From Darkness to Light by Sharon Jacob
It is pitch black; I was brought into the world in darkness, and my first sight of the earth was black nothing; my eyes have never seen the light of day, and when they open, they see black murky darkness enveloping every invisible object. My day is night; night stretches into night and day never dawns on me.
It is day now, but night in my eyes. The Sun’s harsh rays hit my neck and my shoulders as I crouch near the road of Jericho. My hands outstretched at the passing travelers, I cry, “Alms for a blind man! Have you any alms for a blind man?”
People scuffle past me, apparently eager to be out of reach of my tanned arms and hoarse voice. But today is different – everyone on the road seems to have a singular mind; they are rushing to some unknown common point. I feel the energy and the rustle of garments against me – the garments of the rich and the poor rushing past me.
“Grandma, hurry! Jesus is coming this way! Don’t you want to see him?” a child’s voice floats into my ear. Jesus? I’ve heard a lot about this man! He is the miracle worker!
“When is He coming?” I holler. But there is no response. The clamor of the bustling crowd drowns out my voice. This will not do.
“Jesus! Jesus! Have mercy on me!” my voice rises. Several people near me try to shush me.
“Shut up, man! Be quiet!” someone shouts. With every curse and insult thrown at me, I raise my voice louder and louder, as far as my parched throat would allow. Despair clutches my being as I plead, my voice rising at every cry, and I hear the crowd pushing against me. I realize that I’m invisible and raise my voice — louder and louder — my desperation growing with every cry.
“Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
There is a sudden ripple, a rustle of garments, and an unpremeditated hush over the throng.
“Get up, man. He wants to see you! Jesus wants to see you,” says a man somewhere near me.
“Me?” I jump to my feet and throw off my haggard, beggarly coat. Some kind man catches me by the elbow and leads me to the Miracle Worker.
“What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asks.
“Lord, I want to see; I want my sight,” my voice breaks, emotion overflowing through me. And my unseeing eyes cry hopeful tears.
“Go thy way; your faith has made you whole,” the voice says to me, and my blind eyes still stare sightlessly at Him.
Immediately, light dawns on me; instantly, my night turns into day.
A hush falls over the crowd as they see the miracle unfolding before their very eyes. My vision clears and my own eyes behold the face of the Lord Jesus – His tender, warm eyes looking at me like I’m His own child; a slight smile on His lips and such peace embodied in His face, His eyes, His whole being. My eyes brim with tears, and I fall at His feet in worship. He bids me rise — and I follow Him the rest of the way, praising the Lord. Curious glances are thrown at me by the crowd. I see colors and birds and the earth. I see the water that I drink in thirst. I see the trees, the blue sky, and the bright Sun. My Jesus turned my night into day and my darkness into light.
I am no longer Bartimaeus, the Blind. I am Bartimaeus, follower of Jesus!
The Bible, Matthew 4:16, NKJV
“The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned.”
Sharon Jacob is an Embedded Software Engineer hailing from a coastal city, Chennai in India. She holds a Bachelor of Engineering Degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering. She loves to read and write.