Luther Seminary

A daily devotion brought to you by the alumni of Luther Seminary

Friday, October 22, 2021

Mark 10:46-52 (NRSV)

Read Mark 10:46-52 on biblegateway.com

Verse 46They came to Jericho. As he and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside. Verse 47When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" Verse 48Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" Verse 49Jesus stood still and said, "Call him here." And they called the blind man, saying to him, "Take heart; get up, he is calling you." Verse 50So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. Verse 51Then Jesus said to him, "What do you want me to do for you?" The blind man said to him, "My teacher, let me see again." Verse 52Jesus said to him, "Go; your faith has made you well." Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way.

Devotion

“Jesus, son of David,” the blind man calls out. Lutherans are known for an emphasis on law and gospel theology. This can sometimes cause us to mistakenly see the Old Testament as law and the New Testament as gospel. Losing sight of the fact that there is one eternal God, we see a vengeful God of wrath in the Old and a forgiving God of love in the New. The blind man’s call serves as a reminder that God’s law and gospel are found throughout the scriptures. Flowing from cover to cover are God’s messages of grace and mercy and calls to repentance of sin and newness of life. Jesus is God’s Messiah, the expected descendant of King David, the one who is from eternity and who will reign forever. When the people wandered in exile, longed for home, and had their land restored, Christ was there. Likewise, wherever you are, Christ is there, calling you to a life of active faith.

Prayer

“Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart; naught be all else to me, save that thou art: thou my best thought both by day and by night, waking or sleeping, thy presence my light.” In the name of our Triune God. Amen. (Text: Irish, 8th cent)

Albert W. Triolo ’19 D. Min. Senior Pastor, St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, Springfield, VA