October 8, 2000

“Have you ever been at sea in a dense fog, when it seemed as if a tangible white darkness shut you in, and the great ship, tense and anxious, groped her way toward the shore with plummet and sounding-line, and you waited with beating heart for something to happen?”

With this question Helen Keller vividly describes the confusion and despair that filled her childhood existence. In her autobiography, “The Story of My Life,” she creates the image of a ship lost in dense fog, saying, “I was like that ship before my education began, only I was without compass or sounding-line, and had no way of knowing how near the harbour was. ‘Light! Give me light!’ was the wordless cry out of my soul, and the light of love shone on me in that very hour.” She’s describing what she calls, ““The most important day I remember in all my life.” It was the day her teacher Annie Sullivan arrived and about it she wrote, “I am filled with wonder when I consider the immeasurable contrasts between the two lives which [that day] connects. It was the third of March, 1887, three months before I was seven years old.”

Days to remember. Just as Helen Keller’s world was so dramatically altered with the arrival of her teacher and friend, so we see the life of Bartimaeus changed in our Scripture reading today. Like the little girl trapped in a fog of desolate frustration this man was immersed in the pain of his disability and destitution. Yet like that little girl he also held on to some hope in the face of despair, reaching out to someone he knew could offer compassion and healing. As Helen describes her soul wordlessly crying out, “Light, give me light,” so this beggar’s spirit sought solace and salvation. “Son of David,” he shouts at Jesus, ignoring those warning him to keep quiet. “Son of David, have mercy on me!” With those words and the interaction that follows his life is changed forever.

It’s an incredible story. The image of Bartimaeus healed without a touch is one that’s cloaked in as much mystery as it is infused with inspiration. Reading the account through the lens of our modern minds this miracle story is one that not only teaches us about the mercy and healing power of God but also about the more spiritual needs of those living in ancient times. Bartimaeus is healed and at the same time the members of Mark’s early Christian community have their vision powerfully restored.

II.

We can appreciate how Mark accomplishes such a miracle by looking closely at the way his texts are structured and formed. This is a book that’s divided into three distinct parts, tracing the movement of Jesus and his disciples from the regions of Galilee into Jerusalem as Christ offer his teachings first to crowds made up mainly of Gentiles, then shifting his focus predominantly to Jews. It’s a rough little book, hardly as eloquent or detailed as the others, yet as the first written gospel it’s comprehensive in its portrayal of the climate at hand. For Mark’s gospel more than any other is filled with warnings about hardship and pain. In its chapters Jesus tells his followers again and again that he and those who go after him will have to undergo suffering and even death before God’s mission is complete. “It’s going to be hard,” he’s telling them. “It’s not going to be pretty. But in the end you’ll see my triumph. After three days you’ll understand.” That’s the kind of warning that comes before our reading today.

It’s also the kind of advice Mark is working to give his own community. As we often recount, the late sixties and early seventies of that first century were filled with conflict and turmoil, political as well as religious. The unsuccessful revolt by the Jews meant their temple was destroyed. The Romans, angry and on the defense, were lashing out any one wouldn’t tow the party line. For Gentile and Jewish converts alike this was a time to fear betrayal and persecution, causing the members of the early church to require strengthening at every turn. They needed to “see” Jesus as the Son of God, the one through whom the hope of peace, salvation and healing was assured. They were looking for signs to prove their faith was not a folly. These were men and women who needed their vision restored.

And so we meet Bartimaeus. There at the gates of Jericho, just fifteen miles northeast of their final destination, we witness the healing of a blind man. Echoing a similar account placed at the start of this section Mark gives a double testament to the blind receiving sight, assuring the members of that early church that they, too, would receive new vision and strength. “We’re on the road too Jerusalem as well,” he’s telling those converts. “We, too, must take up the cross and move on.” With those words he’s saying as clearly, “Yes, you’re suffering now but remember that as you persevere you’re following in Christ’s footsteps. That means that like Christ you will be sustained and redeemed.”

A vision restored. The depiction of Bartimaeus calling out to Christ and receiving healing serves to remind those struggling converts that God has a plan for their lives and it’s unfolding before their very eyes. Rather than allowing them to pack it in and give it all up, Mark helps those people find new levels of conviction. It’s one of over forty miracles that take place in this gospel, giving hope to those in the first century as well as to the saints that follow. As summed up by the biblical scholar Richard Deibert, “Mark wants us to recognize the rule of almighty God in the life, love and longing of this Jesus of Nazareth. Mark wants us to receive the sum of Christ’s ministry – his mighty deeds, his dignifying care, his wise instruction, his laughter and anger, his tears of joy and lament – as an accurate picture of God personally reigning among us.” That is the vision Mark works to restore. God, incarnate, offering a ministry of healing and love to the entire world through the person and Spirit of Jesus Christ.

