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Have Mercy on Me. (Mark 10:46-52)
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.