“DOING JUST ME” COULD BE RISKY

When we decide to do just me, we may be putting ourselves in jeopardy.  

You could be sabotaging yourself when you decide to “do just me”

Welcome back! This is Part 8 of our 13-part series, we are nearing its conclusion.

We are studying the Book of Mark. Here we cover Mark 10.

In this chapter, we learn more about what it means to be true disciples by observing the Master Teacher, Jesus Christ, and how He unselfishly interacted with others. How we interact with others has a direct relationship with how God deals with us.

You could be hindering your daily supply from God. Join us as we learn what it really means to be true followers of the Master Teacher.

But, before we begin, as always, let’s invite God’s Presence.

Inviting God’s Presence.

Almighty God, you are the source of our supply, you supply all our needs according to your riches in your Heavenly Kingdom. Give us today our daily bread. In Jesus’ Name, Amen!”

The Book of Mark

(Lesson 8)

Teaching Disciples: Part 2

Part 1 Introduction

Have you ever thought about the choices we make and how they can put us in jeopardy or danger, especially when we focus only on ourselves?

In God’s Kingdom, there’s no room for selfishness. When we choose to live for “just me,” we might actually be cutting off our supply of daily bread—the blessings that God wants to give us.

The Gospel of Mark makes this point in Mark 10:45, when it says, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

Think about that. Jesus has all power in his hands, but He chose to serve others. He didn’t just do Him. He gave everything, even His life, for us.

In this series, our focus is on Mark 10. In Mark 10, we see Jesus teaching His disciples as He prepares for the Cross.

Half of this chapter focuses directly on the disciples, in which Jesus is teaching them what it means to truly follow Him.

The other half shows us through Jesus’ different interactions with others what true discipleship looks like.

First, we see the Pharisees, the spiritual leaders, come arguing with Jesus, trying to trap Him in a debate about divorce. But Jesus turns their question into a lesson about the sanctity of marriage and the importance of commitment. He reminds them that marriage is a gift from God, not something to be taken lightly.

Then, Mark paints a beautiful scene of parents bringing their children to Jesus for a blessing. The disciples try to push them away, but Jesus stops them. He tells the disciples that the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like little children—humble, trusting, and dependent on God.

Next, a rich man asks Jesus how to inherit eternal life. Jesus tells him to sell all he has, give to the poor, and follow Him. The man walks away sad because he has great wealth.

Finally, we meet a blind man named Bartimaeus. He cries out to Jesus for mercy, and despite the crowd trying to silence him, Jesus stops and heals him.

These stories in Mark 10 teach us valuable lessons about discipleship.

It is packed with crucial lessons on what it means to be a follower of Jesus today.

It touches on various aspects of daily life, such as marriage, raising children, handling wealth, and understanding both the sacrifices and rewards of discipleship.

The chapter concludes with the healing of another blind man in Mark 10:46–52; recall, in the previous video, we looked at Mark 8:22–26, which tells of Jesus healing a blind man who required that Jesus touch him not once but twice for complete healing.

You can review the previous video at SabbathSchoolDaily.com to find out why Jesus had to touch him twice.

The healing of   Bartimaeus in Mark 10:46-52 not only wraps up this section of the gospel Mark, Mark 8:22–10:52, but it also beautifully illustrates the spiritual insights and transformations we undergo as followers of Jesus.

Are you cutting off your supply of daily bread? In God’s Kingdom, there is room for doing just me. True discipleship means serving others, just as Jesus served us.

The lessons Jesus taught to prepare His disciples before the cross over 2000 years ago are still relevant to the challenges of discipleship today.

Let’s examine the trap hidden under the Pharisees’ selfish, deceptive question about divorce and see what we can learn about God’s intent for marriage.

Read Mark 10:1–12, as well as Genesis 1:27 and Genesis 2:24. 

Then Continue to Part 2: God’s Plan for Marriage

The Book of Mark

(Lesson 8)

Teaching Disciples: Part 2

Part 2: God’s Plan for Marriage

Have you ever considered just doing me in a relationship or in a marriage?

