The Sufficiency of Christ

In Mark 10:46-52, we have a blind beggar, Bartimaeus, who in his inadequacy and weakness, understood his need for Jesus and yells out to Him “Son of David have mercy on me.”  And the beauty of this account is that Jesus not only heals him of his blindness, but through this amazing miracle demonstrates to us that He is able to fulfill every promise He has made to us.

In many ways, Bartimaeus is like all of us, who are spiritually blind and in need of the mercy of God.  We not only need to be forgiven by God through Christ for our sins, but we also need to discover that Jesus is able to satisfy the deepest longings of our hearts. 

Let us all admit that like this blind beggar we also are deeply flawed, spiritually blind, inadequate and in desperate in need of Jesus, no exceptions.  “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”  (Romans 3:23) There is not one human being in all of creation that stands sufficient in and of themselves.

And of course that brings us to discover who Jesus is.  He is “able to do more that we possibly ask or imagine.”  He is able to touch the deepest longings of our hearts and transform us to be the kind of people God wants us to be and has created us TO BE. 

Jesus has made a number of amazing claims about Himself that we would do well to pay attention to.  Talking about Himself, Jesus claimed to be “the living water, the bread of life, the resurrection and life, the light of the world, the gate and the good shepherd, the way, the truth and the life, and the true vine.”  Jesus is trying to help us understand that everything the human heart needs and longs for can be found in Him. 

This stands in great contrast to Jesus as just a historical figure who founded a major religion, which we then embrace for our own sense of fulfillment.  No, Jesus is pointing to Himself and tells us that through our faith in Him, everything we need and more can be found in Him and through Him. 

Jesus is putting the emphasis here on a personal relationship.  This is different language than religion.  Jesus is telling us that through Him, “The bread of life” our deepest hungers are filled.  Through Him, “the living water” our deepest thirsts are satisfied.  Through Him, “the light of the world” our spiritual blindness is lifted.  Through Him, “the good shepherd” the One who is “the way, the truth and the life,” we are guided and the door to a relationship with God is opened.    

In the book of Revelation 3:20, Jesus gives us a picture to help us understand this truth.  “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.”  To have a meal with someone speaks of friendship, intimacy and fellowship.  Jesus gives us all that and more!  Have you opened the door of your heart and let Him in?