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Scripture: Psalm 34:1-8, 19-22: Of David, when he feigned madness before Abimelech, so that he drove him out, and he went away. I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together. I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Look to him, and be radiant, so your faces shall never be ashamed. This poor soul cried and was heard by the Lord and was saved from every trouble. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him and delivers them. O taste and see that the Lord is good; happy are those who take refuge in him. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord rescues them from them all. He keeps all their bones; not one of them will be broken. Evil brings death to the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be condemned. The Lord redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned. Mark 10:46-52: 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. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 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.” So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. 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.” Jesus said to him, “Go; your faith has made you well.” Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way. Message:
Friends it is a great joy to be with you all today and I bring with me greetings on behalf of all the other congregations in the Presbytery of Wyoming. So today, I would like to spend some time talking about what this specific passage Mark has to say about grace and healing…and what I feel is a larger message about God’s grace in healing revealed to us in scripture and Jesus Christ. This text in Mark invites us all to recognize and respond to the word and person of Jesus as he leads the procession, calls others to follow, heals and grants mercy. Perhaps the invitation contains and echo of the question that Jesus posed to his disciples on the way: “Who do people say that I am?”. Jesus is not Elijah or one of the prophets; he is the Christ. His name or title must reflect his work and person. The echo of the question is heard as our attention is directed immediately to a blind beggar. That Jesus will engage a blind person is no longer surprising, because Jesus has previously healed a blind man in Bethsaida (8:22-26). However, unlike the many other people healed by Jesus, this blind man is actually recalled by his Aramaic name, Bartimaeus, which means “son of Timaeus” or “son of honor.” The names for Jesus also find expression in this passage. The blind man uses several titles: Jesus of Nazareth, Son of David, and teacher (rabbouni). Many people who join the procession on the way will also welcome Jesus with words “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David!” They will regard Jesus with the honor attributed to the memory and legacy of the throne of David. We can picture the early church debating and proclaiming that the highest honor must be ascribed to Jesus (12:35-37). Indeed, Mark has already informed the reader that this Gospel is about Jesus Christ, the Son of God (1:1). One think that takes place in this story from Mark that I want us to recognize…I want us to reflect on how troubling it appears that this blind man is discouraged from seeking Jesus. Those around Jesus have often made it difficult for others to get close (2:2-2), even disciples of Jesus speak sternly (10:13), perhaps in their efforts to keep Jesus from being overwhelmed. For Bartimaeus, would the stigma of his disability or his dishonorable trade of begging provide the justification for his exclusion from the procession? This blind man is not dissuaded by the rebukes of the insider group. He persists until his shouts are recognized. He understands that being restored to honor, productivity, and well-being will require the mercy of the one whom he reveres as the Son of David. Bartimaeus refuses to be defined by his circumstances or by the expectations of those who are able to see, who appear to be close to Jesus, and who assume the right to speak on his behalf. He ensures that his call will be heard by Jesus. The persistence of Bartimaeus sets in motion a wave of mercy, blessing and change. Bartimaeus calls out to Jesus for mercy. Jesus calls for him. Those around Jesus call him to Jesus. His breakthrough of mercy begins with the recognition that those who once enjoined him not to bother Jesus of Nazareth are now transformed. They are no longer speaking sternly to him. Indeed, their excitement is palpable; Take heart! Cheer up! Get up! On your feed! He is calling to you! They have become witnesses to and vessels of mercy. The blind man is portrayed as a model of Christian discipleship. He comes to Jesus and does so by casting aside his cloak. It is quite reasonable to regard his cloak as representing his most treasured possession. It has kept him warm through the cold nights. It may also hold the meager spoils of his begging. In his act of throwing off his cloak, we see the image of one who leaves his former life behind. To those who have always known honor, power, affluence, and prestige, this image reminds us of the transforming effect of the gospel to call forth a life of renunciation and dramatic change. But there is more, the image challenges us to reflect on the life circumstances of the world’s poor and destitute who call out continuously for mercy. Like and unlike Bartimaeus…Most have no security blanket, no coats to keep them warm and no hope for a better life. What, therefore, are the words and actions of mercy to the socially and economically disadvantaged persons who live in despair in the world? They cry out…but what do they hear in response…Words from Christ’s disciples to be silent…or Words of Christ to come to him… The Gospel writer locates the power of this miraculous encounter in the invitation of the man named Bartimaeus. He calls out to Jesus. He comes to Jesus. He articulates his desire to receive his sight. Jesus enables this process by asking him “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asks no such question when, based on the faith of some friends, he forgives and heals a paralyzed man (2:1-12); or when the man in the synagogue comes to him with a withered hand (3:1-6). But this passage brings together faith, wholeness and discipleship. In this conversation Bartimaeus uses rabbouni as the title of honor. It may be that he has comprehended that discipleship will involve teaching, learning, understanding, seeing, and hearing. If that is the case, then Bartimaeus is an excellent candidate. His request that he should see become the pathway to his salvation. In other words, he is not only allowed to see physically. He is granted the mercy that allows him to see the way to salvation. His healing may also be contrasted with that of the blind man who is led out of the village, has saliva placed on his eyes, and is healed in stages as Jesus lays hands on him twice (8:22-26). Unlike this man, Bartimaeus, in familiar Markian language, is healed immediately and follows Jesus on the way. Finaly, Bartimaeus is a model of discipleship because he is a person of faith (10:52). His capacity to see and comprehend reminds us that the disciples seem not to perceive or understand, to see or to hear (8:14-21). In this passage, Jesus draws attention to the faith of Bartimaeus; and we are invited through the words of Jesus to see the relationship between faith and wholeness, faith and salvation. These elements are powerfully combined when we hear and respond to the words of mercy: Go, your faith has made you well. God, your faith has healed you. Go, your faith had made you whole. But I want to ask you something about this moment of healing and grace…who was healed? Bartimaeus…only him…or everyone around him…including the disciples! When Christ healed someone…he often healed more that just that person…but we often don’t always realize it. What other stories of healing do you know in scripture that Jesus did? Hemorrhaging woman? Girl brought to life? Someone resurrected? Someone cleaned? I have known healing in my life…it wasn’t physical…it my of my spirit, my soul, it was a healing of some pretty bad things that had ingrained into who I was. LOVING WELCOME AT OAKHURST…FEET WASHING…I was healed. Friends, who around you in your community needs healing? Who needs God’s grace and mercy…and who even here in this room could be healing in some way through the work of God healing those people in your community…by using you to be the mechanism in which they could be healing…they encounter the love and grace and mercy of God. Friends, I can tell you without any doubt what so ever…we all need the healing that Christ brings to us. We may not even recognize it. I pray that by the power of the Holy Spirit we can experience it, bring it to those in your community and be healed ourselves…by the grace of God, let it be so!!! Amen
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