GETTING HIS ATTENTION

The Bible records about the healing of blind Bartimaeus. “Now they came to Jericho. As He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the road begging.  And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’ Then many warned him to be quiet; but he cried out all the more, ‘Son of David, have mercy on me!’ So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called…” (Mark 10:46-49) Bartimaeus called Jesus in an unusual manner. He called Him as one that knew Him; not as one who only heard about Him from a third party. Demonstrating to God that we know Him is a way of getting uncommon attention from Him. The Bible confirms that those who know their God shall carry out great exploit. (Daniel 11:32) It was a great exploit when a blind man called out for Jesus from among a thronging multitude and was able to get an answer. In his calling, Bartimaeus received his sight.
The same way Bartimaeus called (by crying out to the son of David) and got  instant attention from Jesus, a woman of Canaan also cried out to Jesus and could not get an instant attention from Jesus. It is written, “Then Jesus went out from there and departed to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, ‘Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.’” (Matthew 15:21-22) In the case of Bartimaeus, Jesus stood still but a woman of Canaan got a different response from Jesus.  “But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, ‘Send her away, for she cries out after us.’ But He answered and said, ‘I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.’” (Matthew 15:23-24) Jesus and His disciples’ response was enough to discourage the woman of Canaan and made her to turn her back to Jesus. Instead of her giving up, however, she pressed further. She persisted to receive by resisting all discouragement. The Bible records, “Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, ‘Lord, help me!’” (Matthew 15:25) Despite her appeal, Jesus answered her, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.” (Matthew 15:26)  Jesus’ answer made her to insist and persist for her miracle. The woman responded to Jesus, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” (Matthew 15:27) There is absolutely no better way to describe persistence than that of this Canaanite woman before Jesus. Jesus eventually answered her, “’O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.’ And her daughter was healed from that very hour.” (Matthew 15:28)
Is there any way you are expecting to get an answer to your prayer request the same way your neighbor received answer to his/her request? Jesus is the Master healer. He alone is the One who gives and takes as He pleases. Evidently, there is no place or reason for giving up with Jesus.
Looking at Bartimaeus and the Canaan woman, both cried out to Jesus. It is true that crying out and crying silently are two different things. Often times, challenges demand crying out but man opts rather to cry silently. Are you crying silently where a challenge calls for crying out? Man does have a need to understand that crying out is not a sign of weakness. Bartimaeus and the woman of Canaan cried out regardless of the multitudes and eventually got Jesus’ attention.
–Both were attempted to be quieted but refused to remain quiet.
–Both called on Jesus in an unusual manner calling out, “Son of David”.
–Both did not get same response. Bartimaeus got a stand-still attention from Jesus while the woman of Canaan got a repeated snub which eventually delivered delayed answer to her.
The case of Bartimaeus and the Canaan woman demonstrated that Jesus is the Master who answers to all in an unpredictable manner but shall never fail to answer those who reach out and do not give up in their request.
As documented in the Parable of the Persistent woman (Luke 18), this Canaan woman demonstrated what it means to be persistent in getting an answer to prayer. The parable of the Persistent Woman, narrated by Jesus, proves that:
–Prayer needs not those who pray and lose heart. Often time, man engages prayer with back up plans; looking for help outside of prayer. We are to stay focus on getting an answer like the Canaan woman instead of looking outside of our trust in Jesus.
–Prayer is meant to trouble Heaven when we engage asking, seeking and knocking relentlessly (Matthew 7:7) until answers come forth.
–Prayer demands continuity and not becoming weary.
The Canaan woman could not give up when she engaged with the healing word of God.

Resist denial, remain persistent and insist on having your expectation become manifested.