Selfishness has no place in a relationship and can quickly cut off one’s daily supply of bread.

The Pharisees tried to make marriage cheap and easily returnable if not completely satisfied.

Jesus turned it into a lesson about God’s plan for marriage, which includes love, commitment, and putting others first.

In Mark 10:1-12, we see a group of Jewish spiritual leaders, called the Pharisees, trying to trap Jesus with a question about divorce.

They asked Him, “Is it legal for a man to divorce his wife?” Now, these Pharisees already believed that divorce was legal, but they didn’t agree on the reasons why someone could get a divorce. So, their question was about the grounds for divorce.

The Pharisees had two main groups: the School of Shammai (Sham-mi) and the School of Hillel (Hil-lo).

The School of Shammai had rules that were more strict, saying a man could only divorce his wife for serious reasons such as: 

Childlessness: If the wife could not bear children.

Material Neglect: If the wife fails to provide materially or manage the household in a way that meets the husband’s needs and expectations.

Emotional Neglect: If the wife fails to provide emotional support or maintain a loving and supportive relationship.

Marital Unfaithfulness: If the wife was unfaithful, which was considered a grave violation of the marital vows.

On the other hand, the School of Hillel was far more lenient. It allowed divorce for almost any reason—even something as small as burning dinner!

However, their process of granting the divorce was more complex, which helped to slow things down and deter the process.

So why did the Pharisees ask Jesus this question if they already had their own established rules? They were being sneaky. Hiding under this question was an evil plot. They hoped Jesus would say something that could get Him into trouble with the local ruler, Herod Antipas. He was the ruler of the region to the east of the Jordan, where Jesus was at the time.

You see, Herod had divorced his wife and married Herodias, his brother’s wife, which was against God’s command.

Herod had already had John the Baptist killed for speaking out against the illicit relationship; for more details, read Matthew 14:1-12.

So, the Pharisees were hoping to trap Jesus into saying something that could get Him into similar trouble.

But Jesus, knowing their intentions, didn’t fall for their devious plot. Instead of giving a direct answer, He asked them a question:

“What did Moses command you?” The Pharisees pointed to a law from Deuteronomy 24:1-4, where Moses allowed divorce and remarriage under certain conditions.

In Moses’ time, the Israelites were already practicing divorce. The law detailed in Deuteronomy 24 was designed to offer some protection to women in these circumstances.

It set conditions under which a man could divorce his wife, primarily to ensure that women were not arbitrarily mistreated or left without support after being divorced.

However, by the time of Jesus, interpretations of this law had evolved, especially within the School of Hillel. This school of thought had broadened the acceptable reasons for divorce to include almost any complaint a husband might have against his wife.

This liberal interpretation effectively twisted the original intent of the law. Instead of protecting women, it made it easier for men to divorce their wives for trivial reasons, leaving women vulnerable and without the protections that the original law intended to provide.

But Jesus didn’t bother to argue with them about the case law in Deuteronomy 24, instead, He took them back to the very beginning, to God’s original plan for marriage in Genesis 1 and 2.

Jesus reminded them of Genesis 1:27, which says that God made two individuals, a male and a female. He combined this truth with Genesis 2:24, teaching that a man leaves his parents and be united with his wife, and the two will become one flesh.

Jesus made it clear that marriage is not just a contract between two people but a sacred union created and established by God.

What God joins together, no one should separate. This principle does not support the idea of just doing me in a marriage. In a marriage relationship, selfishness has no place.

Jesus’ answer teaches us that marriage is meant to be a lifelong commitment. It’s not something to be entered into or left lightly.

God’s design for marriage is for a husband and wife to be united as one in body, heart, and mind.

Divorce was never part of God’s original plan; it was only allowed because of human sin and hard-heartedness.

The Pharisees, the religious leaders of that day, were more concerned with trying to destroy Jesus rather than with understanding God’s true purpose for marriage.

