Text: Mark 10:46-52
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52 And Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way.
Jesus in making his way to Jerusalem and his passion, passes through Jericho - and the walls came tumbling down. No, not this time, but something even bigger is about to happen!
The last few weeks we’ve talked about material wealth in this life, its importance and how it can turn you away from the gift of mercy and grace given by faith freely in the God/man Jesus Christ and his work for the salvation of all who believe.
Matthew, Mark and Luke all tell a similar story but in different ways and for different audiences but St. Mark brings to our ears the name of a blind beggar.
46 … And as [Jesus] was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside.
For the Jews, it was believed that those who had wealth in this life - had God’s blessing and favor. So, it was also believed that those who had calamity and trouble in this life were receiving God’s distain and punishment.
You might remember in the Gospel of John the disciples asking Jesus about the man born blind,
2 And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. John 9:2-3
Seeing those by the side of the road crying and begging for help was a common part of Jewish life and expected help came along the way and not what we might see and think of as pan handlers in our day – though in our life there is sill need for help, but there are many and various ways to bring that help to those in need.
47 And when [the blind man] heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
Saint Paul writes to the church at Corinth:
3 Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.
The proclaiming of “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” is by God’s working through his Holy Spirit a recognition and proclamation of the truth that Jesus is Lord and Lord of this blind beggar Bartimaeus. This truth had been heard and revealed to him and now this Lord, son of David and promised Messiah is here.
Faith comes by hearing and he had heard and believed in this yet unseen Jesus.
Remember, Thomas after the resurrection who wouldn’t believe until he placed his fingers in the nail holes and hand into his side.
29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:29
We are told to keep our faith to our selves but when the truth and Spirit overtake you, you can not keep quiet.
48 And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
Have you ever called out in desperation for the attention of someone?
I have. 1968, Tiger Stadium, third base side, upper deck. Right below me – sitting right below me - was Mickey Stanley. I was a huge fan. I’m screaming Mickey! Mickey! All I want is a turn and a wave from my hero. Mickey! Mickey! After my voice is horse and I’m almost overcome, Jim Price who was sitting next to him and had tried to get him to acknowledge my calls, turns, looks up, waves and give us a big smile.
To this day I love Jim Price.
Not so much, Mickey Stanley,
Mickey Who?
49 And Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart. Get up; he is calling you.”
Jesus hears his cries and recognized his grief. He stops what he was doing and turns to answer his cries.
50 And throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus.
Bartimaeus would not be denied. He knew who was passing by, not some mere mortal, not a sports figure, not a politician, promising things that he’ll forget and never deliver on. No, this was Jesus, Son of David, God’s Messiah, God incarnate.
51 And Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?”
In the world we want riches, we want fame, we want that which we can’t have.
Don’t ask for sight, the world can’t deliver.
Look for temporal wealth.
A blind man can do alright if he has money.
He can hire those who will meet his needs. Even the Jews kept the Sabbath Day by hiring someone, a gentile, to do the work they required so they might remail undefiled and holy.
A Shabbas goy was a gentile who performed tasks for Jews in the home or synagogue on the Sabbath or on a holy day that Jews are forbidden on such occasions to do, as turning on the lights or heat.
Colin Powell who passed away this past week aa young man worked as a Shabbas Goy.
And the blind man said to him, “Rabbi, let me recover my sight.”
He knows with whom he is talking and though not seeing Jesus trusts that he can give him the one thing he desires that the world can’t give him. He wants his eyesight restored.
52 And Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way.
The rich young man went his way sad because he had great possessions.
The disciples asked “then who can be saved?” If not the rich than who?
Martin Luther knew this too.
Nearing death and knowing the end was near, he wrote his last will and testament. It began with the words, "I am well known in heaven, on earth, and in hell," - a true statement of the result of his bold stance throughout his life.
In his last moments, Luther was asked by his friend Justus Jonas, "Do you want to die standing firm on Christ and the doctrine you have taught?" He answered emphatically, "Yes!" [Yaa!] Luther's, last words were: "We are beggars. This is true."
"We are beggars. This is true." —Martin Luther
https://www.ligonier.org/learn/articles/martin-luthers-last-words
“Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit
Amen
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