机会是转瞬即逝的
马可福音十章45至52节
45因为人子来，并不是要受人的服事，乃是要服事人，并且要舍命作多人的赎价。
46到了耶利哥；耶稣同门徒并许多人出耶利哥的时候，有一个讨饭的瞎子，是底买的儿子巴底买，坐在路旁。
47他听见是拿撒勒的耶稣，就喊着说：大卫的子孙耶稣阿！可怜我罢！
48有许多人责备他，不许他作声。他却越发大声喊着说：大卫的子孙哪，可怜我罢！
49耶稣就站住，说：叫过他来。他们就叫那瞎子，对他说：放心，起来！他叫你啦。
50瞎子就丢下衣服，跳起来，走到耶稣那里。
51耶稣说：要我为你作甚么？瞎子说：拉波尼（就是夫子），我要能看见。
52耶稣说：你去罢！你的信救了你了。瞎子立刻看见了，就在路上跟随耶稣。
信息分享
我们从福音书读到耶稣治病的故事，通常都只知道患者的病症，例如，是十个痲疯病人、一个生下来瞎眼的，和一个瘫子等，却很少知道患者的名字。今天选读的经文，则是一个少数的例子，把病者的名字告诉我们。
当然，我们相信基督一定知道每个患者的名字。在祂的眼中，不仅是一大群混杂了男女老少的人，经常围在祂的身边；祂实在看见了一个一个有不同需要的人。当我们知道，基督原来认识我们的名字，更知道我们的境况和需要，岂不感到很大的安慰和鼓舞？在祂的心中，我们每个人都占着一个重要的位置。
在巴底买这个讨饭的瞎子口中，听到怨怼的话是很正常的。像他这样可怜的人，很容易会愤愤不平地说：「再没有人理我死活的了！连神也忘记我了！」不过，经文记载的他，却不是这个样子。他好像已经接受了自己的命运，但同时，却对自己获得医治仍然心存盼望。我们怎么知道呢？愤愤不平的人，通常一开口就只有埋怨和诉苦，很难被外界的事物吸引而有兴奋的表现。巴底买却不是这样，他一听见耶稣在他附近经过，就晓得祂是神的儿子，立即呼求祂的帮助。
巴底买深知这是他得医治的机会。耶稣在他附近经过，只有短短几分钟时间，他若不立即呼叫，机会就转瞬即逝了。
可幸的是，基督从来不会因为行色匆匆，忙于处理其他事情，而忽略任何人的需要。祂不理会那簇拥着祂向前走的群众，曳然止步站着，要听听巴底买向祂求些甚么。
巴底买来到基督面前，不单要直接说出他的需要，更要公开表明自己的信心。于是，当他真心向基督求取医治，他的眼睛就立时开了！不过，这仅是他人生转变的开始，第52节告诉我们，他自那天起，就跟随耶稣上路。
反思：
作门徒是始自我们来到耶稣面前祈求帮助，但接着，却要天天地跟随主。
JESUS IS PASSING BY
Mark 10:45-52
45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
46 Now they came to Jericho.As He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the road begging.
47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
48 Then many warned him to be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
49 So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called.
Then they called the blind man, saying to him, “Be of good cheer.Rise, He is calling you.”
50 And throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus.
51 So Jesus answered and said to him, “What do you want Me to do for you? ”
The blind man said to Him, “Rabboni, that I may receive my sight.”
52 Then Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road.
Message
Here is one of the few stories where we know the name of the person Christ healed. We sometimes give names to those who were healed; such as 'the ten lepers', 'the man born blind', 'the lame man' and so on. But we have not been told their names.
Christ would have known their names, of course. To him men and women weren't just crowds, they were individuals with individual needs. Isn't it encouraging to realise that Christ knows our names, our circumstances and our needs? To him, every one of us is important.
It would have been easy for Bartimaeus to become bitter. He could easily have said 'No-one cares whether I live or die. Even God has forgotten me.' But it seems as though he accepted his situation, even though he longed to be healed. How do we know this? Bitter people never become excited about anything except their own bitter circumstances. When Jesus came by, Bartimaeus recognised him as the Son of God and excitedly called out to him for help.
Bartimaeus knew this was his opportunity. He knew it would be gone in a few minutes as Jesus passed on by. He had to act at once. And that is what he did.
How wonderful to think that Christ is never too busy to help an individual. He stopped the whole movement of the crowd just to listen to Bartimaeus and help him.
Bartimaeus had to confess his need. He had to openly declare his faith. He had to ask for help. Immediately the cure came. But it was only the beginning. Verse 52 says Bartimaeus began following Christ that day.
A THOUGHT:
Discipleship begins the moment we come to Jesus for help, but it goes on from day to day as we follow Christ.