In the same way, when we “do just me,” we might be cutting off our own supply of daily bread—the blessings that come from having a happy marriage. (Split)

Notice what it says in the book Patriarch and Prophets about how each partner in a marriage relationship should be treated:

God Himself gave Adam a companion. He provided “an help meet for him”—a helper corresponding to him—one who was fitted to be his companion, and who could be one with him in love and sympathy.

Eve was created from a rib taken from the side of Adam, signifying that she was not to control him as the head, nor to be trampled under his feet as an inferior, but to stand by his side as an equal, to be loved and protected by him. A part of man, bone of his bone, and flesh of his flesh, she was his second self, showing the close union and the affectionate attachment that should exist in this relation. . . .; Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 46.

So, what does this mean for us? It means that in every area of our lives, whether it’s in our relationships, our work, or our daily choices, we should remember that selfishness has no place in the lives of those striving for the Kingdom of God.

Instead, we’re called to live lives of love, commitment, and service to others. Just as Jesus taught the Pharisees about God’s original plan for marriage, He also teaches us about the importance of putting others first.

Interestingly, in the concept of doing me, many parents today are neglecting their children, and in some societies, children are casted aside to fend for themselves.

Children are often seen as less important. But what is Jesus’ attitude about children? Read Mark 10:13-16

Then, View the next segment of this video, Part 3:  Jesus and Children

The Book of Mark

(Lesson 8)

Teaching Disciples: Part 2

Part 3: Jesus and Children

Have you noticed how some people treat children like they’re not as important as adults? In today’s world, we often hear the phrase “children are the future,” but do we really live like that? Do we give children the love, attention, and care they deserve? In Jesus’ time, children were often treated even worse, but Jesus showed us something very different.

He taught us that children are not just important—they are a vital part of God’s Kingdom.

We look at a powerful story from Mark 10:13-16, where Jesus does something amazing for the children brought to Him.

This story helps us understand why selfishness, especially in how we treat others, has no place in our lives.

In Jesus’ time, having children was considered a blessing. But sadly, not every child was treated with love and care.

Because it was a male-dominated culture, boys were preferred over girls.

Having a baby and raising young children was very difficult during Jesus’s time because there was no modern medicine like we have today.

This made it risky for mothers when they were having their babies and for the little ones as they grew up.

So, people back then used traditional remedies and special charms to try and keep mothers and children safe from harm.

What’s more, if a child was born with a physical disability, or if it was a girl when a boy was preferred, the child might be abandoned, left to die in the sun, or thrown into a river.  

At times these abandoned babies were “rescued,” only to be raised and sold as slaves.

Even when parents wanted to have children, children were considered to have a low social status.

They were often treated as less important than adults—no better than slaves, as mentioned in Galatians 4:1-2.

But Jesus had a very different view of children. In Mark 9:33-37 Jesus taught His disciples that they must receive God’s Kingdom with the same trust and faith as a child.

However, His disciples didn’t fully grasp this teaching. So when people brought their children to Jesus for a blessing, the disciples rebuked them, thinking Jesus didn’t have time for such a simple task.

They were dead wrong! Jesus became upset with their reaction to the parents bringing their children.

In the Gospel of Mark, we see Jesus showing strong emotions at times, and this was one of those moments. He couldn’t stand the idea of His disciples turning away the children.

Jesus insisted that the children be allowed to come to Him, saying, ¹⁴ But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. (Mark 10:14).

Jesus’ response was clear: He strongly insisted that the disciples not stand in the way of the children.

Why? Because the kingdom of God belongs to them. Children are precious in God’s eyes, and they are an example of the kind of faith we all need to enter God’s Kingdom.

Therefore, Jesus took the children in His arms, placed His hands on them, and blessed them.

This action wasn’t just a simple blessing; it was a powerful demonstration of how much God values children.

