Before I start talking about blind Bartimaeus, I want to talk about these tears that we see in Jeremiah 31:9. After telling us that the Lord is going to gather the blind, the lame, and the pregnant, alongside everyone else into the Promised Land, the Bible says, “With weeping they shall come…”
I have seen this weeping before. I saw it the day that a girl with only one leg was invited to play basketball with everyone else on the playground for the first time. She leapt onto the court, weeping.
I have seen it when a deaf mother had her cochlear implant turned on for the first time, and she heard the voice of her own beautiful baby girl. She had never heard it. She hugged her baby, weeping.
I have seen it when the quiet, socially awkward girl stood on the stage and rocked the audience with her amazing voice…a voice no one knew that she had. She stared out at her classmates, weeping, as they stood and cheered.
It is hard to understate the importance that acceptance and love shown those who have some sort of disability truly can be. And, in the church, we do not really talk about the disabilities that people have anymore, rather than calling people “disabled,” we say that people are differently-abled. And, this is not some sort politically correct jargon going on here, when it comes to the church anyway. You see, letting someone be known by their gifts rather than their weaknesses is something that is very Biblical.
It was a fact that Moses could not speak well in front of a crowd, but God knew that Moses had the gifts needed to be a leader. God knew Moses was the right choice to lead God’s people. Though Moses tried to define himself by his weakness, saying that he was not the right guy for the job because of his inability to speak well, God refused to define him that way. God does not define us by our weaknesses; rather God thinks of us in terms of the gifts that God has given each and every one of us. You are not defined by your weaknesses; you are defined by your gifts.
And, that is precisely where all the weeping comes from. The weeping bursts forth whenever a person who expects to be treated poorly, made fun of, or excluded for being different is instead given the gift of acceptance, and love, and healing. How can you not weep tears of joy when you are finally invited to gather close?
What if one of our holy callings in life as disciples of Jesus Christ is to be a person who clears paths and pulls stumbling blocks out of the way of others, so that the Lord is able to shine through that person? What if someone’s beautiful voice cannot be heard because the church door is too narrow for their wheelchair? Then, I guess our calling is to find a carpenter. What if someone’s wisdom cannot be gleaned because people refuse to take the time to listen carefully to their uncertain and quiet voice? Then, I guess our calling is to be the one who will take the time to listen and share their wisdom. What if a blind man is forgotten because he is unable to reach his destination by himself? Then I guess our calling is to remember that blind man and help him on his way.
You see, when stumbling blocks are removed and the Lord’s gifts are allowed to shine through, songs of joyous weeping simply burst forth. Not only that, but that acceptance, that social healing, allows even the most unlikely of people to follow Jesus on the way.
In Mark 10 we see that even a blind beggar is given the chance to follow Jesus along the way. Unfortunately, we will see that this blind man’s story looks awfully familiar. The blind man’s joyous turn of events is not without its stumbling blocks.
Bartimaeus, the beggar who earns his living along the road near Jericho, and who happens to be blind, hears a commotion. Through the noise of the crowd, he learns that Jesus is about to pass. Desiring the Lord’s mercy…desiring healing, Bartimaeus calls out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
“Have mercy on me.” The cries from his lips are not pious religious words. They are vocal hands reaching out for help in desperation. They are words that stretch forth when nothing else can be done.
We still cry out to the Lord with Bartimaeus’ words in worship whenever we sing, “Lord, have mercy!” These words do not have to be a cry to Jesus for forgiveness, though they could be, rather, they are a cry from the side of the road that begs Jesus to take notice of us and to take action on our behalf. When all else has failed, we cry out, “Lord, have mercy.”
The man’s cries almost go unheard. The Bible says that, “Many sternly ordered him to be quiet.” This still happens today. Why are people who cry out for mercy from the streets told to be quiet? Why is it assumed that the voices of people who are different do not matter? Why were you told to be quiet? Why were you told that you do not matter?
In an act of sheer defiance against the orders of the crowd, Bartimaeus cries out even more loudly, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus describes this act of defiance as “faith.” Sometimes, shrinking away from the conflict is not the right answer.
Sometimes, standing up for yourself is the right answer. Sometimes, you need to love yourself as much as you love your neighbor. Sometimes, standing up against those who would hold you down is an act of pure faith. After-all, if you are allowed to be kicked to the side of the road, the gifts that God has given you are also kicked into the ditch, like pieces of trash. And, God does not create trash.
Calling to the side of the road, Jesus seeks the man.
Maybe, the blind man’s voice is worth hearing. Maybe, the blind beggar is worth something. Maybe, Bartimaeus, son of Timaeus, is worth something to Jesus.
And, it is at this point that Bartimaeus does what so many have not been able to do before. When Jesus calls, Bartimaeus throws off his cloak.
“Why is that a big deal, Pastor Jira? It is just a cloak.”
No. In the ancient, desert world you do not just throw away your cloak. Your cloak is essential. Your cloak protects you from the weather. It protects you against the sand storms. It keeps you warm during the frigid nights. You do not throw away your cloak, especially if you are a poor, blind beggar. It is the only wealth you have. You do not throw away your wealth; just as the rich man from a couple of stories ago could not just throw away his wealth and follow Jesus. That guy goes away grieving rather than following Jesus. But, Bartimaeus throws his most precious possession away without even hesitating.
Free now to move about, Bartimaeus jumps up immediately, and comes to Jesus. Jesus asks, “What do you want me to do for you?”
What does Bartimaeus want Jesus to do? What is holding him back in life? What is holding him back from being the person that God has created him to be? What is holding him back from following Jesus? What is keeping him stranded on the side of the road; unable to follow the way of Jesus?
What do you want Jesus to do? What is holding you back? What is holding you back from being the person that God has created you to be? What is holding you back from following Jesus? What is keeping you stranded on the side of the road; unable to follow the way of Jesus?
“My teacher, let me see again.”
“Go; your faith has made you well.”
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