April 4, 2020
Mark 10:46-52
46 They came to Jericho. As he and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside. 47 When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48 Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 49 Jesus stood still and said, “Call him here.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart; get up, he is calling you.” 50 So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. 51 Then Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man said to him, “My teacher, let me see again.” 52 Jesus said to him, “Go; your faith has made you well.” Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way.
As a boy scout for one of my merit badges, I needed to write a
letter to a public official at the State or National level and I needed that politician
to reply. I was quite dismayed over this
endeavor, because who would reply to a letter, written by a 16-year-old boy,
trying to earn a merit badge? The
Senators and Governors were far too busy to take the time to write a letter
addressing whatever issue was concerning me.
However, my leader suggested that I write a letter to the Sen. John
Glenn from Ohio. Sen. Glenn was he
himself an eagle scout, and therefore he knew what I was attempting and more
than likely willing to respond. So, I
did and in an official envelope, on official letterhead from the State of Ohio,
the Sen. John Glenn responded to my letter and I was able to earn my
citizenship merit badge.
Just as it was with me and Sen. Glenn so too was it with Bartimaeus and
Jesus. Bartimaeus was a blind beggar,
sitting beside the road begging for alms by all the people passing by; Jesus is
the Son of David, the Messiah, just leaving Jericho and about two miles from
Jerusalem. The Son of David was the King
of the Jews, and Jesus was on his way, just mere minutes from the events of
Palm Sunday and his triumphal entry.
Bartimaeus cries out Son of David, mercy me; and some of the
crowd tell him to zip it. He is a blind
beggar and Jesus is the Messiah, Jesus doesn’t have time or concern for
you. But, Jesus does. In fact, that is the reason entire for Jesus
being there to begin with. Jesus was on
his way to Jerusalem not to be crowned King in a political sense, but to be
crowned King in a sacrificial sense. He
didn’t come to be served, he came to serve and to lay down his life as a ransom
for many. The Judge was going to be
judged in place of the judged.
So Jesus stops, and he calls to Bartimaeus.
The crowd then turns and calls Bartimaeus to Jesus and he springs up,
throws his cloak off and runs to Jesus. Bartimaeus
doesn’t mosey, or saunter, or putz, or wander his way over, he leaps us, throws
off his coat and runs to Jesus. Jesus
does have time and concern; he isn’t going to make me wait. Jesus asks what did he want, Bartimaeus
replies to see again and Jesus grants it, telling him to go, your faith has
healed you.
While the story of Bartimaeus is great for Sunday School, the lesson is perhaps
all too important for us in the here and now.
We too are mere hours from Palm Sunday and the online services
prepared. We will be singing the Palm
Sunday hymns, and reading the texts, and perhaps have a branch or two. But, amid the festivities, we forget the
lesson. Jesus came to serve not to be
served. Jesus is the Son of David, but
he is the crucified Son of David.
He came to lay down his life on behalf of us. He isn’t in Jerusalem to conquer; he is there
to be conquered. What this all means, is
that Jesus has time and concern for us all.
For you see, we are today’s Bartimaeus’s. Each of us in need with our own
circumstances, some physical, some mental, some emotional, some political, some
social, but whatever life’s circumstances we are in, the lesson is that Jesus
always has time and concern for us.
Even mere moments before our Palm Sunday, Jesus has concern and time for us
all. Calling us to himself, asking of
each what is it you want me to do for you, and granting blessings. But do we have the faith like
Bartimaeus? Do we look to Christ for
what only Christ can give, or do we turn to another? Do we spring up, throwing off our cloaks and
running toward Christ in obedience when he calls, or is our response a bit more
lackadaisical, if we respond at all? Do
we ask our needs and concerns in prayer to Christ, or do we attempt to fix
things ourselves? Do we have any faith
in the Spirit of Jesus Christ, or do we place our faith in another? Do we, like Bartimaeus place our trust in
Christ and do we obey Christ?
My friends, Holy Week is almost upon us again.
We have much going on, even during our quarantines, we have services
aplenty, we have Easter routines, food to make, decorations to hang and yes,
even grass to mow. But let us never
forget the lesson, Jesus came to serve not to be served. So, during this busy time, even in our
isolations, let us remember that Jesus is never so busy to not have time and
concern for us. Let us then set aside
time and concern for him. Let us spring
up and obey when he calls. Let us ask
him in prayer. But most importantly let
us believe when he speaks. Amen.
Prayer
O God of Grace and God of Glory, we thank you for the time and concern you give to us. We are ever thankful that you are attentive to our cries for help and our pleas for aid. We ask now that you would care and attention to all your people wherever they are and whatever concerns they bear. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.