Here is what it says in the book Ministry of Healing about avoiding selfishness when dealing with children:

“Let not your un-Christlike character misrepresent Jesus. Do not keep the little ones away from Him by your coldness and harshness. Never give them cause to feel that heaven would not be a pleasant place to them if you were there. Do not speak of religion as something that children cannot understand, or act as if they were not expected to accept Christ in their childhood. Do not give them the false impression that the religion of Christ is a religion of gloom, and that in coming to the Saviour they must give up all that makes life joyful.”—Ellen G. White, The Ministry of Healing, pp. 43, 44.

The story in Mark teaches us a vital lesson about how we should treat children today. Jesus showed that children are not just future adults; they are important right now in God’s Kingdom.

They teach us about trust, faith, and humility—qualities we all need to practice as disciples of Christ and members of God’s Kingdom.

But how often do we overlook this? Do we, like the disciples, sometimes push children aside, thinking they’re not as important as other things?

Do we, just doing me, make them feel like they’re in the way? If so, we’re missing out on a huge part of what it means to live in God’s Kingdom.

So, how can we do better? How can we be better examples of Jesus to the children around us? It starts with treating them with the love, respect, and care that Jesus showed. It means being patient, kind, and joyful, showing them that following Jesus is the best choice they can make in life.

 Remember, when we decide to focus only on ourselves, we might be cutting off our supply of daily bread—the blessings that come from living out God’s love.

Rather, rich or poor, selfishness and busyness can keep you from being a blessing to others.

This is evident in Mark 10:17-31: how can we divest from a life of selfishness and start making better investments?

In other words, how can we stop living selfishly and start making choices that are more thoughtful and beneficial for others? Read Mark 10:17-31

Then, Continue to the next segment of this video, Part 4: The Best Investment.

The Book of Mark

(Lesson 8)

Teaching Disciples: Part II

Part 4: The Best Investment

We explore a powerful story from Mark 10:17-31, where a man’s decision puts him in spiritual danger.

This story teaches us important lessons about faith, following Jesus, and the true cost of putting anything above God.

In Mark 10:17-31, a man runs up to Jesus with an important question. Showing his sincerity and great respect, he kneels down and asks the question central to the destiny of every soul:

“What must I do to have everlasting life?”

This man is eager to do the right thing, and he’s come to the right person—Jesus.

Jesus responds by reminding him of the last six commandments, which focus on how we treat others:

don’t steal, don’t lie, honor your father and mother, and so on.

The man proudly says that he’s kept all these commandments from his youth up. He did not see his true condition, he felt he was perfect, so he felt he had already earned the right to eternal life.

But here’s the key part—Jesus sees deeper into the man’s heart.

Of the four gospels, Mark is the only one that tells us Jesus loved the man. 

There is something attractive or inspiring about the man’s high ideals and strong principles.

So, Jesus gives the man a test to show him what is really in his heart. Jesus tells the man to sell everything he owns, give the money to the poor, and then come follow Him.

This wasn’t just about money—it was about what the man valued most.

The man’s reaction shows where his heart really is. The man feels very sad when he hears Jesus’ answer. 

He turns and walks away from Jesus because he owns many possessions.

Even though he seemed eager to follow Jesus, his wealth was more important to him than God.

The man is not following the commandments at all. He is, in fact, breaking the first commandment—

“loving the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”

His riches were his god.

There is a danger in just doing me: Notice what is says in the book Christ Object Lesson about this young man:

The lover of self is a transgressor of the law. This Jesus desired to reveal to the young man, and He gave him a test that would make manifest the selfishness of his heart. . . . [But the] young man desired no further enlightenment. He had cherished an idol in the soul; the world was his god. 

He professed to have kept the commandments, but he was destitute of the principle which is the very spirit and life of them all. He did not possess true love for God or man. This want was the want of everything that would qualify him to enter the kingdom of heaven. In his love of self and worldly gain, he was out of harmony with the principles of heaven. Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 392

Jesus used the incident of the rich young leader as a teachable moment to explain a powerful lesson on how seductive and controlling riches are.

He says that it is easier for a camel to go through the tiny hole of a needle than it is for a rich man to enter heaven.

