Daily life journal entry: Bartimaeus. The day my life changed forever. It is eight days before what I expect will be the most wonderful Passover of my life.
I sat at my normal place at sunrise this morning between old and new Jericho to ask for alms. The spring air was crisp with much fragrance from all the flowers and trees in this rich man’s oasis. I expected many travelers to give alms because this was the height of the Passover pilgrimage.
Lately, my blindness has been causing more depression than usual. What hope is there for me other than to sit here day after day? However, something about this morning lifted my spirit. Perhaps it was the spring air. Maybe it was a slight hope that I could eat a full meal today due to increased alms intake. I do not know what it was. But I had a feeling that today was going to be a good day.
The morning alms started slowly due to a smaller-than-expected crowd, even for my blind friend, the lame man across the street, and the old widow at the city gate. They always received more than I, even when I recited from Deuteronomy, “If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns of the land that the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother.” (Deuteronomy 15:7) This morning I was quoting Leviticus more because it is specifically for the blind, “Do not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block in front of the blind, but fear your God. I am the LORD.” (Leviticus 19:14)
Sometime in the afternoon, I heard a large and noisy crowd approaching. My ears were more sensitive than anyone I knew. Something was up, for they were much more excited than any group I had experienced. I asked my friend across the street, “Joseph, what is coming? What is happening?” He hadn’t noticed. He asked the lame man sitting up on the wall next to him. He replied. “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.”
I had heard of this Jesus before. He heals people. Some say he is John the Baptist come back from the dead. I heard John’s fiery speeches and knew he was dead. Others say that this Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of David. I agree for John never healed anyone. This Jesus is reported to heal many people from all kinds of sickness. Would Jesus be willing to heal me?
Continued in tomorrow’s BDBD.
