阅读经文 

彼得这个名字被单列出来。

彼得是《马可福音》中第一个被提到名字的门徒，（参可 1:16，3:16）而在这里他是最后一个被提到的。

彼得遭受了非同寻常的失败，他三次不认耶稣。（参可 14:66-72）那不是一个轻微的信仰缺失，而是一个悖逆的公开强调：“我不认得那个人”。

想到这些话，我们——还有彼得——可能认为他已经完蛋了。彻底失败，不可饶恕，一无是处。我们有多少人曾经这样想过自己？

如果你曾经彻底搞砸过，错失过，或者荒废过，那么你一定要留心这句经文特别列明彼得，那是多么奇妙的恩典。这个对一个失败门徒，真是非常宝贵的认可，去“告诉……彼得”！——无可置疑，我们找到了他已经被饶恕的证据。

请用你自己的名字替换彼得的名字。在复活的所有重大好处中，“宽恕”是我们能够理解、无可争议的事实，耶稣已经除去了我们的罪，恢复了我们与祂的关系。

耶稣对彼得的呼唤，包含了救主为他——也为你——赢得的所有修复和宽恕！

As we look into this story again today, let’s focus on the question Jesus asks Bartimaeus, the man who is blind: “What do you want me to do for you?”

Since Bartimaeus has been begging by the roadside, we would expect him to ask for a handout—some bread or money, perhaps. But in response to Jesus’ question, the man is bold enough to ask for much more. He asks to be able to see—and that means he is asking to have his life completely changed.

How would you respond to Jesus’ question “What do you want me to do for you?”

We all could use a little help, or a little healing, or some additional resources to get us through another day, right? And surely we would be thankful for whatever help Jesus would give.

But let’s not forget who is asking. Just as Bartimaeus could see that Jesus was the Son of David, the promised deliverer who could make all things right, we need to see that Jesus is the Lord and Savior who offers us full, new life forever.

Jesus invites us to be honest about our greatest need: the mercy of God for sinners. So we need to ask him for forgiveness and new life, that we may serve with him forever.