Take Heart; Get Up!

Sermon for Proper 25B RCL 10/25/2009, Offered by Nathan Ferrell for Trinity Episcopal Shared Ministry

Texts: Job 42:1-6,10-17; Psalm 34:1-8,19-22; Hebrews 7:23-28; Mark 10:46-52

Once again, my friends, as we gather to worship the living God, we meet up with the Lord on his inexorable march up to Jerusalem – to this place which will mark the climax of his earthly ministry.

Today we need to talk a bit about the Gospel of Mark, how it is written and what this story about Bartimaeus means for the author. All summer long, ever since Trinity Sunday, we have been walking through the Gospel of Mark, step by step. As most of you know, Mark’s Gospel is represented by an image of a lion. This is because in this Gospel, the Lord suddenly roars upon the scene in the first chapter without any real introduction, and he moves along his journey very quickly with a clear sense of purpose and with decisive action. Lately, then Lectionary has us marching through the core of Mark’s Gospel, which is his journey from Galilee through the Jordan valley and up to Jerusalem.

Unfortunately, because we only get the gospel in small pieces each week, and because we are reading a translation from the original Greek language, it is difficult for us to see the overall structure of the gospel. But it is clearly there and the structure has meaning.

This journey of Jesus through the core of Mark’s Gospel begins with the Lord’s healing of a blind man at Bethsaida (Mark 8:22-26). Immediately after this, the Lord begins to prepare his friends for his coming betrayal and death. Three times he predicts his passion at the hands of the rulers and also his resurrection. “The Son of Man is to be betrayed into human hands.” Three times this is predicted, and each time, the twelve respond in ways that are incredibly inappropriate.

The first time, Peter takes the Lord aside and rebukes him. The second time, the twelve argue amongst themselves over which one of them is the greatest. And after the third time, James and John pull Jesus aside to ask for personal positions of power and influence in his kingdom.

Then , finally, Mark quickly ends this journey to Jerusalem with our Gospel reading today: our Lord Jesus restores sight to the old blind beggar, Bartimaeus.

Can you see perhaps what Mark is trying to teach us with this careful structuring of the text? Those who were closest to Jesus, those who walked with him, ate with him, talked with him every day, even these folks were blind to who he really was and to the purpose of his mission. Mercy and grace were his mission, not human greatness or political power or military victory. They could not see it. They were blind.

But Bartimaeus – this blind beggar considered of no value to the crowds – this man, of all people, this man understood. Though he was physically blind, yet this man could see with his heart. He could see who Jesus was – Son of David, merciful healer, teacher and guide.

“Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.”

When James and John had come to Jesus with their secret plans to gain prominence over the others, he asked them, “What do you want me to do for you?” When Bartimaeus boldly threw off his cloak, his only earthly possession, and hurried to the Lord, he asked the blind man, “What do you want me to do for you?” The same question, but with markedly different answers.

You see, the Gospel of Mark turns things around here and presents Bartimaeus, not the twelve, to us as a parable of true discipleship. When the Lord was near, Bartimaeus called out with faith in his heart, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.” That is an excellent prayer, my friends. Much like the (traditional) Jesus prayer, it is a prayer that all disciples can and should pray at all times.

When those around him told him to be quiet, he cried out even louder. When folks around us tell us to give up, or when our prayers don’t seem to be heard, we need persistence. We need to persevere. Continue on in prayer, asking for mercy and grace, just like Bartimaeus.

When the Lord called for him, he let go of his most treasured possession and got up and went. For a blind beggar, his cloak would have served as his jacket, his blanket at night, his sleeping mat, his security and his warmth. In the same way, when we come to the Lord, we can come only with our need, leaving behind the things we cling to to make ourselves feel safe.

The request of Bartimaeus was simple and clear: “My Teacher, let me see again.” I want to see. No manipulation, no trickery, no ulterior motives for power. Just a simple need. “I want to see!” Our prayers can and should be simple. God already knows everything about us. God is the one to whom all hearts are open, all desires known and from whom no secrets are hid. To ask in simplicity of need for grace and mercy is the way that disciples pray.

In his great compassion, the Lord honors the faith, the trust that Bartimaeus has placed in him, and his sight is restored. What is the response of the healed man? Immediately, he follows Jesus “on the way”.
We are people of the Way. That is the original name given to the disciples after Pentecost. People of the Way. People on a journey with Jesus of Nazareth. People whose can see now because of the grace and mercy that Christ has brought into our lives.

When the Lord heard the cry of the blind beggar, the people told him: “Take heart; get up, he is calling you.”

My dear friends: take heart, for today the Lord is calling you to leave your blindness behind, to learn from him how to see and understand this human life. He is our teacher; we are his students. By the grace of God, let us then rise up and follow him on the way to a full, joyful and abundant life. Amen.