The disciples were stunned by Jesus’ words. If it’s so hard for the rich to be saved, they wondered, then who can be saved?

In Mark 10:27, Jesus responds with a truth that is ultra-profound:

27 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.” (Mark 10:27)

This verse, Mark 10:27, reminds us that we can’t make it to heaven on our own. We need God’s mercy and grace to be saved.

It’s not about how much we know, how much we have, or how good we are or try to be; only God can save us.

This might seem like the perfect ending to the story in Mark, but it’s not over.

Peter, one of Jesus’ disciples, then speaks up, saying in Mark 10:28

28 Then Peter began to say to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You.” (Mark 10:28)

Jesus reassures him and the others, saying in Mark 10:29-31

29 “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters

or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s,

30 who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life.

31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” (Mark 10:29-31)

In other words, Jesus promises that the rewards of following Him are far greater than anything we could ever give up.

This story teaches us an essential lesson: Only Jesus can remove our guilt and make us right with God.

It’s through His Grace, His resurrection, and His life that we gain the strength to follow Him and obey His commandments.

Romans 6:1-11 explains how God’s mercy works in our lives. When we believe in Jesus, we die to our old sinful selves and are made new in Him.

Just as Jesus was raised from the dead, we, too, are raised to live a new life.

God’s mercy doesn’t just forgive us—it transforms us, making us new people who can live in obedience to Him.

So, are you putting yourself in jeopardy by focusing only on yourself?

Remember, in God’s Kingdom, there’s no place for selfishness. Just like the young man in this story, we might think we’re doing everything right, but if we’re holding on to something more than we’re holding on to God, we’re in danger of missing out on the blessings He has for us.

Is there something or someone in your life that you are putting above God? Ask God to help you let go of it and trust God to provide everything you need.

When we choose to follow Jesus with our whole heart, we open ourselves to the full supply of God’s blessings, now and forever.

Bent on serving ourselves, we still may not get the full picture of what’s ahead and what God has planned for us, even though He clearly lays it out before us.

This is the problem the disciples faced in Mark 10:32-45. They were still trying to be first; they were still trying to do just me.

Read Mark 10:32-45 to see how Jesus reacts to them wanting to be first.

Then, continue to the next segment of this video: Part 5:  Can You Drink My Cup

The Book of Mark

(Lesson 8)

Teaching Disciples: Part II

Part 5: Can You Drink My Cup

Have you ever noticed how sometimes we focus so much on what we want that we miss the bigger picture?

We might think we know what’s best for us, but in reality, we’re putting ourselves in jeopardy, missing out on what God truly has planned for us.

We look at a story from Mark 10:32-45 that shows how even Jesus’ closest disciples struggled to understand what it really means to follow Him.

Their story is a reminder that doing “just me” has no place in God’s Kingdom, and it can lead us down a dangerous path if we’re not careful.

As Jesus and his disciples approached Jerusalem, he began to tell them what would happen when they got there.

It was something his disciples did not want to hear or believe.

His description of his death and resurrection is stunning.

He spoke of—how He would suffer, die, and then rise from the dead.

But when someone says something, you do not want to hear or believe, it is easy to dismiss it.

That’s exactly what the disciples did.

Instead of focusing on what Jesus was saying about His suffering, James and John came to Jesus with a private request.

They wanted a favor. Jesus asked for more specifics, and they asked if they could sit on His right and left side when He was honored in His Kingdom.

They were thinking about power and position, not about the sacrifice Jesus was about to make.

Jesus wanted James and John to understand what they were really asking for.

So, He asked them if they could suffer the way He was about to suffer.

Jesus knew that He would face terrible pain in the Garden of Gethsemane, as depicted in Mark 14:36, and on the cross, as portrayed in Mark 15:33–47.

He would die and be buried, just as He had been buried under water when He was baptized, as described in Mark 1:9-11.

But James and John didn’t get what Jesus meant. They confidently replied, “Yes, we can suffer what you will suffer.”

