This sermon was delivered by The Rev. Deacon Mark Goldman on 10/28/2006 at All Saints Anglican Church, Barboursville, West Virginia:
This is my very first sermon, and while writing it, I was reminded of this story:
A little girl asked her father what he was doing. He said, I’m writing a sermon. The little girl asked, How do you know what to write? He said, God tells me. The little girl looking at her father’s sermon said, Daddy, If God tells you what to write, Why do you keep crossing things out?
So, after a number of revisions, I think God and I are finally on the same page.
In the Lesson, Blindness is mentioned. In the Epistle, Perfection is mentioned (or having faith towards God). The story of Bartimaeus shows us how to move from blindness towards God. Yes, it is a healing story. However, and most importantly, it is a story about how the healing occurred - and it is our story too; our coming to Jesus. Because Bartimaeus demonstrates three Qualities:
1. He had Dynamic Faith
2. He had Dynamic Desire
3. He had Dynamic Devotion
We will examine each “Dynamic” in detail, but first lets begin with a word of prayer:
Heavenly Father, We ask you to prepare this place to receive your Holy word today. We ask you to bless it to our understanding, that we may apply our hearts to wisdom. And may Christ be glorified now, and forever in our lives, for it is in Jesus name we pray, Amen
Lets begin by putting this story in context: Jericho was 18 miles outside of Jerusalem. Jesus is passing through to Jerusalem to face the religious establishment and his Passion. Bartimaeus is a blind beggar, a marginalized person in society. We know that he once could see, because he wants to see again. We don’t know what caused the blindness, but blindness was common in the area (flies would get into the eyes at night and infect the cornea. This left the eyes looking opaque).
His name is significant: Bar (Aramaic) – means “Son of”. “Timaeus” (Greek) – means “to honor” So his name means “Son of honor”. And because of his name, he may have come from a wealthy family. What Jesus is going to do is to restore Bartimaeus to honor again. But how?
You see, Bartimaeus knows something the others do not know _How to get the attention of Jesus. He begins with Dynamic Faith. He shouts, “Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me.” Let’s examine the cry:
“Son of David”. Blind Bartimaeus sees Jesus for who he is. The disciples still don’t.
He understands that Jesus is from the Davidic line and that he is the “Messiah.” Jesus does not rebuke this, for his time has come to be reveled; He is the “Messiah.”
“Have Mercy on me”. Mercy means “to help someone out of compassion”. People cry out for mercy for (3) reasons:
It is an expression of misery
It is an expression of helplessness
It is an acknowledgement of being unworthy due to sin.
So what Bartimaeus is saying is this: “Jesus, I know who you are. You are the promised messiah, the savior of the world. I believe out of your deep compassion you can help in my misery, my blindness.”
Next, Bartimaeus, had Dynamic Faith. I want to share (2) key principles of faith with you:
#1. All of God’s promises are possessed by faith.
He had faith to call out
He had faith in who Jesus was
He had faith he could be healed
#2. Our faith must be persistent.
He overcame the crowd – that showed faith.
And, Jesus did not respond to his first cry.
Sometimes faith has to be tested. So Bartimaeus stood strong and did not get discouraged. He called out again. Then, Jesus stood still – Ever wonder how to get Jesus to stop and listen? Was it the cry, or something in the cry he heard? Bartimaeus shows us the secret to getting the ear of Jesus:Jesus responds to our:
Humility
Brokenness
Poverty of Spirit
Deepest need
“Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me”
So Bartimaeus had Dynamic Faith. Bartimaeus also had Dynamic Desire. He was willing to give up anything to get his miracle – unlike the rich young ruler. Which brings us to the cloak – for it Represented many things.
1. Livelihood – throw on grown to collect coins
2. Protection – from the elements.
3. Cover – during the cool nights.
4. Bed – to sleep on.
But most importantly,
#5. It represented his Identity. A cloak identified him as being blind.
When you see “garments” mentioned in the Bible, it represents works. And the bible says our “works” are but filthy rags. So when we come to Jesus, we always leave something behind (the things that hold us down). When we take off the cloak, we shed our own self-sufficiency and identity, in order to receive from, and to put on Jesus. Bartimaeus adamantly refused to be held down any longer; he took off his cloak, and received his freedom by “springing up.”
Bartimaeus also had Dynamic Desire for the right thing – his sight. He wanted only to see, to just be ordinary. Unlike James and John who wanted to be seen. Through faith in God, his healing word, and in the saving power of Jesus Bartimaeus received his sight. He was “made well” (or whole and complete). When we come to Jesus we receive all of Jesus: a complete and total healing. I believe Bartimaeus received his physical sight, his spiritual sight, and his salvation.
And this is our hope today, that we too, can come boldly before the throne of grace, in faith, to receive our spiritual inheritance and blessings. “Take heart, get up, he is calling you.”
Bartimaeus had Dynamic Desire
Now Faith does not stop with healing; it needs to proceed. So Bartimaeus had Dynamic Devotion. Our text says, “He followed him on the way.” This means the he became a disciple of Jesus. And since Jesus was going to Jerusalem, Bartimaeus would follow the way of the cross. But what motivated this Dynamic Devotion? It was one word, “Go”
With Previous healings, Jesus would say, “Go your way” Tell no one”. This referred to the “messianic secret” for His time had not come to be revealed as “the Messiah.” But, this “Go” was different. The Circumstances had changed. Bartimaeus has identified Jesus as the “Messiah”. This “Go” means “choice”. The same “choice” we have today.
“Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way.
He made his choice, and followed immediately. And this is the story of Bartimaeus – we now can “choose” to follow Jesus. For if seeing Jesus is the goal of faith – then only the unblind can see where to follow.
Bartimaeus had Dynamic Devotion
As Christians, we too have vision problems and want to see. Lets revisit the story once more through the words of Longfellow:
Ye that have eyes, Yet cannot see
In darkness and in misery
Recall those mighty voices three:
“Jesus have mercy on me”
Courage, rise, he calleth thee
This faith of thine hath saved thee.
So, Bartimaeus, - a blind beggar? Or a powerful example that if we turn our heads towards Jesus, our vision will improve?
He risked (Dynamic Faith)
He rose (Dynamic Desire)
He followed (Dynamic Devotion)
DO WE!?
Amen.
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