Jesus is about fifteen miles from Jerusalem now, on a crowded road filled with pilgrims on their way to the city to celebrate Passover. This is a good opportunity for a man like the blind Bartimaeus to sit by the roadside to ask for money. He can't work because he can't see, so he is reduced to begging money from passersby. Considering the size of the crowds going down the road at this time of year, he stands to take in a pretty neat sum. But Bartimaeus is going to get more than he bargained for today. Jesus is passing by, and Jesus will give him the thing he wants most.
"Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and His disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (which means 'son of Timaeus') was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, 'Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!'" (Mark 10:46-47) Bartimaeus has obviously heard a lot about Jesus, but I bet he never dreamed he'd actually meet Him. Being blind, he isn't able to travel to any of the locales where Jesus has been teaching and healing. He is not as fortunate as some of the characters we've already met who had friends who took them to Jesus. Bartimaeus is able to do nothing but what he has done most of his life: sit by the roadside and hope passersby will have compassion on him. There are no social programs to help him. There are no assisted-living centers to take care of him. Nobody from Meals On Wheels is going to bring him a lunch every day. He's doing the only thing he knows to do in order to keep bread on his table. Imagine how discouraging it must have been for him to have to get up every morning and spend the day asking for money. Imagine how depressing it was for him to think the rest of his life was going to be like this.
But suddenly the unexpected happens. He's used to the commotion the crowds make on their way to Jerusalem, and he knows there are more people on the road right now than usual, but there's an excitement in the air. There is a sense of boisterous joy. He knows something is different about this crowd, so he asks what's going on and is told, "It's Jesus of Nazareth!" Bartimaeus can hardly contain the hope that wells up inside of him. These words burst out of his mouth, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" Here is the one person on earth who can help him, really help him!
"Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, 'Son of David, have mercy on me!'" (Mark 10:48) Some in the crowd who recognize Bartimaeus are probably telling him to shut up because they are thinking, "There's that old beggar who pesters everybody who walks down this road! How dare he bother the Master?" Others who tell him to be quiet may be the religious leaders, who object to the use of the Messianic title "Son of David" being used in reference to Jesus of Nazareth. Bartimaeus doesn't care who they are and he doesn't care what they are saying. All he knows is that Jesus is passing by. All he knows is that Jesus can help him. Because he is blind he can't make his way through the crowd to Jesus. He isn't sure exactly where Jesus is and the crowd would probably block his way. He can't get to Jesus on his own, so he just keeps shouting louder, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"
Jesus hears his cry for help. He hears Bartimaeus' confession of faith that He is the Messiah. "Jesus stopped and said, 'Call him.' So they called to the blind man, 'Cheer up! On your feet! He's calling you.' Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus." (Mark 10:49-50) Jesus makes Himself accessible.
"'What do you want me to do for you?' Jesus asked him." (Mark 10:51a) I'm sure Jesus knows what Bartimaeus wants. He can clearly see the man is blind and begging by the roadside. But for the sake of the disciples and the huge crowd, Jesus asks him to make his request. The onlookers need to understand the nature of the problem so they can witness the miracle. In addition, I think it's important that we clearly make our requests of Jesus. We need to confess the desires of our hearts. We don't want to be like those of whom the Lord's brother James says, "You have not because you ask not." (James 4:2b)
"The blind man said, 'Rabbi, I want to see.'" (Mark 10:51b) We don't know whether Bartimaeus was born blind or whether some illness or injury caused his condition. But more than anything else in the world, he wants to be able to see. He wants to be able to live a normal life, to work with his own hands and provide for himself. Sitting by the roadside begging is killing his soul. He feels like less than a man, less than human. He knows he's an annoyance to those he begs from. He knows at at best they pity him and at worst they despise him. He wants nothing more than just to be a regular guy living a regular life.
"'Go,' said Jesus, 'your faith has healed you.' Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road." (Mark 10:52) The first face Bartimaeus sees is that of Jesus! Bartimaeus could have gone his way at this point. He could have been like nine of the ten lepers of Luke 17 who, after being healed by Jesus, went their way without even thanking Him. But Bartimaeus is deeply grateful to Jesus, so much so that he follows Him to Jerusalem. Nothing good awaits Jesus at Jerusalem, but Bartimaeus is willing to follow Him anywhere. He believes Jesus is who He says He is. He wants to go wherever Jesus is going. The fact that a cross is at the end of this road instead of glory doesn't matter to the blind man who can now see. He has decided to follow Jesus. Nothing is going to make him turn back.
Let's conclude our study this morning by singing along with the simple lyrics of the song "I Have Decided To Follow Jesus". The link is below.
I Have Decided To Follow Jesus
No comments:
Post a Comment