III.

I love Stephen Wise’s statement that claims, “Vision looks inward and becomes a duty. Vision looks outward and becomes aspiration. Vision looks upward and becomes faith.” Applying this three-fold approach to the story of Bartimaeus we see how Mark’s inspiration can strengthen the practice of our faith as well as those of ancient times. For like the men and women struggling to make sense of their lives in Mark’s community we, too, are surrounded by suffering and confusion; like Bartimaeus we are filled with pain and need. From the day-to-day realities of our most personal human existence to the more public images of violence and despair, we know how we may be blinded to the power of God in this world. But like the healing and inspiration received by those of ancient times I believe our vision can be restored as well.

In the first place, we can appreciate the fact that this is a story reminding us of our need to shout out to God. Like the broken yet bold Bartimaeus we’re led to recognize the divinity of Christ, feeling our need for his mercy and care. This man is neither shy nor ashamed in his dilemma. Despite everyone telling him to be quiet he speaks out from his beggarly place crying again and again, “Help me, Jesus! Son of David, have mercy on me! I trust you’re there even though I can’t see you. Help me to see – to believe – again!” Bartimaeus shows us the power of desire when it comes to wanting a clear vision of God. He leads us to call out for healing and renewal.

Secondly, he acts on his confession. As we heard Gary read just a moment ago we recall that once summoned and healed this man continues to go forward with determination. Able to see again, he places his sights on the mission of the One who offered him healing, going – as Mark puts it – with Jesus “on the way.” Unlike other miracle stories where those made well are left behind or run off in an opposite direction, this account is one that offers the promise of continued growth. Bartimaeus, son of Timaeus, is one who wants to cultivate his faith, following the One he knows to be his Lord. Such an ending helps us to see that offered the merciful vision of our Savior we are inspired to persevere, following in his way, walking by his side. Jesus is a healer and transformer, not just of our bodies but also of the fullness of our lives. That’s what this account tells us: we’re invited to participate fully in Christ’s ministry, going “on the way” in Christian community and service.

And so our vision may be restored. Through this biblical story we remember that by embracing our need for God’s mercy and calling out for Christ’s care we move from helplessness to wholeness to peace. Accepting God’s healing Spirit we come to new levels of understanding and devotion. Celebrating such renewal we, like that triumphant beggar, arrive at a place of faithful departure, convicted to act with courage and strength. Our vision moves, as Stephen Wise describes, from inward reflection to outward conviction to upward faith, inspiring us on the path of true Christian discipleship. It’s a dramatic process of transformation.

Helen Keller may well be describing this kind of change when she writes about the day she learned to feel the shape of letters in her hands, water pouring over her fingers as it received a name for the very first time. Though she remained blind for the duration of her life she received a new sense of vision in the world, and of that nearly baptismal image of her kneeling at the pump with her teacher by her side she states, “That living word awakened my soul, gave it light, hope, joy, set it free! I left the well eager to learn…[and] as we returned to the house every object I touched seemed to quiver with life. That was because I saw everything with the strange, new sight that had come to me.” As Christian disciples we, too, have new sight that is awakened by a living Word, the Spirit and teachings of Christ. Like Bartimaeus we’re transformed by Christ’s healing power, everything around us quivering with new life and promise. We see things with a strange, new sight. We perceive life according to God’s compassionate grace and reconciling plan. Calling out to our Savior our souls are awakened, our vision restored.

Let us pray.

Most loving God, your Spirit of truth changes our lives just as your merciful grace transforms our understanding. You take away the sin of our blind desperation and give us new sight. Thank you, God. Thank you for your healing power that offers us renewal and conviction. Thank you for the gift of Christ, who leads us to walk in your way, your truth, your light.

Amen.

SCRIPTURE READING

Mark 10: 46 - 52

They came to Jericho. As he and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus son of Timeaus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus stood still and said, “Call him here.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart; get up, he is calling you.” So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. Then Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man said to him, “My teacher, let me see again.” Jesus said to him, “Go; your faith has made you well.” Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way.