Good Morning. In our Gospel Lesson, we begin Jesus final approach to Jerusalem, which sets us up for Lent, beginning Wednesday, which is Ash Wednesday. For this morning, our focus is not just the miracle healing of Bartimaeus, but the question Jesus asked Bartimaeus after calling him forward, “What do we want me to do for you?”
Miracles in the Bible can actually be a distraction, as the miracles are meant to point to something greater. St. John’s Gospel doesn’t even have any miracles. He has Signs, to make sure you know they are pointing to something else, and not an end in themselves. Feeding of the 5000 in the Wilderness -
The miracle, the sign is amazing. And we have a few clues to point us to where we should look. First is Bartimaeus name. Only a handful of recipients of miracles are actually named. Secondly, we have amazing incident where the God who created the universe stand before him and politely asked, “What do you want me to do for you?” And think for a second, how would you answer God?
Let’s rewind our Gospel lesson. Bartimaeus is a poor blind beggar who sat posted on the pilgrimage road from Jericho to Jerusalem. What the text doesn’t tell you is that the 15-mile road jumps in height about ¾ of a mile over that trip, twice as high as any point in NJ, and higher than any hill in PA, in just 15 mi.
So travelers usually prepped right here, which made it a great spot to beg from pilgrims heading to the temple, especially during the Passover, the busiest time of the year! And Bartimaeus hears a murmuring, the noise of a crowd, coming down the road and was convinced that in this crowd was Jesus of Nazareth.
He hadn’t met Jesus, but everyone has been talking about how he might be the Messiah, so he began shouting at the top of his lungs, “Jesus, son of David, have mercy upon me.” Son of David is a messianic name.
Bartimaeus knew he needed help, and Jesus could provide it. So, he begged from Jesus, like he had begged of others for much of his life. Some of the crowd tried to shut him up, so he had to get even louder, until he was heard.
I think this tells you a lot about the disciples, and the change in attitude before and after the Resurrection. And the problem with miracles. The disciples want to protect Jesus. Protect him from the Romans. Protect him from the Jewish leadership. Why? Because earlier in the day he told them he was going to Jerusalem to be handed over to both to die. After the Resurrection, their whole mission was to continually bring everyone to Jesus, without fear of death. So Bartimaeus is hushed, and the more he is hushed, the more he cries out, not for healing, but for Mercy. Son of David, Have Mercy on Me! And God Stops.
Jesus calls for Bartimaeus to be brought to Him. Bartimaeus stands, and casts away his garment, following Jesus’ call. Mark actually uses a word that is only used twice in the New Testament. A word which signifies more than just casting away, but flinging it off, to make sure he could get there as fast as possible. Cloaks and robes at that time were not just bulky, but hung down to your feet, making it hard to move quickly without throwing it off, or grabbing it up.
Hebrews 12:1 uses this idea when it says let us throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race set out for us. Entangles there means hang about our heels like a snare to trip us up. That’s what sin does.
Bartimaeus cast off the garments keeping him from walking quickly to Christ just like we should cast off our sin. And when Bartimaeus comes to Jesus, Jesus asked him that question that we might miss the oddness of if we weren’t paying attention. “What do you want me to do for you?” Did anyone catch how weird that was btw? You’re blind and beg at the roadside to survive. Aren't your needs evident?
Many came to Christ to touch him or crying out “Son of David, Have Mercy upon Me,” but we don’t see Jesus asking any of them “What do you want me to do for you?” He just gave them what they needed. But here he asks THE question “What do you want for me to do for you?” This question is here, once again because of context. It is a repeat of the question the Gospels of Matthew and Mark record was asked by Jesus just a few verses earlier.
There Jesus asked the apostles James and John that same question before they asked him for the top positions of Honor in the Kingdom of God. “... That we may sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.”
James and John, the Sons of Thunder according to Jesus, saw themselves as THE 2 greatest apostles, and wanted their honor publicly known. They were the sons of thunder because they always wanted to destroy who they perceived to be Jesus enemies. Bar Timaeus, and this is neat, his name literally means “Bar” son of, and Timeaus, which means one who is honored or ransomed. The one who was honored or ransomed by God saw himself as a beggar and pleaded for his Lord to simply make him whole.
Bartimaeus was physically blind. James and John were spiritually blind to what they were asking God to do, but didn’t realize it.
They could not see what was involved in what they asked. Bartimaeus was a man who knew he had shortcomings and needed to be made whole. He needed Jesus.
And one last neat thing. After healing Bartimaeus, Jesus tells him to Go your way!” And we are told he immediately left everything to follow Jesus to Jerusalem where He would be crucified for him, and for us.
When we approach God, asking for what we believe we need or want, we many times need to be reminded of who we are. In our Liturgy, hopefully you notice how all of our services begin with confession. Morning prayer begins with a prayer asking God for Forgiveness. Holy Communion begins with a collect for purity.
Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit
Before anything else, we recognize God’s Holiness and he can make us whole.
To see ourselves as God sees us is to realize our limitations. One interesting thing about reading the lives of saints is to see how the more and greater their devotion and study, the more they realize and see themselves to be sinners, and in need of God’s grace and healing.
Let us pray that we also, can cast off the things that hinder us, and come to Him who so willingly came to us for our Salvation.
