The Response

The Response

Luke 18:43, NLT

Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus, praising God. And all who saw it praised God, too.

Setting the Scene

As soon as the beggars received their sight, they began following Jesus—down the road to Jerusalem and throughout their lives as new disciples. Bartimaeus had been healed physically and spiritually; thus as he followed Jesus, he praised God along the way. This would be a natural response for someone whose life had been turned around so dramatically. When Jesus healed the paralyzed man who had been brought by his friends and lowered through the roof, the man “jumped up, picked up his mat, and went home praising God” (Luke 5:25, NLT). And the one leper of the ten whom Jesus had healed “came back to Jesus, shouting, ‘Praise God!’” (Luke 17:15, NLT). All those who had witnessed this miracle also praised the Lord. Many probably began following Jesus because of the signs and wonders, perhaps hoping for healing themselves. Most of those people would leave the parade when they didn’t gain what they expected or when times of persecution came. Those who stayed were following Jesus for who he was—God’s Son, the Messiah, and their only hope of salvation.

Getting Personal

What happens when you forget that you’re forgiven, when you take God’s work for granted?

What does a praise-filled life look like?

In addition to singing in church, how can you make praise a more integral part of your life?

This was a remarkable event, an amazing, life-changing miracle, so we can understand the spontaneous praise by the crowd of witnesses. But God is always at work in the world. He allows the earth to keep spinning and the sun to continue to shine. He calls his people and holds Satan at bay. He gives life—and he gives new life. And we see these miracles daily. Certainly our lives should be filled with praise for what God has done and is doing and, most important, for who he is.

Talking to God

Praise him, praise him! Praise him for being the all-powerful, all-knowing, all-loving Creator and Sustainer. Praise him for his wonderful works, past, present, and future. Praise the Father for knowing you before the foundations of the world. Praise Jesus, who died in your place. Praise the Spirit, whose power to change your perspective, attitudes, and motives is transforming you day by day.