Dear Congregation,
A life philosophy you have heard and may have sadly adhered to is this: Don't ask for too much.
Keep your head down. Life is hard. If you never get your hopes up you'll never have a bad fall.
Oh, and never, ever let any pie-in-the-sky daydream come your way. Hello reality. This will only hurt you more.
Let me speak as a single, foster to adopt dad for a moment and say this life philosophy is junk. It is depressing, hurtful, and systematically sad.
In our text this Sunday, September 29, Bartimaeus does something you can do, too. He doesn't just follow Jesus like the large crowd is doing. He actually pulls a Jacob and asks Jesus for mercy.
What I mean by "pull a Jacob" is that this man without sight actually sees what Jesus can do. Like Jacob who wrestles God/an angel for his blessing (Genesis 32:22-32), Bartimaeus boldly asks the Son of David to bless him with mercy.
An important and empowering part of this lectionary text this Sunday is that Baritmaeus throws aside his coat, jumps, and rushes toward Jesus.
Uh. Remember, he's still blind!
If this text is to empower you, please soul search and ask where you are blind. Wonder why you have not jumped up when, in fact you know Jesus blesses you with mercy, vision and a path to follow.
We all take time to sit out sometimes. It may be necessary for a very short time. Like Barimaeus, however, we all need to call out to Jesus. Then, we need to get up and rush toward the One who enables us to see who He is and what He can do for ourselves and for others.
Mark 10:46-52, NLT
Jesus Heals Blind Bartimaeus
46 Then they reached Jericho, and as Jesus and his disciples left town, a large crowd followed him. A blind beggar named Bartimaeus (son of Timaeus) was sitting beside the road. 47 When Bartimaeus heard that Jesus of Nazareth was nearby, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
48 “Be quiet!” many of the people yelled at him.
But he only shouted louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
49 When Jesus heard him, he stopped and said, “Tell him to come here.”
So they called the blind man. “Cheer up,” they said. “Come on, he’s calling you!” 50 Bartimaeus threw aside his coat, jumped up, and came to Jesus.
51 “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked.
“My Rabbi,[a]” the blind man said, “I want to see!”
52 And Jesus said to him, “Go, for your faith has healed you.” Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus down the road.[b]