Jesus is on the road to Jericho. The last time we walked this road, we saw
the merciful Samaritan bind up the wounds of the man who fell among the
robbers, carry him to a safe place where he could recover, and pay all his
expenses.
Jesus is about to meet two men who, like the man among the robbers, are
sorely in need of mercy. Both men have heard of Jesus but have never seen Him. Both
men are exiled from their community because of their blindness (physical for the
one, spiritual for the other).
Here, close by the city gates, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus is asking for
mercy from passersby in an effort to obtain alms. In a few moments, however, he
will no longer merely ask for mercy nor for alms. In fact, he will loudly insist
upon mercy to fill a much greater need.
What does it feel like to hear a multitude of people pass by in the dark? Bartimaeus
is sitting on the ground, so he may feel the ground shake a little underneath
him as the crowd walks past. Certainly, he feels a change in the air currents.
Do alternating shadows register as they move across his darkened vision? He
hears voices, laughter, all the myriad little sounds that signify that a river
of life is rolling by – but all unseen.
“Who’s there?” he asks. “What does this mean?”
The question may be one part curiosity and two parts fear. Blind men don’t
do well in crowds, especially when they’re poor beggars.
Kindly, generously (but not patiently), those at the head of the crowd –
preparing the Way of the Lord – tell him, “Jesus of Nazareth passeth by.”
It’s a very grand thing to say, and they mean for Bartimaeus to be impressed
– as if POTUS were rolling by in a shining motorcade with tinted windows,
oblivious to all who survey. Bartimaeus may be blind, but he is no fool. While
he has not seen (cannot see) Jesus, he has heard of Him. And, he knows just who He is.
“Jesus, Son of David! Have mercy on me!”
The people at the head of the crowd, the ones who ought to be preparing the
Way of the Lord, are merely preparing the way of a rabbi (Jesus of Nazareth).
Bartimaeus – although blind – testifies that Jesus is the heir to the Davidic
throne (the moshiach, the anointed one, the Messiah). He also correctly and
properly calls on the heir for mercy – one of the most important things any
King may grant.
The crowd reacts to Bartimaeus’ testimony by rebuking him. They shush him and
tell him to be at peace while withholding the mercy that is theirs to give.
Bartimaeus, to his credit, pushes them aside and ignores them. He redoubles his
efforts – a lesson in itself – and is granted a brief audience with Jesus.
“What would you have me do for you?” Jesus asks casually as they bring the
blind man to Him.
“Let me recover my sight,” he responds.
“Recover your sight, your faith has made you well.”
It’s a very low-key healing. No waving hands, making mud, exorcising demons.
It’s almost as if Jesus shrugs and says, “So do it.”
Bartimaeus’ reaction is much more satisfying. He glorifies God and joins the
crowd following Jesus, causing them in turn to praise God. Chances are, he takes
his rightful place at the head of the crowd in order to testify as to just who
this Jesus of Nazareth really is.
Inside the city is a spiritually blind man named Zacchaeus in want of mercy
(though he does not know it yet) who wants to see who Jesus is. Like
Bartimaeus, the crowd is an obstacle to his goal. But, also like Bartimaeus, he
perseveres, climbs a tree and is granted the privilege of hosting Jesus in his
home as a reward for his efforts.
The crowd is offended. It is they, now, that cannot see who Jesus really is.
They’re having an “identify crisis,” for want of a better term. They believe
that a rabbi must not socialize with a sinner. Sadly, they keep forgetting that
Jesus has many identities – most of which are far more excellent than “rabbi.”
He is the Great Physician who treats the sick. He is the Savior – the Son of
Man – who came to seek and to save the lost.
The crowd will remember this and hold it against Him. They will continue to
tell Him who they want Him to be and He will continue to tell them who He
really is. In the end, they will crucify and mock Him for this when they nail
Him to a cross and affix a simple sign above His head that reads: “King of the
Jews.”