Jesus then prophesied that they would drink His cup and be baptized with His baptism. He confirmed that they would indeed suffer because of Him.

In fact, as indicated in Acts 12:2, James was the first of the Twelve Disciples to be killed because of his faith.

John lived the longest of all the disciples and was sent to live on the island of Patmos, as mentioned in Revelation 1:9.

But Jesus also made it clear that it wasn’t up to Him to decide who would sit next to Him in His Kingdom, that was for God to decide.

When the other disciples heard what James and John had asked, it did not set too well with them.

They were angry, indignant. They couldn’t believe that James and John were thinking about their own positions.

Seeing this, Jesus used it as another teachable moment, an opportunity to teach them one of the most important lessons about His Kingdom.

He explained that leaders in this world often use power for personal advantage to become more powerful and richer.

But God’s Kingdom does not operate like that. In His Kingdom, things work differently.

He points out that in the Kingdom of God, power must always be used to uplift and bless others. 

Thus, Jesus calls His followers to use their gifts and power to serve others, not themselves. He does not want us to do just me.

Jesus, as the King of the Kingdom of God, leads the way by giving His own life as a ransom for our sins.

Surely, this was not what the disciples expected or wanted to hear, but it was the truth they needed to understand.

Are you putting yourself in jeopardy by focusing only on what you want, like James and John?

In God’s Kingdom, there’s no place for selfishness. We’re called to follow Jesus’ example, to serve others, and to live with a heart that seeks God’s will above all else.

When we focus on “just me,” we risk missing out on the true blessings that come from living a life of service and sacrifice for God and others.

Christ is our example notice what it says about Him in The Acts of the Apostles.

In His life and lessons, Christ has given a perfect exemplification of the unselfish ministry which has its origin in God. God does not live for Himself. By creating the world, and by upholding all things, He is constantly ministering to others. “He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” Matthew 5:45. This ideal of ministry the Father committed to His Son. Jesus was given to stand at the head of humanity, by His example to teach what it means to minister. His whole life was under a law of service. He served all, ministered to all. The Acts of the Apostles, p. 359.

Are there areas where you’ve been more focused on what you want than on what God wants?

Ask God to help you start living more like Jesus, using your gifts and strength to bless others.

Remember, following Jesus might not always be easy or comfortable, but it leads to a life filled with true purpose and eternal rewards.

When we do just me, pride has a way of getting in the way.

See how pride could keep you from receiving what God has for you. Read Mark 10:46-52

Then, continue to the next segment of this video, Part 6: “What Do You Want Me to Do for You”

The Book of Mark

(Lesson II)

Teaching Disciples: Part 2

Part 6: “What Do You Want Me to Do for You”

Have you ever faced a situation where you felt completely powerless like there was nothing you could do to change your situation?

Imagine being blind, unable to see the world around you, and relying on the kindness of strangers just to get by.

This was the life of Bartimaeus, a blind beggar in the city of Jericho. But when Jesus came near, Bartimaeus made a choice that would change his life forever.

What would have happened if he had allowed pride to get in the way?

We explore the story of Bartimaeus in Mark 10:46-52 and see how his actions teach us the value of faith, persistence, and the power of trusting in Jesus as opposed to pride and selfishness, “just doing me.”

Up to now, in the Gospel of Mark, with a few exceptions, Jesus has been telling his contacts to keep quiet about His miracles and about who He is.

Here, Jesus is leaving Jericho, and as he is leaving, a blind man named Bartimaeus is sitting by the roadside, begging for help. 

He couldn’t see, but he could hear the crowd passing by. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, something stirred inside him.

Bartimaeus began to shout, “ ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’ ” (Mark 10:47, NKJV).

This wasn’t just a cry for help—it was a declaration of faith.

By calling Jesus the “Son of David,” Bartimaeus was acknowledging that Jesus was the promised Savior, the one who could heal him and change his life.

But not everyone was pleased with Bartimaeus’s shouting. The crowd tried to silence him, telling him to be quiet.

