Bartimaeus – Moment to Moment (Bible blog)

But I have this against you: You have abandoned the love you had at first. (Revelation 2:4)

I’ve been thinking about those words the past few days. What is the characteristic of first love? I think the main characteristic is joy.

What sparks first love for God? His mercy and love towards us. (1 John 4:19)

It seems the rich ruler never had that kind of love. He had never experienced his need for mercy, thinking that he was a pretty good person already. (Mark 10:19-20)

And so when Jesus asked him to give up all he had and to follow him, there was no joy. Only gloominess and sorrow. (21-22)

The disciples, on the other hand, did love Jesus, but their motivations were still very mixed, constantly thinking about what was in it for them for following Jesus. (28, 35-37)

But when Bartimaeus followed Jesus, he did so filled with joy. (Luke 18:43)

Why? Because he had asked for mercy and received it.

That’s first love.

Jesus looks at me and loves me. He “mercied” me. (Mark 10:21, 47)

I pray I never forget that or take it for granted.

I pray the same for you.

Because you first loved me,
Jesus, you will always be
You will always be
My first love. — Bob Hartman.

When Jesus makes his visitation

If you knew this day what would bring peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes…you did not recognize the time when God visited you.” (Luke 19:42, 44)

Ever since my pastor’s message on spiritual blindness several weeks ago, I’ve noticed this theme throughout Luke.

We see things hidden from the disciples and Pharisees because they had closed their eyes and ears to what Jesus was saying and doing. (Luke 18:34, 19:39-41)

At least in the disciples’ case, they did recognize him as Messiah, although they were totally mistaken in their idea of what Messiah was.

But the Pharisees, despite all the signs and miracles Jesus performed, despite the fact that they could never answer his wisdom (Luke 13:17; 14:6), closed their eyes and ears to him, rejecting him, and as a result failed to recognize when God visited them.

On the other hand, we see people who did want to see and hear when Jesus was making his “visitation.”

We have Bartimaeus, the blind man in Jericho crying out, “I want to see!”

Despite all the people trying to shut him up, he refused to give up until Jesus heard him and called him. And by his faith, he was saved. (Luke 18:35-43, Mark 10:46-52)

And we see Zacchaeus, unable to see Jesus because of his height, making every effort to see.

Jesus saw and called him too, And when Jesus came to his house, Zacchaeus opened his ears to Jesus’ message of repentance and he too was saved. (Luke 19:1-10)

Jesus has made his visitation, and wants to bring us his salvation and peace. But we can’t know that salvation and peace unless we open our eyes and ears to him.

Even as Christians, it’s possible to be blind. The church at Laodicea was. They were living the “good life.”

But according to Jesus, they were actually “wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.” (Revelation 3:17)

Jesus offered to clothe them with his righteousness and help them to see.

He offers the same to us. He loves us and as with Zacchaeus, he calls us to repent. (Revelation 3:19)

So let us heed his words:

See! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. (Revelation 3:20)