Mark 10. 46-52, Job 42. 1-6, 10-17 and Hebrews 7. 23-28
Today is the Last Sunday after Trinity. With Easter being so early this year, it seems as though we have been counting Sundays after Trinity for rather a long time. However, after this Sunday we have All Saints Sunday and we start counting down the Sundays before Advent.
On this Last Sunday After Trinity our Gospel reading is the account of the healing of blind Bartimaeus. Mark mentions in His Gospel the account of blind Bartimaeus who truly sees Jesus as the Promised Messiah when he refers to him as ‘Son of David’. This is the first time that “Son of David” as a title is applied to Jesus in this Gospel. It clearly is a royal title hearkening back to King David, and this will become evident when Jesus soon enters into Jerusalem and is given a royal, Davidic greeting. (11:10) And, it also, identifies what the writer of Hebrews wrote later about the supremacy of Jesus and his priesthood in today’s New testament reading. Let us look at message we get from this account..
Firstly, Upon hearing Bartimaeus’ call, Jesus encouraged him to hope that he should find mercy because Jesus stood still and called for him. The people who discouraged him earlier, perhaps, now signified to him the gracious call of Jesus(v 49). People who are surrounded by difficulties are discouraged by others to approach God or to ask God to intervene in their situation. A few Sundays back we learnt how Job’s friends discouraged him. However if we do not ask Jesus to intervene in our situation we choose to loose the battle.
Secondly, We see Bartimaeus casted away his loose upper garment, and came to Jesus (v. 50). This shows the necessity of casting away every thing that might be in danger of throwing him down or might in any way hinder him in coming to Christ or even retard his motion. When we come to Jesus, it is essential that we throw everything that can hinder us to reach him. We need to throw away doubt from our minds or any thought, any voice, any task that does not allow us to approach him wholeheartedly. Know that he is waiting for us let nothing retard our motion.
Thirdly, Bartimaeus upon receiving his sight, followed Jesus. By this he made it appear that he was thoroughly cured, that he no more needed one to lead him, but could go himself; and by this he evidenced the grateful sense he had of Christ’s kindness to him, that, when he had his sight, he made this use of it. It is not enough to come to Christ for spiritual healing, but, when we are healed, we must continue to follow him; continue to be His witness that we may do honour to Him, and receive instruction from him.
Yes, Bartimaeus followed Jesus. What other way would he want to go? For, after all, Bartimaeus had received not only his physical sight, but also his spiritual sight. Bartimaeus could not think of another way to repay Jesus for what He had done for him than to follow Him.
Nowadays, there are still many people who are physically blind. You may know someone, or you may see a person with a white cane or accompanied by a seeing-eye dog. But there are many more people who are ‘spiritually’ blind. And that spiritual blindness is greater and deeper than the physical blindness itself. Because spiritual darkness is separation from God, which means: no hope, no light, no life. Total darkness!
And Fourthly, Jesus could have gone to Bartimaeus himself or could have healed him from where he was, but, he involves other followers and gives them the task of getting him to Jesus. He had a reason for that. He chose to involve His disciples. Jesus uses His disciples as a means to call the blind beggar to Him. Jesus still does the same. if He wanted to, He Himself could bring about the conversion of thousands of people. Because He is God Almighty, beyond all knowledge and all thought!
But God chooses to do things His own way. He could have led Israel out of Egypt in a much faster and easier way. He could have prevented Job from making that horrifying tumble from being that rich man to a pitiful person. He could also have prevented Bartimaeus from having been born blind. But God does things for a purpose and He often uses natural means and ordinary people to help bring about His will. Isn’t that a breathtaking thought that the Almighty God uses people like you and me to work for Him?
And not just people ‘in general’ or very special people such as missionaries or ministers or Sunday School teachers, but anyone! Anyone who is gripped by the power of God becomes subject to that command of Jesus: ‘You go and call him or her!’
Perhaps you may be inclined to walk or drive home a little more slowly after the service, whichever way you go home today. You may find a Bartimaeus may not be the kind who was sitting near the roadside of Jericho. There might be a person in a different situation and we have been assigned the task of bringing him to Jesus. The person could be here in Prague or anywhere in the world. Today the people gathered her are from so many nationalities and we have friends from all over the world. In our reading from the Old Testament this morning we see God asked Job to pray for his friends so that they can be healed spiritually. Same way our task is to pray for our family and friends, especially for those who need him.
Prayer..