The Most Powerful Verse

Have you ever been in a debate conversation when controversial topics came up? Often, this is what friends do for the sport of it all. These are not done with malice, but only the stretching of one’s mind or opinion. I overheard such a conversation when the question was posed: what is the most powerful passage or verse in the Bible? This person then offered his opinion. “How about Mark 10:46-52, specifically verse 51?”

Huh?

He didn’t say John 3:16. Nor did he say Psalms 23. But he stressed the passage in Mark 10. It didn’t immediately come to me, so I looked it up on my phone. If it doesn’t immediately come to you, here it is in the New International Version (NIV):

Blind Bartimaeus Receives His Sight

Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (which means “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.

Afterward

After I got home I pondered this person’s choice of the most powerful verse. I pulled out my study Bible, looked up the passage, and re-read it. This time, with an urgency. What was so special about Mark 10:46-52?

What was so special about Mark 10:46-52? Click To Tweet

That’s when I saw what had been referred to earlier. As I read these verses with a hungry heart, I saw:

• A broken person seeking God for answers
• When Jesus was near, his shouting became intense
• Although he was told to quiet down, his ache for Jesus grew
• Jesus heard his plea and called him close
• Even blind, he jumped and went to Jesus
• Jesus asked for this man’s need and the beggar answered
• The man gained his sight, then followed Jesus.

My eyes were opened, too

How amazing scripture can be if we know we are broken. That’s the beginning of our journey.  to a place where because that’s when Jesus hears us. And even in our blindness, we can run to Him for what we need. While our needs may be many, the first and greatest need we have is to be able to see Him and our need for what He can heal us from.

 

What say you?

What do you wonder about?  Are you happy … or are you doing what you never thought you’d do? Do you see consistencies … or are you all over the place? Drop me a line. I’d love to chat.

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