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CROSS EXAMINATIONS: How is your Vision?
Isaiah 42:1-9; MARK 10:46-52
March 11, 2007

How long he has been sitting here, we do not know. But we do know this--Bartimaeus was not always blind. There was a time when he could walk the streets of Jericho without bumping into walls. There was a time when he'd been able to look into shops and find his own way to the synagogue. There was a time when he used his hands for something other than feeling his way in the dark.

He had created things; had fixed his own meals; had read the Torah. He had looked into the eyes of a friend; had waved at the neighbor across the street. He had smiled at children, patted their heads, and wished them well. He had known the difference between night and day. He had loved. He had laughed. He had been able to see.

I wonder which is worse, to have never had your sight, so you don’t know what you are missing? Or to have your sight, then lose it – to live with the haunting memories of color and shape and beauty? I think I prefer the first. But Bartimaeus had not always been blind.

And Bartimaeus has not always been a beggar. In fact, there was a time when he was a respected citizen of Jericho. How do I know? His name tells us: “bar" means "son" and "timaeus" means "the honored one."

Bartimaeus is the son of a revered man. There was a time when he walked with distinction in the social circles of Jericho. But his father is no longer with him. Perhaps Timaeus has died. Or perhaps he has given in to the pressure of religious conformity.

You see, people of Jesus’ time, didn’t understand that blindness was the result of disease. In their minds, blindness was evidence of sin. Illness and affliction were explained as God’s judgment, God’s disfavor. Leprosy, paralysis, epilepsy, or blindness all meant one thing-- the diseased person had sinned against God. In order to prevent their sin from “rubbing off” on others, they were banned from their homes – sent to live in the streets.

So Bartimaeus is ostracized. He is an untouchable. An outcast. Completely dehumanized. He has been reduced to nothing. Among his family, his name is forgotten. So, like litter that collects in the gutter, Bartimaeus sits – a crumpled-up man on the side of the road.

His only companions are other sinners and outcasts – used up, thrown-away people living on the streets. Each with a story to tell, but no one wants to hear. They cry out for a touch, a kind word, a bit of conversation. But the world passes them by – looking for more important places and more important conversations. This is life for Bartimaeus. He sees with his hands and feels with his ears. It is a world of darkness, isolation, and despair.

When he feels the sun beginning to burn his face, he knows it's time to begin the day. He strains to listen in the darkness – hears the clopping of horses, the grinding of wagons, the shuffling of feet. Jericho is waking up and Bartimaeus sets about the routine that consumes his life: "Alms! Alms for the poor! Have pity on a blind man!"

The responses? A mumbled blessing, a coin in the cup, a curse from the righteous, a slap on the hand, a shove back to the road. Just another day in the life of Bartimaeus.

But this day will not be like other days. On this day, the road between Jericho and Jerusalem is thick with pilgrims making their way to Passover. More people mean more shoves and curses. But more people might also mean a few more coins in his cup.

Bartimaeus hears a crowd approach – they laugh and cheer. He senses excitement in the air and sits up a little straighter. He calls out towards one of the voices in the crowd, "Excuse me, sir. What's happening today?"

"Nothing for you to be concerned about, beggar. Stay out of the way. Jesus of Nazareth is coming down the road."

Jesus of Nazareth? Now, Bartimaeus knows that name. He has heard about Jesus. Some say the man is a religious fanatic trying to make himself a name. Some speak of His miracles, others of His wisdom, still others of His kindness. And there are even those who say Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah!

Bartimaeus’ mind races back to his childhood when the scrolls had been read in the synagogue. The prophet Isaiah had written of the promised Messiah, who would be "A light to the nations . . . to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison, and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness" (Isaiah 42:7).

"Those who sit in darkness . . ." Bartimaeus has been in the darkness for so long, he has forgotten what it’s like to see the light. He has been locked in the dungeon for so long; he’s stopped believing anyone could care. But could it be? It is possible that Jesus might care for those who sit in darkness? Bartimaeus' heart begins to pound, "I must talk to Him!"

Suddenly Bartimaeus is surrounded by a sea of bodies. The sound of the crowd is deafening, and he feels himself being swept away. He gropes at the air, trying to grab anyone toward him, but it's no use. Finally, in desperation, he cries out, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"

Do we realize how vulnerable Bartimaeus is right now? He's shouting into a storm. He has no idea whether Jesus is three blocks away, or standing right in front of him. He can't know whether or not Jesus is paying attention. Where does his courage come from? The courage to be so vulnerable?

Well, Mark’s gospel doesn't tell us this, but I think it’s possible that Jesus has walked this road before. We know that Jesus has made other trips to Jericho; perhaps on one of his journeys, he passed this same blind beggar on the side of the road. Before, Bartimaeus was so caught up in the pressure of eking out an existence, he didn’t notice Jesus – he missed the opportunity to be healed.

But not this time! Bartimaeus can't keep quiet. He has lived in personal pain for so long, he doesn’t worry about what other people think. He has lived with public disgrace so long, he could care less about social acceptance. He’s tired of being blind – he’s tired of being invisible. Bartimaeus is NOT going to miss another opportunity! So, he turns his face toward the howling crowd and cries out again, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"

And Mark’s gospel tells us, Jesus stops and says, "Call him here.”

What's going on in Bartimaeus’ mind now? Maybe he can't believe his ears. Maybe he has no idea what is about to happen. Or, just maybe, Bartimaeus has a growing confidence that Jesus will do for him, what he’s done for so many others. Maybe Jesus will take the broken pieces of his life and put them back together again.

And in this moment of faith, Bartimaeus does something you don’t usually see blind people do, he runs! He throws off his coat, jumps to his feet, and dashes towards Jesus’ voice, stumbling and tripping and falling and banging into people. He may have missed Jesus before, but he's not going to squander this opportunity.

Bartimaeus can't see where Jesus is standing, so Jesus meets him on the way. And now, in this holy moment, the one who has lived in darkness stands before the Light of the World.

And Jesus asks, "What do you want me to do for you?" It's a question we’ve heard before. Earlier in Mark’s gospel, Jesus asks the same question of James and John. “What do you want me to do for you?” But the answers are completely different. James and John answer in terms of power and prestige. Bartimaeus, son of the "honored one," answers out of his need, saying, "Rabbi, I want to see again."

James and John are bargaining. Bartimaeus is broken. James and John are maneuvering for power. Bartimaeus is surrendering his life. James and John are completely blind. Bartimaeus has 20/20 vision!

James and John have seen everything Jesus is doing, yet still, they are blind. They are unwilling to be vulnerable, to admit their need. But Bartimaeus knows he needs something from Jesus; He knows Jesus can do for him, what he cannot do for himself. Bartimaeus needs grace, and he runs to it.

Grace is always offered to us – but to receive grace in its fullness, we must see our need.

According to the Gospel of Mark, this healing miracle is the last public miracle of Jesus' ministry. It's as if the gospel reminds us, "If you want to see true discipleship, look at Bartimaeus."

Following Jesus begins when we stop trying to maneuver ourselves, stop trying to get in good with God and begin to surrender. Following Jesus means that we stop trying to live on our own power and begin trusting in God's power. Following Jesus may begin with this prayer: “Lord, help us to see again. Help us to see where we are blind, to see our pains and fears, to see where we are in bondage, to see where we have distorted Your truth. Lord Jesus, we want to see!”

As we move through this holy season of Lent, perhaps now is the time to ask ourselves, “How is my vision?” Recognize our need for grace. Look at Jesus through the eyes of Bartimaeus.

"But he can't see!" we say.

Oh yes, he can. Oh yes, he can!

Rev. Tonya M. Arnesen

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