When You Call He Will Stop
Mark 10:46-52
George O. Martin, Jr.

Today’s gospel lesson from Mark is a simple story about the last miracle performed by Jesus before his crucifixion. In fact he was on his way to that destiny when it all happened. He and the apostles had been in Jericho. You might remember that from last week’s Readings. They had been in Jericho and Jesus had told them that he was going to Jerusalem, where, as he said, “The son of man will be delivered to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death.” James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were blind to the whole point, and tried to curry political favor, from what they thought was going to be a political victory. They had no concept, and couldn’t see, that this deliverance was going to mean the death of Jesus. They wanted to go with him to what they thought was going to be the glory of control and power, sitting, as they asked, at the right hand and left hand of whom they thought was surely going to be the new KING, the new ruler, the new David on the throne of Israel, Jesus their Rabbi, their teacher. And, they saw themselves sitting in a place of honor next to that throne. After their selfish request, and reproof from the other disciples, Jesus answered that, they weren’t really ready to drink the cup he had to drink; or be baptized with the baptism that awaited him. He again taught all of the disciples, that whomever would be first, as James and John wanted to be, must be slave of all, and that the Son of man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life for a ransom for many. … It was not an easy concept for them to see and understand. I sometimes think that it isn’t an easy idea for us to understand, either. Service is something we would much rather receive than give. Sacrifice doesn’t mean very much at all in these good times of prosperity and peace. We humans are committed to gaining more, instead of sacrificing and giving more. But, Jesus laid out for them the whole model of his teaching of how they should live in the new kingdom, the new way he wanted them to see how they should act in God’s world. They were to be different, he said, “You know that those who are supposed to rule over the gentiles lord it over them, he said, “and their great men exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you, must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all”

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It was a tough piece of idea to chew on and swallow; and Jesus could see that. He knew these were not brilliant, insightful men. They were not scholars, great thinkers, or philosophers. He knew they were just plain folk, like you and me, with enough talent to make a living, and little more. He knew they understood actions better than they understood words. But, it was time to go to Jerusalem, and go through the scorn and agony that was required of him, and they left Jericho. And that is where today’s story begins. Jesus had done enough things to that point to attract a good deal of attention, both from the general populous, and the religious authorities. There was always a crowd around him now. Everyone wanted to see what this great teacher was going to do next. He was so different and so unusual. There was something about him that drew you to him. And, he said the most peculiar things, like, “Blessed are the poor” and “The meek shall inherit...” Stuff that was just the opposite of the way things were. It was like there was a promise of something better. They wanted to know what he would say next about that promise. They wanted to see what was going to happen when he got to Jerusalem and came face to face with the Chief Priests. They knew there would be a confrontation, because what he was saying, even if it made sense, flew in the face of the temple authorities. In a way, they were like spectators at a car race, waiting to see who wins; and, waiting for the accident to happen, so they could witness the smash up and gore. They were watching for the mighty to fall, looking for the flaw that would bring Jesus, or the Chief Priests, down. They were bloodthirsty spectators in a moving arena that would climb inexorably up the 15-mile hill to Jerusalem, and a certain bloody clash, and they wanted to see it all. There were believers in the crowd, also; His Disciples, their families, friends, others who saw clearly the truth in his messages, and wanted to hear more of that truth. They would follow Jesus anywhere, in the hope they could live in that truth. There were those members of his own family, His mother and brothers, cousins perhaps, who saw someone of their own kin going far beyond the limits they had resigned themselves to.

