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Job 34:1-6, 10-17, Hebrews 7:23-28, Mark 10-:46-52
St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, West Valley City, UT
The Rev'd W. Lee Shaw
Every once in a while on a Sunday there is an embarrassment of riches when it comes to the Scriptures given us in the lectionary. Today is such a day. There is so much in our reading from Job and Hebrews that I would love to explore with you. But, in Mark's Gospel we have one of my all time favorite stories in Scripture so today we will look at Bartimaeus.
His encounter with Jesus is one of the most powerful and extraordinary in Scripture. Jesus and the disciples are leaving Jericho. On the road out of the city is where beggars normally sit, looking for help from those who have just stocked up on supplies for the journey. Here we meet Bartimaeus. From the record we can generally assume he has not been blind from birth since he asked for his sight to be restored. I think we can also assume he is a younger man, for we read that he "sprang" up when Jesus calls to him. That indicates a certain physical ability of a younger person.
He hears that Jesus will be coming down the road. He has heard about Jesus and he is determined to be heard himself. "Jesus son of David have mercy on me." And he keeps repeating it louder and louder. He will not be ignored. It gets so bad that those around him tell him to be quiet. He is making a scene. He is an embarrassment to those around him.
The title he uses, "Jesus son of David" hearkens back to the royal lineage attributed to Jesus through Joseph about the legendary king who will restore Israel. But Jesus is much more than the "son of David" and I feel Bartimaeus knows that, but he uses that title to get attention.
Jesus hears him. Jesus stops. Jesus says, "Call him here."
Here is where we get some tantalizing details. "Throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus." He threw off his cloak, probably is only possession in the world, the piece of cloth he slept in, wrapped himself in to keep warm, sat on for comfort on the road. He left it on the road and "sprang," jumped, hurried to Jesus. Such is his eagerness, determination. He literally leaves everything behind.
Then the question that astounds me: "What do you want me to do for you?" Jesus, the son of God, the Messiah, the Logos of God is asking this poor, blind beggar, "What do you want me to do for you?" The reply is simple: "Let me see again." And his sight is restored. His faith has healed him at Jesus' word. We read then that he followed Jesus "on the way."
Is this just another healing story of Jesus? I think not. This is the last healing miracle we have in Mark's Gospel. From now on it is on to Jerusalem, teaching and preaching, betrayal and crucifixion. Bartimaeus is the last person healed in Mark's Gospel. It is here that Mark's Gospel turns; now it is up to Jerusalem.
The next chapter begins with what we call Palm Sunday, the procession into Jerusalem. Bartimaeus followed Jesus in the way. I feel we can assume Bartimaeus is part of this entry into Jerusalem. He is in it. He sees it.
I think it is not unreasonable to think that since he is a new follower he will go wherever Jesus is present. It is not hard to assume then that Bartimaeus is very likely present at the crucifixion. This is the man who asked for his sight to be restored. Now what does he see? He sees the crucifixion, the execution of the man who healed him. What a price to pay for prayer. Bartimaeus prayed for his sight. Then Bartimaeus watched as his healer, his rabbi, was killed. Did he have second thoughts about what he asked for on that dusty road outside of Jericho?
There is a Bartimaeus in each of us. In one way or another we are blind, we cannot see. We cannot see our own faith, nor the love of others for us, nor our purpose in life, nor our relationship with others. We cannot see our gifts, nor our affect (for good or for ill) on others, on and on, in so many ways each of us are blind. Each of us needs Jesus to say the word, to allow our faith to make us whole and to see again.
With new sight we do not always see what we necessarily want to see. With new sight as Christians we perhaps see for the first time our responsibility to others and to the world around us; we see how much God loves us; we see our place in community; we see our families in a new light; we see ourselves with new eyes. Sometimes that may take us by surprise. Sometimes that may hurt. As I am sure it hurt Bartimaeus to see Jesus crucified.
As with James and John last week, we never really know how our prayers may be answered, realized. We do not know God's hope, God's dream for us. Yet, we hear Jesus' words to us: "What do you want me to do for you?"
Hear it again: "What do you want me to do for you?"
Give me the sight to see your hand at work in my life.
Give me the sight to see my connection with all those around me.
Give me the sight to see my place in the world you have made for me.
Give me the sight to see you in those around me.
Give me my sight again, that I may see you.