was determined he was going to get Jesus’ attention.

Persistence is acknowledged as an important quality in prayer. Jesus taught illustrated that with the story of the widow seeking justice before an unjust judge who would come daily with her pleading. He finally gave in. The point was not that sooner or later we will wear God down with our persistence but rather do not give up for our sake and the sake of others as a witness to the work and wonder of God. He is not on our timetable. There are lessons in the preparing and even in glory when we have not seen the promises fulfilled on earth, but by faith believe God will carry out what He has promised in greater ways.

Jesus also told the parable on prayer of a friend coming to a house at midnight asking for bread because a surprise visitor showed up. The neighbor wanted to go back to sleep but his friend kept on knocking. Finally, he got up and gave him bread.  Persistence for Bartimaeus was shouting all the louder, “Jesus , Son of David, have mercy on me.”

I read an interesting quote. “The funny thing about getting an idea is that it never works unless you do.”

When the blind man acknowledged Jesus as being the Son of David that didn’t mean only he was from the family of David’s lineage. The son of David was a special term used to indicate the Messiah. He was the first one in the book of Mark that so acknowledges Jesus’ identity in this way. Later Jesus says this of Himself. This term is the Jewish understanding that He was the Messiah, the promised one of God. The man born blind believed Jesus was the Messiah. He believed he could do miracles. He was asking for mercy. His faith made him whole in more than his spirit and soul, but also as an added temporary gift Jesus gave him his sight. Mercy was given.

Mercy is a term indicated that we don’t get what we deserve. Remember the difference between grace and mercy. Grace is getting what we do not deserve, and mercy is not getting what we do deserve. In a sense this man received both from Jesus. “Have mercy on me is like saying do not be so harsh on me even though I deserve not to have this request answered. He was in a way saying, “ yes, I deserve blindness but I pray that it might see. Yes,  I am a sinner. Have mercy on me. I pray what I do deserve (darkness) but removed.”  That is persistence and the realization of the position of humility as well. That is what Jesus was talking about earlier when He told his followers the first will be last and the last will be first.

Which do we ask for in our prayers? “God bless me, help that everything goes well. Might this be a really good day.” Or do we  pray, “Oh God forgive me. Help that what I deserve today does not happen. Have mercy on me?” Bartimaeus understood. Bartimaeus was persistent in spite of others who tried to discourage him. He was persistent despite their protests. It is hard enough to stand up for Christ but think when others rebuke us for it is even more difficult. I like that determination of one who is willing to stand and shout, “Jesus, I need you. I need you and I don’t care what others think. Have mercy on me not based on my worthiness but based on your love and kindness and mercy.” Jesus admired Bartimaeus’ persistence.

Don’t stop praying for God’s will in your life and your need for mercy and grace by His sovereign love.