October 26, 2003

Twentieth Sunday of Pentecost

Mark 10:46-52

“Open My Eyes That I Might See”

      I picked up a newspaper one day and noticed that someone at The Day was playing a trick on me by making all the type blurry.  I outsmarted them for a while by holding the paper about three feet away where like magic, the blurring went away!  But lately for some reason, this hasn’t been working as well and I think maybe they’re up to their old tricks again.  Not only that, they seem to be collaborating with the people who print everything else I read, too. 

     Well, I guess all the denial in the world won’t change the fact that I need new glasses.  My eyes are not what they used to be.

     We’ve probably all heard of Helen Keller.  She is remembered as a champion of rights for those who are physically challenged.  Born deaf and blind, she overcame many of her own limitations to become an inspiration to generations of others.  She once wrote a magazine article entitled: "Three days to see."  In that article she outlined the things she would like to see if she were granted just three days of sight.

     On the first day she said she wanted to see her friends.  On day two she wanted to see nature.  On the third day she wanted to see New York City so she could see the hustle and bustle of people at work.  She concluded the article with these words: "I who am blind can give one hint to those who see: Use your eyes as if tomorrow you would be blind.”

     We don’t know what tomorrow will bring, so it’s important to live today to the fullest.  It’s important to appreciate the things we too often take for granted, to make the most of what we see today. 

     They didn’t have glasses in Bartimaeus’ day and even if they did, they probably wouldn’t have done him any good.  He was blind, a condition which meant almost certain poverty.  In those days, people with disabilities were often left with no options but to beg.  It was a common belief at that time that handicaps were a sign that a sinner was receiving just punishment from God.  And if someone was born with disabilities, it was believed they were paying for their parent’s sins.  Maybe that’s why Batimaeus‘ father‘s name is mentioned in this story. 

     Bartimaeus was a begger, sitting by the road hoping passersby would take pity on him.  But one day Jesus came to town and everything changed.  When Bartimaeus heard the miracle worker was near, he was overwhelmed with hope and started crying out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”  The people around him told him to be quiet: “Who does Barimaeus think he is, making all this noise?  People like him are supposed to stay out of the way, seldom seen and seldom heard!  Why should a sinner under God’s punishment be shown any mercy?”  But Bartimaeus ignored them all and just cried out all the more, “Son of David have mercy on me!”  Then, Jesus heard him and called him to come near.  Bartimaeus begged him, “My teacher, let me see again!”  And Jesus said, “Your faith has made you well.”

     The remarkable thing about this story is that Bartimaeus, while he was still blind, saw something most other people failed to see.  Without physical sight, he could see clearly that Jesus was the Son of David, the promised One, the Messiah. 

     Some commentators say there is a “Messianic Secret” in the Gospel of Mark because precious few people in these stories realize Jesus is the Messiah.  Even the disciples seemed unsure much of the time.  But Bartimaeus didn’t have any trouble at all.  He knew right away who Jesus was.  By faith, he could see what others failed to see with their eyes.

     This is the kind of sight Jesus encourages in each of us.  Jesus trusted such vision, even called upon it.  He would often say it is a faithless generation that demands visible signs from God.  Time and again, he commended those who sought him out because of the sincerity of their faith.  He said, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet still believe.“ 

     But perhaps we are like the man who brought his epileptic son to Jesus for healing and was told all things are possible for those that believe.  He honestly admitted, “I believe, but help my unbelief.”  And isn’t that where we usually are - somewhere between belief and unbelief?  Don’t we wish the blurriness would be wiped away that our faith might see with absolute clarity?  But as the Apostle Paul stated in 1 Corinthians 13, we see for now as if through a dark glass or into a dim mirror.  He said it won’t be until the time to come, until heaven, that we will see and know all things.

     Between now and then, there are moments of healing and glimpses of light that direct our way.  Jesus makes this possible.  Thanks to him, the clouds of sin that darken the soul are forgivable.  He touches the blindness of self-centeredness, the darkness of selfishness with healing grace.  When we call out to him, blind as we might be, he is merciful with us.  Even here, even now, encumbered with sin as we might now be, he invites us to call out to him, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”  And he will stop here for our sake and touch us with saving love and everything will change.

     Are you so burdened, heavy-laden?  Come, and the Great Physician will heal you.  Come, and he will give you rest.  Rest assured, he died for your sins, became a sacrifice for your healing.  He is the balm in Gilead.  There is no sin too deep for the reach of his salvation.  Trust him and your faith will make you well.

     There is a great treasure within your soul.  It is that which moves you to reach for Christ, to call out to him.  It is faith‘s vision that enables you to look to the Savior.

     Psalm 121 declares,

“I lift my eyes to the hills - from where does my help come?  My help comes from the Lord!

     And that is the clearest vision of all, to know from where your help comes, to look to the Lord.