I’m still thinking about Bartimaeus. He was the blind man who was healed by Jesus as he was making his way to Jerusalem. Bartimaeus heard Jesus was passing by. And what then happened intrigues me (Mark 10:46-52).

Bartimaeus cried out. And the crowd tried to silence him.

So, Bartimaeus cried out loudly all the more. And the crowd realized that Jesus was calling to him.

So, Bartimaeus sprang up and ran toward where he thought Jesus was. And the crowd apparently stopped hindering him.

And, Bartimaeus threw off his garment to make it to Jesus. And although that seems like no big deal, something huge is happening here.

Each step along the way, Bartimaeus is making it clear: I’m not going back!

He calls to Jesus for mercy and will not be silenced. He leaps up without the presence of mind to get someone to lead him to Jesus (and bring him back if things don’t turn out as well as he might be hoping). And he leaves his outer garment–a garment that would have served as his overcoat, his rain poncho, his bed roll, and more. To leave that behind (particular for a blind man running through a throng of people crowded along a busy road, bustling with traffic surrounding the festival that was beginning) was . . . well, risky and cavalier and foolish . . . or maybe it was a profound response of faith.

Bartimaeus gives ever indication that if Jesus will but speak to him that he will not be going back to his old way of life. He apparently is clear that Jesus can change him. He apparently is intent of availing himself of the grace of God he anticipates finding in Jesus. And he apparently is a bit kamikaze in how he approaches all of this; Bartimaeus is all in, full bore, into the deep end of the pool, full speed ahead, nothing held back.

And Jesus commends his faith. Bartimaeus abandoned himself to Jesus. And Jesus commends that. And Jesus changes Bartimaeus.

Just picture it! A blind man beggar leaving his stuff behind to run through a crowd in hopes to find the voice of the one calling to him because he knows . . . he knows . . . that if he can just get to the One calling his life will be changed!

And so I think . . . What about me? As Jesus passes by, am I “all in”? Will I shout and cry out and leap and run and leave stuff behind just so that I can get to him, certain that he will change me?