Mark 10:51-52
What
does faith look like? This would be a thing to know. We could scan images of
people at the altar and then target the two resulting groups of people with
different programs: one program for those who had faith, and another for those
who didn’t. That way we could maximize our efforts on both groups. We could
tweak the face recognition software that Facebook is now using on billions of
images for the task. What a breakthrough for spreading the Gospel.
I
am joking, of course, but driving toward a point. Faith does look like
something. Faith should brighten the eyes, since there is hope, both for this
world and the next. Faith should lift the chin, since there is no reason for
shame, Jesus having removed our shame. Faith should increase our smile
capacity, since joy has a way of leaking out.
But
more than that, faith should increase our ability to hear from another’s
perspective, increasing our capacity for compassion. Faith should change the
direction of our feet, giving us a new path in life, away from old activities
and toward activities that honor the Lord.
Jesus
is walking in a crowd and a blind man shouts for Him. He responds and calls the
man to Himself and then asks what he wants. The man responds that he wants to
see, probably a top priority for a blind man! If he received his sight, so many
other things would follow.
This
man showed great respect to Jesus. He knew who He was, the One who would sit on
David’s throne. He addressed Him with respect, Rabbi (religious teacher). And
yet there was something more, something seen by Jesus, that signaled he had
faith. What was it?
We
don’t know what Jesus saw that signaled faith. Faith is primarily seen in our
actions, not in our facial features. Faith changes the way we live and interact
with each other. Faith changes our priorities. Faith changes the direction of
our life.
Jesus
could see this man’s faith in his actions. He wouldn’t yield to the pressure to
keep silent, despite some in the crowd telling him to be quiet. When given the
chance he ran to Jesus. He boldly asked for what he wanted, knowing that Jesus
could do it. This man’s faith could be seen.
And
this man got what he wanted. His sight was restored. Then he followed Jesus.
The result of God’s intervention in our life should be a life of following. Do
you really follow, or just expect Jesus to show up where you end up?