Have you ever felt as if your life has come to a standstill? As if you have been relegated to the side of the road as the rest of the world passes by? Do you think it would take a miracle to get your life back on track again? So did Bartimaeus. But one day he took a chance and all of his dreams came true. The same can happen to you. Let's consider his story.
It was another beautiful day in Jericho. The sun was shining. The palm trees were blowing in the breeze. The sea air tantalized the nose. And Herod's resort city was bustling with the noise of pilgrims on the way to Jerusalem for the Passover. It was a good day to be alive. Unless you were one of the countless beggars that lined the road that lead out of the city. Then this day was just like the countless others that seemed to stretch to the horizon. If one was lucky they might garner a few coins from the travelers enroute to the grand feast. More than likely they would be overlooked. Left to sit as the rest of the world passed by. Reduced to a few crumbs and a shoddy blanket under the hot sun. It was doubly worse for Bartimaeus. Not only was he destitute - he was blind. Had been since birth. And when his parents had died he was forced to beg along the Jericho road. He could not even enjoy the bright sun or the waving palm trees. His world extended only as far as his hands can reach and his ears can hear. So while others excitedly rushed on to Jerusalem and the celebration - Bartimaeus sat. If he had any hopes or dreams he kept them deep inside - not that anyone would listen to a blind old beggar anyway.
Have you ever felt that way? Perhaps not materially poor - but spiritually? Your hopes and dreams shelved away in some deep recess of your soul? Perhaps you wanted to share them - but someone cut you off or sold you short. Now your eyes have grown dim and your vision for better days has darkened. So you sit as others march by busy with lives you can only envy.
But today there are big doings in Jericho. The town is abuzz. It seems yesterday the prophet from Nazareth on his way to the Passover feast came and invited himself to a dinner party with the local tax man Zacchaeus. And now the little man has become a big man in the eyes of God. And rumor has it that Jesus and his men are marching on Jerusalem to usher in the kingdom. And even now the crowds are gathering to make this a victory parade. The news spreads out to the beggars at the city gates. Did you hear? Did you hear? Jesus is coming. Jesus is coming. The atmosphere is charged with excitement. Perhaps there will be a few more coins today. Perhaps this Jesus will open his coffers and spread a little gold and silver around to the less fortunate in his coming kingdom.
Bartimaeus sits and ponders the news. Jesus. Jesus. Where has he heard that name before? Wait that's it. He had heard it in the excited conversations of travelers from Galilee. Is this the man who people say can heal the sick? Make the lame to walk? The dumb to talk? The blind to see?... The blind to see? Slowly the cold embers of a dead dream begin to warm. A small spark flashes across the soul of one man. Oh to see. To get up from this dusty roadside and walk into a life like other men. To see the face of a wife - a child. To see a sunset. A wildflower. A myriad of colors and shapes and sizes. To see...could it be? Faith begins with just such a question.
The parade has reached the city gates. The crowd noisily pushes forward to catch a glimpse of this man Jesus. He is trying to teach above the roar of the people, but it seems a lost cause. They go forward carried by the overwhelming flood of enthusiasm. Then above the tumult - a voice cries out. "Son of David! Have mercy on me!" Some turn to look and see the silly old man on his knees. "Son of David have mercy on me!" "Shut-up old man! Cannot you see that Jesus has no time for a blind beggar like you?" Yet he is not silenced. Now is his one chance and he must see it through. "Son of David! Please! Have mercy on me!"
Have you ever cried out to the Lord? Have you ever wanted something so bad that you would risk ridicule and rebuke? Have you had a dream so powerful that not even the world itself could stop you from calling out? If you haven't then you aren't quite ready for what happens next. For only those who are willing to persevere in the face of obstacles can make their voices be heard above the din of this world. Only one willing to expend to the end their resources will ever find renewed strength. If faith begins with a question - it grows with a cry for mercy.
Now what happens next is one of the most powerful events in all of Scripture. Jesus stops...Hours away from the triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Days away from the Upper Room and the Last Supper. A week away from the shameful and painful death on the cross. Jesus stops. In the midst of a hurricane of human voices - one voice arrests him. Above the cheering - he hears one solitary man crying. And the parade comes to a screeching halt. "Call him."
Ponder this for a moment with me. Jesus stopped. Facing what will be the most traumatic days of his life - days in which the fate of the entire world hangs in the balance - Jesus is willing to let destiny stand still so he can attend to the needs of one man. Do you know He still lets the world wait today when we call upon him? The Son of God is willing to stop to hear you when you pray. He knows your questions - he hears your cry for mercy and now He is willing to put other things on hold - for you. Amid the hustle and bustle of life - Can you hear the voices of angels: "Cheer up! On your feet! He's calling you"? This is the call to faith.
It’s the moment of truth for Bartimaeus. And he makes a tremendous leap of faith. Casting off the cloak which is the only world he has known for so many years, he leaves the side of the road and enters life again. "What do you want me to do for you?" Jesus had asked that question once before. When James and John had asked to be seated at his right and left hand in heaven he had refused them. They had asked for glory - Bartimaeus asks for grace. "Rabbi, I want to see."
What a model of true faith! Here is a man willing to step out from the world he has known all his life. Willing to cast off the past and reach out for a bold, yet uncertain future. Willing to put his trust in the words of one who claims to be the Son of God. Yet this is the kind of faith that breaks through the darkness and grabs hold of the light. This is the one who will see Jesus. Are you ready to leave the roadside? Are you ready to give up the comfortable cocoon of the life you have been living? Can you cast aside the self-righteousness, the pride, and the shackles of sin? If so, be ready to answer him when he asks - "What do you want me to do for you?" And remember to ask for grace and not for glory. Because it is in the answer that the miracle of faith occurs.
"Rabbi, I want to see..." Scarcely have the words left his lips when unbearable light pours into darkened eyes. Bartimaeus squints and opens again to a world awash in colors. He sees first the smiling face of the one who has brought a dead dream to life. "Go...your faith has healed you." "Go?! Go?! No, Lord, I want to follow. To follow you wherever you may lead." And with that Bartimaeus left the side of the road for good and began again the journey of life with Christ as his guide.
This is the story of Bartimaeus. But it could be the story of any of us. For all of us have blind spots in our lives. Each of us at one time or another has found ourselves stalled along the road of life. Sin has reduced us all to being beggars outside the city gates of heaven. But there is good news today. Jesus is still passing by. He is still walking the highways and byways of life looking for those whom life has passed by. His ears are open to our cries for mercy. He is still willing to stop for those who seek his grace. When he calls will you have your priorities straight? Will you be able to answer when he asks "What can I do for you?" "Lord, I want to see?" And when he has healed your blindness are you ready to follow him down the disciple's road? Bartimaeus when given his chance took a leap of faith into the Savior's arms of love...and a new life. Today is the day to ponder the question...Am I laying or leaping?
