"Get up. Your faith has made you well," says Jesus to no-longer blind Bartimaeus. What an extraordinary healing! How did Bartimaeus make this happen? Wrong question. Miracles in the Bible point us to the healer - Jesus Christ. When we focus on Jesus we see God revealed in the One who can bring us from darkness into light so that we become aware of what really matters in life and death.
Notice some details in this story in Mark 10: 46-52. Sitting by the side of the road, Blind Bartimaeus is a blind beggar - ie. a man outside of any family support and unable to participate in any of the "normal" activities of family/town/culture. Because he can't SEE Jesus, Bartimaeus is told that Jesus of Nazareth is walking past - ie. Jesus as identified by his home town means Jesus would be perceived as mere man, peasant of low status by virtue of his birth. But... Bartimaeus calls out to Jesus as "Son of David." Somehow Bartimaeus knows Jesus to be the Messiah, the Christ, the anointed One destined to fulfill God's promise that King David's descendant would reign over Israel forever. How does Bartimaeus know this about Jesus? How do any of us KNOW OR SEE THIS TRUTH?
Some in the crowd urge Bartimaeus to be quiet. I envision Archie Bunker saying to Edith in the tv show, "All in the Family": "Stifle!" But Bartimaeus won't be stifled or stopped. He throws off his cloak - ie. his most treasured possession as a beggar which keeps him warm through the cold winter nights. Just as Bartimaeus leaves his cherished treasure behind in the hope of healing, what are we willing to renounce to follow Jesus and beg for sight - for insight - for wisdom - for healing - for transformation?
Bartimaeus won't keep still as he springs to action. Jesus stops for Bartimaeus and asks him, "What do you want me to do for you?" Bartimaeus' response - "Let me see again" - understands that it is Jesus who has the authority and power to bring him his sight. Jesus responds to Bartimaeus' need, showing us that he, as God revealed, has the power to conquer our brokenness. This is a testimony of hope - of trust in the ability of God to accomplish much more than all we can ask or imagine.
How do we respond to this good news? First with praise, such as that from Psalm 34: 1-8: "I will bless the Lord at all times. God's praise shall continually be in my mouth...[We will] taste and see that the Lord is good." Second, we respond with our behavior - our actions - our decisions. In this time of being called to be good stewards of God's blessings already bestowed on us, we respond by pledging our treasured possessions, so that we too might be testimonies of hope to an unseeing world.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Shelley
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