After all, he was just a blind beggar—someone most people in Jesus’ day didn’t think was important. But Bartimaeus didn’t let that stop him.

The study guide points out that in keeping with the revelation/secrecy motif of the book, the crowd takes on the role of those calling for silence.

But, swallowing his pride, Bartimaeus was not having it!

Instead of giving up, he shouted even louder, “ ‘Son of David, have mercy on me!’ ” (Mark 10:48, NKJV).

 His persistence showed that he truly believed Jesus to be the Messiah and could help him, and he wasn’t going to miss out on his chance.

The title Son of David” in Jesus’ time carried two main thoughts: it brought with it the expectation of a new king who would restore the throne of Israel, and it also indicated that this leader would be a healer and exorcist, one who cast out demons.

Jesus hears Bartimaeus’s cries and stops. He asks the people to bring Bartimaeus to Him.

Now, here’s a key moment in the story:

As Bartimaeus approaches Jesus, he throws off his coat. This might seem like a small detail, but it’s actually very important.

In those days, blind people were often poor at the bottom of society, along with widows and orphans.  

Their coat was all that they had. It provided them with warmth and security.

For Bartimaeus, his coat was probably one of his most valuable possessions. It was this man’s security.

Casting aside the little pride he may have had, he left it behind, showing that he had faith that Jesus would heal him.

He was ready to leave his old life behind and embrace the new life that Jesus was about to give him.

When Bartimaeus stands before Jesus, Jesus asks him the same question He asked James and John in Mark 10:36,

“ ‘What do you want Me to do for you?’”  (Mark 10:51, NKJV).

Bartimaeus didn’t hesitate. He asked for the one thing he longed for most:

Rabboni, that I may receive my sight.” (Mark 10:5). 

And immediately, Jesus heals him and restores his sight.

His eyes were opened, and he could see again. But Bartimaeus didn’t just walk away, put on his old coat and go back to his old life on the streets.

Instead, he chose to follow Jesus. He was on the road to a new life, in Jesus.

This story teaches us a powerful lesson about what it means to follow Jesus.

Bartimaeus wasn’t just physically blind—his story shows us that before we come to Jesus, we’re all spiritually blind.

We can’t see the truth of God’s love and His plan for our lives until we cry out to Jesus and ask Him to open our eyes.

When we do, we begin to see life in a whole new way.

We see with eyes of faith, and we start to follow Jesus wherever He leads us.

This story concludes the disciple teaching sections in the Gospel of Mark.

This part of Mark pairs with the other blind man’s healing we discussed in the previous video on Mark 8:22–26.

It starts with a blind man’s healing and ends with the healing of a blind man.

Together, these stories show that discipleship is a process of gaining a new perspective on the world.

To receive full sight, as with the other blind man in Mark 8:22–26, discipleship may require that we be touched not once but twice to obtain complete healing.

Or, like Bartimaeus, we can take off our old clothes or security blankets and put on Jesus. Jesus’ leadership and the power of the Holy Spirit become our security.

Are you putting yourself in jeopardy by not calling out to Jesus when you need Him most?

Like Bartimaeus, we all have moments when we need help, but are we willing to take off our pride, humble ourselves, step out in faith, and trust that Jesus will answer?

Bartimaeus didn’t let the crowd silence him, and he didn’t let his circumstances hold him back.

He believed that Jesus could change his life, and he was right.

What’s holding you back from fully trusting Jesus? Are you afraid of what others might think?

Are you holding on to something from your past, like Bartimaeus’s coat, that you need to let g0?

Remember, Jesus is ready to heal you, open your eyes, and lead you down a new path.

But you must take that first step of faith. Cry out to Him, trust in His power, and be ready to follow wherever He leads.

When you do, you’ll find that your life will change in ways you never imagined.

Commit to living with the same faith and persistence as Bartimaeus. Know that Jesus is always near, ready to help you when you call.

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Hebron Seventh-day Adventist Church

hebrontx.adventistchurch.org

7902 Wheatly Street

Houston, TX 77088

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