Seeing

Robert E. Hall
Tarrytown United Methodist Church

October 25, 2008

Text: Mark 10: 35-52

The disciples, James and John, sons of Zebedee have asked Jesus to “do for them whatever they ask.”

These are two of the earliest disciples to leave all behind and follow Jesus. These are Jesus’ friends. And when a friend asks for a favor, you try to help.

So Jesus asks them, “What do you want me to do for you?”

“Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.”

This is like you or I asking of our friend, who is slated to be the boss of the company, for a position of prominence alongside her when she moved to the top floor.

James and John have been told three times now that Jesus will suffer and die and be reaised----that that is great suffering ahead. But James and John can only think of the glory, not the cross. It is not enough to be in Jesus’ company; they want places of special dignity!

Jesus says to them, “You don’t know what you are asking! Are you able to go through what I will go through?”

Jesus’ patience with his friends is remarkable. They are focusing on political power and the joy of ruling. And so Jesus reminds them again that they, as leaders, must learn to be servant leaders, not lords of the manor.

They cannot yet see what Jesus is doing!

This conversation must have been an “on the road” conversation, for they came to Jericho. And then when they were leaving, walking up to Jerusalem, they encounter a blind beggar by the side of the road, Bartimaeus, son of Timaeus.

He is screaming for help. “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” And he would not stop, even when his fellow citizens told him to do so!

Blindness was widespread, a major malady. Wind, sand, sun, flies----these resulted in severe conjunctivitis. Many were blind from birth. And the blind were dependent on the kindness of strangers.

In the Bible, there were laws related to the blind. “Don’t put a stumbling block….” “Don’t mislead….”

But poverty and hardship marked the lot of most blind people. The common opinion was that the blind must have done something to bring this on themselves.

Jesus stopped when he heard the cries of Bartimaeus. Then Jesus said (to whom?), “Call him.” We know that Jesus had set his face toward Jerusalem. But compassion interrupts the agenda.

We may have our days all planned out when the phone call of a friend in distress changes our plans.

Or, when we are hurting and we cry out (by texting or phone) to a friend, we hope they are interrupt-able!

Jesus does not explain diseases. And he does not have contempt for the handicapped. In fact, his ministry is closely bound up with those who are frail and feeble of body and soul. Sickness, Jesus believed, was not sent as punishment. It was not God’s work but the work of the Great Destroyer. Jesus did not believe that the sick are to remain so, to learn patience. And illness of body and mind that could be healed should be healed. It was not a part of the fated order of things.

Jesus’ response then was to use his healing powers to heal, to release people from bondage to their illnesses.

Bartimaeus’s friends pass on the word. (Maybe this guy woulod at least stop yelling!) “Take heart, courage, he is calling you.”

 Bartimaeus jumps up, sheds his outer cloak (a prized possession for a person in his predicament!) and comes to where he is being called. Does he feel his way along toward the voice of Jesus? Is he helped by the disciples? We do not know.

Jesus speaks to him the same question he asked the disciples not so long ago:

“What do you want me to do for you?”

As I picture this scene, (everybody is a playwright!) I like to see James and John cringing as they hear these words; maybe Jesus looks over at them just before he asks the question.

Same question! But a much different answer. “Master, let me receive my sight.”

Bartimaeus is example of a disciple who “sees” more of who Jesus is and what he is about---more than some who can “see.”.

Then Jesus says, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.”
We ask, “What faith?” Is this really faith or desperation? One could make a good case for the belief that faith that is not an act of desperation is not really faith! “Nothing in my hands I bring, simply to the cross I cling,” in the words of the old gospel hymn. Faith has to start somewhere, and for Bartimaeus, this was the beginning of his faith journey. It is a big step, but there will be others, we trust.

“Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the way.”

“Humility, dependence, riskiness and courage…..” And to “give up whatever holds them back from God’s call...” “Faith sits, leaning forward, ready to leap at the opportunity to answer God’s call whenever it may come, and it shows itself willing to shed whatever holds it back from the journey.”(See Andre Resner in Lectionary Commentary: Gospels, Page 264)

What would the church be like if it were more like Bartimaeus in this story and less like James and John? If Jesus asks us, the church, this same question, what would be our answer? And what form would we expect “greatness” and “power” to take?

If Jesus asked you just now, “What would you like me to do for you?” what would you say? What do you most need as one who looks to Jesus for help?

What would we be like if we could more often hear the cries of the wretched of the earth and use our abilities, our influence, for the sake of their hurts and hopes? If we were more like Jesus in serving others rather than being so focused on ourselves?

Jesus, even now, asks.