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All attention was focused on Jesus. He was watched by those who loved him. He was surrounded by those who were his disciples. And, He was observed by those who waited for him to make a fatal mistake. All eyes were on him, and all ears waiting to hear what he would say next. He was surely the center of this mob procession. He was in the eye of everyone there, and soon to be the eye of the storm to come. No one saw one rather unimportant person sitting beside the road as the crowd went by. And that person did not see Jesus. He couldn’t, he was blind; and he was so inconsequential he did not even have a name. Bartimaeus, the story calls him; and, while that seems like a proper name, it only means Son of Timaeus. He was not known in his own right as a person, but only in the fact that he was the useless, blind son of somebody else. Worthless to the point of being lead out to the roadside every day to beg a few shekels, and be out of the way of the household, and the work that went on in the home. He was of no value to those who passed by, to and from Jerusalem. He was the least of society, a nameless cipher, a nothing. But this nameless blind man had ears, and voice, and he had a hope and a desire. He could not see who was passing by amid the crowd that was so close to him, ignoring him; but his ears told him it was Jesus, and his good mind reminded him of the stories he had heard listening to other passersby, as he sat along side the road each day begging. This is Jesus the miracle worker, he thought. His hopes swelled in his chest and he called loudly, blindly to where he thought Jesus might be. He yelled, and noisily overcame the chatter of the crowd, trying desperately to reach the attention of the Master, the healer, from Nazareth. He kept saying, “Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me!” He yelled this over and over again. And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent, but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” “Rabbanni have mercy on me” “Son of David have mercy on me” And Jesus stood still. Everyone else wanted to ignore this nobody; walk on by; continue the journey. Everyone else wanted to gain from their own closeness to the teacher, and ignore this beggar. Everyone else was blind to the needs of this noisy worthless person, while they kept their own wants and desires in mind. Crowds in history seem to be that way, to all of those who make a clamor about need and suffering. 3

Their stock answer has always been the same, “Get out and keep still.” Don’t interrupt, don’t annoy, I am interested in Jesus, not someone so unimportant. Don’t push your blind self upon us. But, …Jesus stood still….and said,… “Call him here.”

I used to be in the Navy. It was a long time ago. Not quite at the time of sailing ships, or wooden hulled vessels, but still a long time ago. I remember some of the Navy expressions that were funny and different. This incident reminds me of a particular one. It was often said when someone was complaining about their lot which, really wasn’t any different than your own. After the complaint became maudlin and tedious it would be dismissed by saying, “Sing your troubles to Jesus, the chaplain’s gone ashore.” Actually in a lot of instances it was very good advice. Because, just as Jesus did for Blind Bartimaeus, he will do for anyone in need or suffering, who will call on him with fervor and faith. He will stop and say come to me. It is what he does, it is what he did then, and it is what he will do now. He heard and saw over the heavy din of the crowd a genuine need. And, as a final example of a Man who would lead these people into the kingdom of God. As the one who would be proclaimed Lord of all, As the one at the center of attention of the crowd, as the one who was truly great among us, at that moment, he stopped…He called this least important person to him,… and he served him with care, and sight, and healing, and the nameless man, leaving his beggars mat, and his coat behind, followed him. Do you see? All of the explanation he had given to the disciples about servant hood became visible in that last healing. All of the meaning about being a slave was shown in that roadside effort to care about and heal someone the crowd wanted to ignore. Someone who was a nothing suddenly became more important than anyone else. The incident made absolutely no difference to the outcome of his ministry and life. He still had to go to Jerusalem and Golgotha. The crucifixion still happened, as he knew it would. This quick healing was only a drop in the bucket of the memorable incidents that filled his short life. But the wonderful part is that it was another drop in the bucket of someone that put a high rating on drops in the bucket. Remember, “I was thirsty and you gave me drink.” 4

How happy was Bartimaeus when the crowd said, “Take heart; get up, he is calling you.” How quickly he threw off his cloak, sprang up and came to Jesus. There must have been an enormous clutch of hope holding onto his heart as Jesus said to him, ”What do you want of me?” There must have been a deep sense of want and humility as he answered, “My teacher, let me see again.” “Go; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he regained his sight and followed him on his way. Bartimaeus, had known and believed there was mercy in Jesus.

