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. When Bartimaeus heard that Jesus of Nazareth was nearby, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
“Be quiet!” many of the people yelled at him.
But he only shouted louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
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!” Bartimaeus threw aside his coat, jumped up, and came to Jesus.
“What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked.
“My rabbi,” the blind man said, “I want to see!”
And Jesus said to him, “Go, for your faith has healed you.” Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus down the road.
Muting the bli
ndA man stopped into our church on Good Friday. He was from a town some 50 miles south of Avon and was going to Rochester to see some family. Friday he was asking for gas money to make the trip back home. He smelled of cigarette smoke and could have stepped into the part of any street dwelling homeless person in a Hollywood movie.
The churches in our town have a fund set up for just such occasions, so I dialed the number and asked if I could give this man a voucher for some gas and send him on his way. The lady on the other end of the line told me the program had been discontinued. I was on my own.
This was not the first time he had stopped into our church. I saw him last fall with a similar request. I imagine I will see him again.
I wrestle with what to do in those situations. I hate being taken advantage of. Like the disciples I want to hush up those shouting along the road begging for a handout from Jesus. Yet Jesus does not ask Blind Bartimaeus to stop shouting, Jesus asks his followers to stop talking and bring Bartimaeus to him. The tables have been turned again.
We don’t hear from Bartimaeus again. He disappears into the crowd. Did he stick with Jesus through Good Friday or take his healing handout and slip back into life as he knew it? I am not sure the answer to that question is really important to us. Sure we should have good follow-up techniques providing continued assistance to those we help. We should try to disciple each person with whom we share the Good News. But knowing that some will take our generosity and waste it cannot stop us from helping them.
I think more often than not the voice of doubt in our minds needs to be muted more than the voice crying out for help.
Jesus I want to become more like you; hearing and having compassion on those who are crying out for help. Keep me from muting those who need assistance and prevent my heart from becoming callused when I am taken advantage of. - Dan Jones
Bart’s smart move
Bart knew people didn’t much care for him. His eyes were unsighted and unsightly. Poverty left his clothes tattered and his smile, for the most part, toothless. “Here’s a coin, now disappear,” would have been most decent folks attitude. But this day was different. No amount of coins would have shut him up.
He may have been blind, but his hearing was keen and his memory sharp. When he heard the crowd getting excited about Jesus he remembered news about this man’s miracles that had trickled south from Galilee. This was his one chance to break out of blindness and poverty!
His loud persistence paid off. He could see! But he wasn’t about to accept Jesus’ gift and run. Of course Jesus gave him that option. This healing didn’t come with any strings attached – no expectations or demands. “Go,” Jesus said. Bart didn’t owe Jesus anything. But how could he leave this man? So, instead of going, he followed.
Smart move. If Bart followed Jesus to the crucifixion that next Friday, and hung around to receive the news of his resurrection, he would gain spiritual sight as well as physical. He’d be embraced by a new community of disciples who would introduce him to all the amazing truths about Jesus. He’d receive the gifts of faith, hope, and love. The sight Jesus gave him en route from Jericho to Jerusalem would only be the first of many, much greater, gifts!
Of course, none of this was required of Bart, that day the crowds tried to hush him. “Go.” No demands came with this healing. That’s one of the amazing qualities about Jesus. String free love. But Bart made the wise move and followed instead. And the better gifts transformed his life far more than restored eyesight.
Jesus, there are many gifts you give to me for which I am thankful. Today, I am especially thankful that you give them all without demand. You never dangle them over my head and use them to guilt trip or cajole me. I’ve never met anyone as unconditional as you. How could I not want to live my life in your company!? - Mike Leamon
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