Reflection
In today’s gospel reading, we see Jesus and his disciples leave Jericho, beginning the final stage of their journey to Jerusalem. The distance between Jericho and Jerusalem is about 27 kilometres, about a six to seven-hour walk – almost the same distance between UBC and SFU. In that destination, Jesus will be betrayed, killed, and will rise again. In this critical time, Jesus encounters Bartimaeus.
Bartimaeus is not just an ordinary man. He is a blind beggar who appears homeless, sitting by the roadside, relying on the charity of passersby. We rarely see blind people these days, but blindness was tragically common in those days. It took away a person’s ability to make a living, leaving begging as their only choice. We can easily imagine Bartimaeus feeling hopeless about his future, with few options and thinking he would always be a blind beggar.
Yet, incredibly, he still has hope. Somehow, he gathers the courage to voice his urgent need. When he hears that Jesus of Nazareth is nearby, he senses an opportunity. Though he can’t see Jesus, he hears the noise around him and decides to take a chance. Bartimaeus calls out loudly to Jesus, who he believes must be within hearing distance. Although he knows Jesus is from Nazareth, he calls him something different this time.
Bartimaeus cries out to Jesus using a title he hasn’t used before: “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” It seems that this blind man can somehow see more than others around Jesus. Perhaps he recognizes Jesus’ voice from an earlier encounter, or perhaps he has been listening to the Hebrew Scriptures and what people say about Jesus. Bartimaeus truly believes Jesus is the Messiah; someone can help him with his greatest needs.
Bartimaeus calls out Jesus in a loud voice: “Have mercy on me!” He knows he needs mercy, and he believes that Jesus is the source of that mercy. In Israel, it was understood that the powerful – especially the king and, certainly, the Messiah — was called to show mercy to the weak and vulnerable, particularly those without resources. Bartimaeus does not ask for justice or fairness; he asks for mercy, a generous gift of good news beyond anything he could earn or deserve.
To the crowd, however, Bartimaeus is nothing more than a nuisance. Many people complain about him, including, perhaps, some disciples, who seem to view him as just a troublemaker. This resistance makes Bartimaeus call out even louder, as he has been interrupted by those surrounding Jesus. The passage doesn’t specify exactly who tries to silence him – whether it is Jesus’ disciples or simply members of the larger crowd.
They “sternly order him to be quiet.” But we don’t know exactly why they do this. Perhaps they think he is hustling a rabbi for change. Maybe they assume he is cutting in line, trying to get ahead of others, or perhaps they believe there is not enough mercy to go around to everyone, including them, so it is not meant for someone as seemingly the undeserving poor as him.
The disciples may have been the ones trying to silence Bartimaeus, perhaps thinking they needed to protect Jesus for his more important work. They might have been looking out for their own positions with Jesus, wanting to ensure they stay close to Jesus without interruptions. Just last week, we read about James and John asking Jesus for places of honour at his right and left. To them, a blind beggar calling for mercy may have seemed unworthy of Jesus’ attention.
However, Bartimaeus is persistent. For him, Jesus is his last hope, and he is not going to let anyone stop him. His voice grew louder as he calls him, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” The more the crowd try to silence him, the more determined he becomes, refusing to let his voice be ignored.
And then, something unexpected happens. Jesus hears him this time and stops. “Call him,” he says. This time, the crowd or the disciples, who previously silenced the beggar, strangely change their attitudes about Bartimaeus. They no longer scold him; instead, they encourage him. Perhaps the crowd and the disciples felt embarrassed by their earlier actions. Whatever the reason, their view of the beggar has transformed, and they now become supporters. They say, “Take heart; have hope!” Or, as we say at communion, “Lift up your heart.”
When he hears people’s encouraging voices calling out, “Get up, Bartimaeus, Jesus is calling you,” he does not simply rise; he flings off his cloak and springs to his feet, rushing toward the familiar sound of Jesus’ voice. The source of hope for this once-hopeless man is the people’s encouragement: “he is calling you.” He wants to see you. He is granting you a moment of his time and access to his energy.
We can interpret his cloak as a symbol of his previous life behind. After encountering Jesus in person, the beggar’s life is completely transformed. Once his eyes are opened, he ultimately becomes a follower of Jesus.
When Bartimaeus comes to Jesus, he asks Bartimaeus a puzzling question: “What do you want me to do for you?” Does Jesus not know he is blind? Surely, he does, but he wants to give this man the opportunity to express his need and thereby express his faith. The blind man articulates his heart’s desire in six simple words: “My teacher,” he says, “let me see again.” Jesus replies, “Go, your faith has made you well.” After Bartimaeus opens his eyes, Jesus tells him to go, but instead, he chooses to join the group with Jesus’ followers, unaware of where this new journey will lead.
This is a remarkable story, filled with courage and compassion, culminating in a happy ending. It speaks to the kingdom of God, justice and mercy and inspires us to be like Bartimaeus. We long to be called by Jesus by name, to articulate our desires when he asks, to be healed of whatever dis-abilities – whether minor or serious, in our body, mind, and spirit – that we may carry, ultimately becoming whole and participating in Jesus’ mission together.
The important thing is that we don’t take this journey alone. Just as there were people who encouraged the blind beggar to come to Jesus, we support one another as a church community. The importance of the faith community lies in this shared encouragement. As Bartimaeus follows Jesus, he may face moments when the sudden influx of sights feels overwhelming or he considers returning to his previous life. In those moments, the voices of encouragement – “Take heart! Take courage!” will help him get through.
As we enter the Season of Commitment for the coming year, I want to say, “Take courage! Jesus is calling you!” Following Jesus requires both courage and commitment. By encouraging, supporting, and holding hands with each other, we can undertake this meaningful journey of healing and grace. Thanks be to Jesus, who calls us, hears us, speaks to us, encourages us, and leads us in God’s reign. Amen.