Seeing is a complex physical act requiring eyes and lids and nerves; but, it is also a psychological act; one that requires a point of reference in the brain. When Captain James Cook discovered Tahiti, in the South Pacific. It is said that because the people of those islands had never experienced a tall three masted ship; had never seen anything beyond their simple rafts and canoes; that they were actually blind to his vessel as it approached the settlement. They could not see what was right in front of them, because they had no point of reference for knowing and recognizing what a tall sailing ship was. In this day and age there are many who do not have the point of reference necessary to see the need and suffering that exists right before their eyes. They ignore the plight of the neighbor struggling with a bad marriage; or the difficulty of the young girl trying to raise her child on the most minimal resources; or the friend crippled with drugs or drink. They blind themselves to the poor and clutch their purse. They blind themselves to the hurt and cover their ears. They blind themselves to the abuse and cover their mouths. And, they walk away to where they can be safe from the sacrifice required of them. Happy to be blind…Someday they will also beg…to be forgiven.

There is another part of this message that we must look at now. And, it isn’t what we really want to hear. You see, we as good Christian people have to place ourselves into the story. Now, We have to examine the part that we play in this ongoing journey to Jerusalem. What is our role in the kingdom of God? What is this story teaching us about Jesus, and about ourselves? What part do we play and what part should we play? Let’s look at the script, and the cast of characters and decide which role we fit.

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First of all there is the role of disciple. Committed, faithful, full of the private instruction Jesus has shared for the past three years, witness to the miracles, hearers of the sermons, friend, companion; still blind to much, and yet still learning, and still trying to see and understand. Are you in that category? Maybe. I think some of us are. Maybe even a lot of us. We have lived with this man Jesus for a good long time, we know him intimately as a friend and we follow his good counsel, and take his lessons to heart. Yes, there may be a lot of people who fill that role. Then there is the part of the crowd who are still trying to see who this Jesus is. Those people who can’t quite figure out that being a servant makes us leaders. Those people who are so intent on hearing every word of Jesus, and gaining the benefits of all of lessons offered that they are blind and forget those in need and suffering, those begging beside the road. They forget to apply the lessons to those situations around them. The doubters are a part of the crowd, too. The doubter might even be a part of this crowd. ‘I did it all myself’, they might say, “I really don’t see a need for Jesus.” If I get in a bind I can see my lawyer, my physician, my psychologist, my financial advisor. Jesus just isn’t practical in the beginning of this new millennium. Maybe we are the part of the crowd who doesn’t want a lot of noise when it comes to calling on Jesus. Please don’t disturb the service with a lot of praise and open prayer. It isn’t neat, it is distracting, and it isn’t what we do. I don’t want to see your need, your suffering, it makes me uncomfortable, and I don’t want to be uncomfortable. Surely there are only some who think that way. … Surely. Perhaps…perhaps we are the nameless beggar, or feel that we are, put out along side the road to be out of everyone’s way. Could be that we are in need and blind and afraid to call out aloud, or even quietly, Jesus, Son of David have mercy on me! Which role do you place yourself in? Which role do you want? Might be that you have been cast in several of these parts in your lifetime and don’t know exactly where you are. Don’t worry. There is only one dependable part in this entire drama. That is the role of the Lord, Jesus Christ. When you call he will stop, and hear your voice. When no one else knows your name, he will, and it will be important to him. When you need care he will be your servant and give it, when you need sight he will open your eyes. When you travel the road to your destiny he will walk with you. When you need saving from yourself, his will be the sacrifice; again, and again, and again.

6 He is as constantly on the road to Jerusalem, as we are constantly blind, our eyes clouded, and our minds without reference, begging along the side of the road. Call to him, loudly, fervently, let your faith in him open your eyes, that you may see, and follow him.

Let us pray: Almighty and everlasting God, increase in us gifts of faith, hope, and charity: and, that we may obtain what you promise, make us love what you command and become servant to those in need, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.