Key Text: They which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, thou Son of David, have mercy on me (Luke 18:39).
Jesus is passing through Jericho in Judea because he is on his way to Jerusalem in the Jordan Valley. It is his last trip to Jerusalem. His ministry is now drawing to a close and is in route to his crucifixion. The gospel of St. Luke recounts the story of a poor blind man named Bartimaeus (from the Aramaic word Bah, meaning ‘son of’), which precedes the darkness that awaits Jesus.
Jesus meets a blind man sitting by the side of the road, begging. When Bartimaeus hears that Jeus of Narareth is passing by, he cries out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Bartimaeus identifies Jesus as part of David’s lineage because he heard the stories about Jesus’s lineage and he heard about Jesus’s miraculous deeds. It is important to note that Bartimaeus is not asking for money, but something deeper and he also uses Jesus’s royal title, which means that he can fully see what few others do. The Messianic Secret of Jesus’s identity is known to those who “see” better than everyone else, including those who have been with Jesus all along.
Many in the crowd, however, tell the man to be quiet. This represents all of those who try to keep us from changing, who with their hopelessness and despair and even contempt tell us not to try. This also represents the voice of all those who seek to keep the “important people” from hearing the voice of the masses. Or, perhaps they were protecting Jesus from being “disturbed.” Sounds familiar? But Bartimaeus has hope and in desperation, he shouts out even louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus does not rebuke Bartimaeus for revealing His identity. Instead, Jesus stops (Greek: stas), and recognizes the poor man sitting by the road. Attentively, Jesus tells the same people who were shushing Bartimaeus, “Call him here.” In response, the people tell Bartimaeus to “Take heart; get up, he is calling you.” Bartimaeus throws off his cloak, leaps up and stands before Jesus. Then Jesus asks him, “What do you want me to do for you?” Bartimaeus says “My teacher, let me see again.” Jesus says, “Go, your faith has made you well.” Immediately Bartimaeus’ sight is restored and he follows Jesus on “the way”, as a disciple of Jesus. This implies that Bartimaeus would now share in the itinerant life of Jesus and the Twelve.
No physical touch is required for the healing; Jesus’s word is sufficient. The story of Bartimaeus underscores the idea that discipleship means following Jesus into places of suffering. It is also a story about our desire and conversion experience. God invites us to be honest about what we desire and remain in the conversation. Naming our desires is a sign of humility. We should stand before God aware of our limitations, and remember God listens to the heart. Like the crowd and “the past” Bartimaeus must let go of, we too must throw aside our cloak, a beautiful symbol of conversion, sprang up, and follow Christ to see His future. AMEN & MERRY CHRISTMAS!
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