Let me set the scene. There once was a blind man called Bartimaeus who called out to Jesus to receive his sight. Despite those around him trying to discourage his cries he continued to call out for mercy. He was deemed unworthy of Jesus’s attention by the crowd but Jesus, acknowledging his faith called him to himself.
If we turn to the Word of God we see in Mark 10 v 50 Bartimaeus cast aside his cloak. “And throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus.”
Bartimaeus's robe was the one thing that enabled him to make any money in which to provide for himself. It would also have been his protection from the harsh weather conditions and a blanket into which passersby could throw their coins. It would likely have been his most valuable and only possession. In fact, it was his garment that gave him the legal right to sit at the side of the road and beg. We may therefore read this verse and question why he would discard it. You see, this simple act is incredibly significant and a wonderful example of how we should come to Jesus. This seemingly unimportant moment was an outward expression of Bartimaeus’ faith.
What we need to understand here is that Bartimaeus expected to receive his healing. He had heard about Jesus and the healing miracles that he was performing and faith rose up in him (faith comes by hearing the Word of God Romans 10 v 17). By removing and casting aside his garment Bartimaeus was demonstrating that he fully believed he was going to receive his own miracle. He recognised that he no longer needed it, that at this moment his life was about to change. He believed, without doubt in his heart and he acted upon his faith.
James 2 v 14-17 reads “What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”
Whatever you are believing for today, come with an expectancy that you WILL receive! Read the Word, let God speak His promises over your situation and stand upon that which is true. Are you ready to be like Bartimaeus today and discard your cloak?
* Image by Egor Myznik