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| Have Mercy on Me. (Mark 10:46-52) | |||||
 Printer Friendly Version - opens in separate window One of my favourite cartoons is by Larson and shows two sheep drinking in a bar. One turns to the other and says, "So, you're a follower too!"In looking at this passage I began to think about the different people involved in the story. The first group is described as "a large crowd" in the NIV, "a great number of people" in the King James. I imagine they regarded themselves as followers and I get the impression they thought themselves rather important. They were the ones who rebuked Bartimaeus, telling him to be quiet when he called out to Jesus. The truth is that they had no idea what was going on or understanding of Jesus' mission and purpose. I picture them going home to their wives who ask them, "How was it today dear?" Oh, much the same dear, he healed another one." "What was it this time dear, not another leper? You shouldn't be hanging around with someone who touches lepers my love. You don't know what you'll bring home." "No, my love, this time it was a man who claimed he was blind. Anyway, what's for tea? He doesn't do that feeding the multitudes trick every day it seems and I am starving" Some people who go to church are just like this. They go and can't even remember why. Perhaps it's an opportunity to be noticed, maybe carry a little authority and disapprove of someone for enjoying the worship too much, or for getting too excited about the message or, heaven forbid, expecting Jesus to help them. These people might be witnesses to all sorts of miraculous things, changed lives, mended relationships, and healed bodies, but they never see what is really going on before their very eyes because they always expect something else and have their own agenda. They think they are followers but they are simply spectators and spectators are not followers. Then there is Timaeus. He is in the story by dint of his son's name, Bartimaeus - son of Timaeus. I wonder what he made of his son begging at the city gates. Perhaps he was disappointed that the boy was unable to amount to anything in life. Maybe he had given up on him, was a bit embarrassed and didn't like to talk about it. His son was to be included in the greatest story ever told and his son's encounter with Jesus was to be discussed by countless generations of Christians. More importantly, his son was to become someone who followed Jesus - and for good reason (v.52). I picture a group of men boasting, as only men can, of their sons' achievements: "My son's with the bank you know." "My son has his own business." "My son is a doctor." "My son sat at the city gates and begged, then he met Jesus, was healed, and followed him!" I wonder if Timaeus might have made that boast? Or might he have said, "My boy went into the church, but what can you do?" Some people think a little religion might be a good thing, "but let's not go over the top. I mean you've got your future to think of." My mother gave me the family Bible as an 'inheritance', explaining, "You're the religious one in the family", as though it was a lifestyle choice, and one she could never properly understand. Many people 'go to church' as a lifestyle choice but eventually find themselves 'moving on' because 'it didn't suit me'. Being a follower isn't a fad or lifestyle choice. Then we come to Bartimaeus himself. He had clearly heard of Jesus because, When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth [passing by], he began to shout, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" You see, he knew his plight that he was blind and incapable of helping himself. He was under no illusion and understood that without God's mercy there was no hope. Paul describes the sinner as "dead in your transgressions and sins" (Ephesians 2:1; Colossians 2:13) but we find it so difficult in our pride to confess our sinful state. I spoke this week to someone who seemed to feel that he needed Jesus' 'help', as though he wasn't totally incapable. However, like blind Bartimaeus, we need to be prepared to confess our spiritual deadness and cry out, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" When Bartimaeus cried out we are told that Jesus called him over and, Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus. Whatever we might be covering ourselves with in order to make ourselves look respectable, be it following the right crowd, subscribing to the right ideas, or adopting the right lifestyle we must throw these things off and run to Jesus for mercy. Only he can fit us with the garments of righteousness we need to be acceptable before the Father. Being asked what he wanted Bartimaeus made no pretence at independence but said, "Rabbi, I want to see." "Go", said Jesus, "your faith has healed you." Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road. A follower is someone who has recognised their need for mercy, cried out to Jesus confessing their need and, having received mercy, follows from simple love and gratitude to the One who has saved them. For a true follower nothing is the same again. May we see this week our desperate need for mercy, cry out to the One who alone can give mercy and gladly follow because He has given us eyes to see what a merciful God we serve. |
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