Bartimaeus – I was blind but now I see
Karen felt called to ministry. Receiving an inner calling can be powerful – and in some churches, that is enough. But in our church, the ELCA, that calling must be confirmed by a candidacy committee that checks to make sure she passed psychological tests graduated from seminary, and was recommended by her internship committee and supervisor, her clinical pastoral care supervisor and her seminary professors. But this is not all. The candidate must also receive an external call – that is, she must be called by a congregation into ministry. I am happy to report that Karen Peterson, our former Vicar, has received that call and so she will be ordained this afternoon. And you are all invited.
In our Gospel story we meet Bartimaeus, whose name means “Son of Timaeus.” I love that Mark tells us his name. Many of the other characters in Mark’s Gospel are not. A few weeks ago, we heard the story of the earnest young rich man who asks what he must do to inherit eternal life. He’s an earnest man, one who follows the commandments but he senses he is missing something and so he asks Jesus. In response, Mark says that Jesus loves him and so he tells him that there is just one more thing that he needs - sell everything and follow him. That’s a strong call. But the rich young man goes away saddened – because he owned many things. Or perhaps they owned him, because all we know about the rich man – is that he was rich and his riches kept him from following Jesus.
Bartimaeus was once claimed and named by and after his father, Timaeus, for that is what his name means: Bar, son of, Timaeus. But we don’t know how or why what happened to his family or how or why Bartimaeus became blind. We only that he is blind and has been reduced to begging by the side of the road. Unlike the rich man, all Bartimaeus owned was a cloak. It was an essential item –a garment to shield him from the hot sun and the fierce wind and to wrap around himself at night - and as a receptacle for the alms that passersby might throw in his lap as he sat by the road. Not everyone did. For many, it was as if he was invisible. He was blind but to the crowd he was almost invisible.
Bartimaeus could not see – but he could hear. As a child he, like all the children, heard the stories about King David and the promise of the Son of David who would come to set the people free. And, from his perch beside the road, he heard all the latest gossip and news including people talking about Jesus, the rabbi who taught with authority and had power to heal. Since he could not work, while Bartimaeus sat and waited for people to see him and to take pity on him and give him a few coins, he had time to ponder and to pray and to listen. And so, when he heard that Jesus was nearby, he cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
No one else in Mark’s Gospel had yet made the connection that Jesus was the Messiah. This was the insight of the man who could not see. But the people around him did not want to listen to him. After all, who was he to call upon Jesus? He was only a blind beggar. They tried to shush him – many even ordered him to be quiet. But – and I love this about Bartimaeus- he refused to be silent. He called out even louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
Like Bartimaeus, Jesus had ears to hear. But notice that he didn’t run over to Bartimaeus. Instead, he stopped and takes the time to heal the crowd first. He told the people, “Call him here.” The people were then forced to see Bartimaeus. Their eyes were opened to see their brother. They echanged their tune from trying to silence him to encouraging him, “Take heart.” Have courage. “Jesus is calling you.” 1
Unlike the rich man, Bartimaeus doesn’t need a second to throw off his cloak – his only possession – and come to Jesus.
Clearly Jesus could see that Bartimaeus is a blind beggar. But Jesus doesn’t simply heal him. Instead, he gives Bartimaeus agency by asking him, “What do you want me to do for you?” This is the same question that Jesus asked James and John just a few verses earlier when they had come to him and asked him for a favor. What they wanted glory. They asked for the honor of sitting at Jesus’ right and left hand. Jesus refused to grant the request of his disciples. But when Bartimaeus asked Jesus, “My teacher, let me see again,” immediately, Jesus restored his sight. He healed Bartimaeus - who was then able to see Jesus with his eyes as well as his heart.
And then immediately, – without a candidacy committee, or seminary or internship, or an external call, Bartimaeus followed Jesus on the way.
Bartimaeus, the blind man, was able to see what his disciples, the rich man, the people in the crowd, were not – that Jesus is the Son of David, the Messiah, the one who has the power to heal and to restore.
In the wake of the election where roughly half of the people – more than half in Minnesota -- are heartbroken, while the other half are happy with the results, I wonder what we can learn from Bartimaeus.
Bartimaeus is a great example for us as believers because he trusts in the call of Jesus and dares to ask for what he needs. Like James and John, we don’t always get what we want. We don’t even always receive what we think would be best. And yet Jesus is still with us – on the road.
And so, those of you who are heart-broken, “Take heart. Be of good courage.” Jesus has not abandoned you – or the people like Bartimaeus, who are vulnerable, those on the side of the road.
And to those of you who are happy with the results, Jesus is calling you, like James and John, not to glory but rather to notice and help those who are hurting, those who are left out, those who are in need of a word of cheer and solace, those who are like Bartimaeus.
Jesus has called us all – and so let us join in trusting in the call of Jesus and dare to ask for what we need and to follow where Christ leads.
November 10, 2024 + Faith-Lilac Way Lutheran Church + Pastor Pam Stalheim Lane
1 https://journeywithjesus.net/essays/1988-let-me-see-againBy Debie ThomasPublished: 21 October 2018