The Healing Of Blind Bartimaeus

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.