The Message, October 27, 2024: "Let Us See!" Mark 10:46-52

Author: Rev. Scott W. Cousineau
October 29, 2024

 

“Let Us See!”
A Message by Rev. Scott W. Cousineau
Mark 10:46-52

            He knew that the road would be busy that day. It was just a week before Passover, and many pilgrims would be making their way to Jerusalem to prepare for the festival. Jewish Law required all men twelve years old and older that lived within fifteen miles of the Holy City to travel to the Temple. The population of the city would swell to over two million people … although he could not imagine a number that large. Everyone knew that they had to get there early to make proper arrangements.

            He had to get moving early if he wanted to get a good spot by the road. He made his way and spread his cloak upon the ground. He hoped and prayed that the travelers would be generous that day.

            He would not be making the trip to the Temple. He was not permitted. He was not welcome. He was unclean. His blindness was considered to be a result of his sinfulness. He had sinned against God and lost his sight because of it.

            He could not work. He was forced to beg for the few pennies or shekels that passersby would drop onto his cloak.

            We do not know much about the man.

            We do not know how he lost his sight. We do not know when he lost his sight. We do not even know his name. We are told that it is Bartimaeus … but that is not really a name at all. It simply tells us that he is the ‘son of Timaeus.’

            Over the decades, a lot of scholars, a lot smarter than I am, have used a lot of ink speculating upon the blind beggar’s name. Some believe that it is a hybrid, half Hebrew and half Greek. “Bar” … Hebrew for ‘Son of,’ and “Timaeus” … Greek for ‘honored.’ Others believe that it is derived from the Aramaic or Hebrew word (br’tm) for “unclean.” We can let the scholars fight it out amongst themselves.

            We do know that the man was a down and out blind beggar, a poor person who was forced to beg for pennies on the side of the road. He was dishonored and marginalized by the Greeks. He was considered to be ritually unclean by the Jews. He was among the most vulnerable in society, and he sat by the road hoping for a good day.

            Little did he know that it might be the best day ever!

            The crowd was excited … electric. There is always an extra energy that surrounded the pilgrimage festivals, and of course, Passover had a special energy. But there was something extra special that day. He heard the buzz in the crowd. Jesus of Nazareth was there! Jesus and his group of followers had been in Jericho and were making their way toward Jerusalem.

            The typical throng of pilgrims had swelled. Everyone wanted to catch a glimpse of that travelling teacher that spoke so powerfully about God. Everyone had heard about the miraculous things that he had done. He had heard too. He heard the speculation in the crowd. “Was it possible?” “Could it be true?”

            He believed. Something deep inside told him that it was true. From that down deep place, he called out, “Jesus, Son of David! Have mercy upon me!” “Jesus, Son of David! Save me!”

            It was just like that time when the parents were bringing their children to Jesus to be blessed. The people in the crowd tried to silence him. How dare that beggar … that BLIND beggar … call out to Jesus! “Unclean! Unclean! Be quiet!” Those people pushing in to see the Lord of Love rebuked the one that they considered to be unfit, unworthy, unwelcome. “Be quiet, you filthy beggar!”

            The blind beggar … the blind HUMAN BEING … would not be pushed aside. He would not be silenced. He called out even louder, “Son of David! Have mercy upon me!”

            The blind beggar on the side of the road at the gates of Jericho was the first to see. He was the first to call Jesus ‘Son of David.’ He was the first person to recognize the true nature of Jesus. It was a messianic title. That blind man SAW that Jesus was the One that they had been waiting for. He was the Deliverer, the fulfillment of all of the prophecies!

            Jesus heard his cry, Jesus heard his plea, and instructed the throng that moments earlier had been rebuking him … trying to silence him … “Call him. Bring him to me.”

            Then the blind man did what the rich young man was unwilling to do. He cast aside his cloak with the coins collected there and ran to Jesus. He gave up what little he had to run toward Jesus.

            There is so much meaning, and purpose and power in the interaction between Jesus and Bartimaeus. It is a very intimate encounter. Jesus looked at the man and asked him the same question that he had asked James and John, “What do you want me to do for you?”

            And again, from the deep, deep place within him, Bartimaeus said, “I want to see again.” “I want to be restored. I want my life back.”

            And as we heard, Jesus said to him, “Go, your faith has made you well. Your faith has healed you.”

            Then unlike others that Jesus had healed, that ran home rejoicing, blind Bartimaeus received his sight and decided to follow Jesus. He followed Jesus on the road as he made his way to Jerusalem.

            As we continue reading the rest of the Gospel record, we do not see Bartimaeus again, but we can be confident that a faith that was powerful enough to heal his blindness, to restore his sight, meant that he was with Jesus through the final few days that remained of his earthly life and ministry.

            And the question that we should consider is this … ‘what did he see?’

            We can be certain that during his period of blindness Bartimaeus “saw,” felt and experienced both the kindness of strangers and the cruelest of human nature. Then, with his sight restored, his life restored, what did he see?

            During the events of what we call Holy Week, he would see the amazing beauty of perfect love, and he would have seen the absolute corruption of power and greed.
            Would he have seen Jesus’ vision of the Kingdom of God?
            Would he have seen the tenderness with which he treated those who needed care and healing?
            Would he have seen the promise of the new age that was unfolding before him?
            Was he there to witness the Son of God … the physical incarnation of God’s Word and God’s Love nailed to a cross?
            With his vision restored, what did Bartimaeus see?

            And then we must ask ourselves, after our own encounters with Jesus … what do we see?

            Over the course of the last few weeks, we have made the journey with Jesus and the disciples from Caesarea Philippi to Jericho. Along the way, Jesus was teaching the disciples … and us … what true discipleship looks like.

            According to Google maps, it is one hundred and twenty-four miles from Caesarea Philippi to Jericho on today’s roads and highways. If they had cars in the first century, it would have taken them three hours to drive. Without a car, bus or van it would have taken them forty-six hours to walk. Assuming that Jesus and the disciples did not walk for forty-six hours straight, they had a few days on the road to walk and talk, teach and listen and learn.

            We have had a little bit more time than that. What do we see?

            When we look deep within ourselves, perhaps into that deep place from which Bartimaeus called out, do we see God? Do we see the image of God in that place?
            Do we see the manifestation of God’s Word?
            Do we see Jesus? Do we hear Jesus? Do we feel Jesus?

            Or do we see someone still looking … still searching … still calling out? Needing to hear a Voice say, “Come unto me, all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest. I will give you peace.”?

            When we look beyond ourselves … when we look at the world around us … what do we see?

            Do we see the struggles of the blind beggar? Do we see the marginalized? Do we see those still considered to be the ‘unclean’?
            Do we see the dangers of corruption and greed? Do we see the evils of religious and political manipulation?
            Do we see the world around us with the eyes and heart of Jesus?
            Do we see the Kingdom of God continuing to unfold, as well as our place in it?

            The story of the blind beggar is so much more than a cute little Bible story for the Sunday school children to sing about. It is a call and follow story.

            It is a story about having Jesus Christ remove the blinders that prevent us from seeing our true selves and the truth in the world around us. It is a story about Jesus breaking through and allowing the Light of God to shine within us and to shine forth through us. It is a story about having an unwavering faith in a God and in a Savior than have never failed us … and never will.

            When Jesus opens our eyes … what do we see?

            Jesus … Son of David … open our eyes … let us see. Amen.

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