Blind Old Bartimaeus
In this morning’s men’s bible study, we discussed one of the stories we read for today’s bible reading plan: the story of blind Bartimaeus.
It’s one of my favorite stories in Mark for two reasons.
First, when I was interviewing for to be the pastor here at Central, I was asked to lead a bible study – and this is the story I chose to do. As I was reflecting on the story in preparation of that bible study, the ideas and message seemed to be leaping off the page at me. I remember thinking to myself at the time, “if this is my experience of studying the bible in preparation for work at Central, I’m really excited about what God could be doing!” So the story has had a special place for me since then.
But the real reason I love it is because it is Mark’s “ideal” picture of discipleship:
it’s what following Jesus should look like.
It comes in chapter 10 of the Gospel of Mark, after three related and important stories: Jesus welcoming helpless children to himself in spite of the disciples trying to stop them, the rich man who doesn’t follow Jesus because he has too much stuff, and the argument from James and John about trying to claim power in Jesus’ kingdom. Bartimaeus comes next, and is the model of following Jesus that shows us the way.
It starts with him being “by the roadside” – on the sidelines, and it ends with him following Jesus “along the road”.
This is a story of a man who gets in the game with Jesus.
Even though he can’t see (he’s blind), he can see who Jesus is: the Son of David, as in King David. It’s a recognition of Jesus as King (and Lord), which is the first step towards following Jesus: acknowledging him as king.
He desires to come to Jesus but, like with what happened to the children, he too was stopped by the crowd. But he shouted all the louder. He persisted.
His faith in Jesus was stronger than his fear of the crowd.
Whereas the rich man couldn’t follow because he had too much, Bartimaeus came with absolutely nothing. With empty hands, he simply sought mercy. The one thing he did have – his cloak – which he’d spread out on the road to collect spare change from passersby, he threw off when Jesus called him. The rich man couldn’t give anything away, the poor blind man gave up everything.
Whereas James and John wanted power in God’s kingdom – they wanted to be recognized as rulers, Bartimaeus just sought to see – to be able to recognize anything at all. When his sight was restored, the one thing he did recognize was the way of Jesus, which he followed him on. Quite different from what James and John were seeking after.
But one of the details we talked about this morning that has never quite struck me yet, is how Bartimaeus threw off his cloak (the one thing he had) and “sprang up” or “jumped to his feet” to come to Jesus. It made me think,
What do I need to throw off so I can jump to my feet to follow Jesus?
How about you?
What do you need to throw off in order to follow Jesus on the road?
Trust in possessions and wealth? Your understanding of and quest for power or position or status? A certain hurtful behavior? A past you just can’t shake? A dream that is not yet fulfilled? A way of thinking, a way of seeing, a way of reasoning? A bit of jealousy or resentment or hate that has its teeth in you?
In a kind of preview of Sunday’s message, what do you need to “repent” from?
Whatever it is, the message of the Gospel is that it’s worth throwing off, because
when you do, you find life in Christ;
when you do, you will receive a hundred times as much;
when you do, you find yourself on the road with Jesus and Bartimaeus;
And that’s where you want to be.
Join us for more this Sunday!