Day of the Church Year: 22nd Sunday after Pentecost
Scripture Passage: Mark 10:46-52
For weeks, we have read stories of Jesus’ disciples and would-be followers who don’t get it. Stories of people who say they want to follow Jesus but can’t stomach the way of Jesus. Stories about the challenges of following Jesus...James and John telling Jesus they want to sit at his right and left hand in his glory, Jesus telling a rich man to sell his possessions and give the money to the poor—something the rich man doesn’t want to do, and Jesus warning the disciples about being stumbling blocks to others.
And then, today, while Jesus is walking along the way, on his way to Jerusalem, a man who is blind, who begs for money and thus his survival, who hears that Jesus is passing by, cries out to him. Because Jesus is surrounded by a crowd, Bartimaeus yells a couple of times: Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me. The disciples, along with members of the crowd, shush Bartimaeus, but Jesus says: Call him here! The disciples deliver Jesus’ message to Bartimaeus, and when Bartimaeus stands before Jesus, Jesus asks him: What do you want me to do for you? Bartimaeus wants to see. Jesus declares: “Your faith has made you well.” Immediately, he sees and follows Jesus on the way.
The irony of the story is that Bartimaeus sees, truly sees who Jesus is. He sees that Jesus is the Son of David, the one in the line of the greatest king of Israel. When called by Jesus and his disciples, he throws off his cloak, his most valuable possession, springs up, and comes to Jesus. The rich man went away sad when Jesus told him to give up his possessions, but Bartimaeus doesn’t give a second thought to his most valuable possession. Though physically blind, Bartimaeus springs up and comes to Jesus, so strong is the call. And when Jesus restores the vision of Bartimaeus, without being invited, without being commanded, Bartimaeus follows Jesus. Finally, after weeks of confusion and challenge, here we have the picture of a follower, a disciple, a person of faith. Bartimaeus.
Perhaps you have not heard this story before. I’m sure I’ve read it at least once, but to tell you the truth, I was surprised when I turned to the lectionary this week and found this story. I quickly skimmed it and thought: Who is this? Have I ever read this before? The lectionary is the series of biblical passages we read in worship along with many other Christian communities around the world. Usually, the fourth Sunday in October is Reformation Sunday, and we would normally read the special Reformation lectionary readings. But this year, we get 5 Sundays in October with Reformation Sunday the fifth Sunday instead of the fourth. Thus, we haven’t read this story in worship for several years. All of this to say: Bartimaeus is unknown to us just as he is unknown by Jesus and the disciples. In the gospel of Mark, the disciples and would-be followers of Jesus consistently misunderstand Jesus, are challenged by the radical nature of Jesus’ teaching, and turn away instead of continuing to follow him. But Bartimaeus, a man blind and poor and unknown is the picture of discipleship, one who follows immediately, throwing off whatever impedes him, overcoming challenges like the grumpy, noisy crowd. Bartimaeus sees Jesus for who he is and follows.
The gospel of Mark has always amused me in this way. In the gospel of Mark, the people Jesus commends are consistently the ones the disciples tell Jesus not to talk to, the people the disciples tell Jesus to avoid: Bartimaeus, the Syro-Phoenician woman, the woman who touches the hem of his robe whose long-time hemorrhage ceases. These are the people who have faith, according to Jesus. These are the unworthy people, according to the disciples.
You don’t need me to stand here and tell you that categories of worthy and unworthy simply do not apply to people. You know. The crowd and the disciples shush Bartimaeus, but Jesus hears him cry out, calls him, even declares he is healed by his faith. Jesus does the same with the Syro-Phoenician woman and with the woman who touches his cloak and is healed of her hemorrhage. The point is not that these people are more worthy because they have faith. The point is not that they are greater than all the others who struggled to understand Jesus’ message. The point is not even that Bartimaeus and others see Jesus for who he is while many cannot or do not. The point is that all types of people follow Jesus. We come from different nations, different races and ethnicities. We come, women and men and transgender. We come straight and queer. We come from different socio-economic classes and with different experiences in education and employment. We come from various parts of the political spectrum. We come with a wide variety of life experiences. We come from different Christian and maybe even non-Christian traditions. We come certain about God, with questions for God, or maybe not even sure there is a God. All types of people follow Jesus, and the only one who calls us to follow Jesus is Jesus. The only one who decides if we are welcome on his way is Jesus. And I gotta tell ya: It appears that, according to Jesus, categories of worthy and unworthy simply do not apply to people. If the last four weeks of lectionary readings teach us nothing else, it’s that Jesus calls us to follow—if we are living with a disability or in poverty like Bartimaeus, if we are wealthy like the rich man, if we are confused and greedy for power like the disciples, if we unintentionally create stumbling blocks for others. Whatever we’ve got goin’ on, whatever obstacles stand in our way, Jesus hears us, sees us, and calls us. Thanks be to God! Amen.