Teacher, Let Me See Again, a sermon by Deacon Terry

​Blindness and sight—that is what our gospel reading is about today.
In this wonderful miracle story of Jesus healing Bartimaeus, we learn something of what it means to journey out of darkness and blindness into light and the gift of seeing.
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to live as a physically blind?
Where you can not physically see? You cannot see the beauty around you; you can’t see the beautiful flowers, the sunset, the beach, puppies, your husband or your wife, you children or your grandchildren.
Can you imagine what difference it would make in your life if you were blind and then, suddenly Jesus came along to give you the gift of sight?
Mark begins this story by telling us that Jesus is passing through Jericho which is about fifteen miles northeast of Jerusalem.
Travelling through town, crowds line the streets, some to welcome Jesus, others to criticize him and some to find a reason to do away with him.
It was customary for rabbis at that time to have a following and teach as they travelled to Jerusalem for the Passover.
As they were just about to leave, lo and behold, there was a heckler in the crowd, but this one was different, he was a blind beggar, Mark tells us, and his name was Bartimaeus.
Mark does not make it clear whether Bartimaeus was born blind—although he hints that perhaps he may have had sight earlier in his life, because if you remember Bartimaeus makes the said to Jesus: “let me see again.”
And then, Mark says: “he regained his sight.” These two words, “again,” and “regained” may very well refer to an earlier time when Bartimaeus could see.
At any rate, to be a blind person at that time, in that society, certainly had many challenges. There were no seeing eye dogs, no eye doctors, no glasses to assist people who had little to no sight.
As Mark tells us, Bartimaeus was a beggar. Which would have made him a desperate man.
He had no means of making a living—condemned to life on the streets of Jericho begging.
Along with that was likely lots of scorn from the people; lots of judgement, since many “religious” people at that time associated illness with either inheriting the sins of one’s parents, or having committed some sin personally and not properly repenting of it,
Therefore, one was ill because, one sinned and God was punishing the person for their sin.
So, to be blind like Bartimaeus meant to live as an outcast; to live in poverty. Despite all the stigma attached to life as a blind beggar, Bartimaeus was a very persistent, determined, desperate heckler that day Jesus walked by him.
We can hear it both in the tone of his voice and the words he speaks —Mark says he shouted at first, and then later cried out even more loudly.
In that cry to Jesus were all of Bartimaeus’ future hopes and dreams; his whole life and destiny depended upon gaining a hearing with Jesus. He had heard of Jesus’ reputation; he was overjoyed that finally he could, meet the Messiah. So he shouted out at the top of his lungs: “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
However, there were some in the crowd ready to shout back to Bartimaeus. You can almost hear them saying: “How dare you, blind beggar heckle Jesus! Be quiet, or we’ll throw you to the wild beasts! Get out of here.”
In spite of all the judgements; in spite of all the loneliness and pain, in spite of his own inner struggles with self-worth; Bartimaeus is determined not to be silenced this time, and cries out with all of the energy he is able to muster: “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
It is rather telling that Bartimaeus, even though he is blind and a beggar, addresses Jesus as “Son of David.” Which was actually the title of the Messiah.
Maybe Bartimaeus wasn’t so blind after all.
Bartimaeus, although blind and a beggar, may have been able to see more spiritually clear than the “religious” people who judged, condemned and ridiculed him.
What sort of blindness; trap us?
What blindness do we need Jesus to heal us of? Whatever blindness may be keeping us trapped; only Jesus can heal us.
Bartimaeus trusted that this was true, do we?
Our plea, our prayer, our deepest desire, our words of request to Jesus may be the same as Bartimaeus’ as we come here today: “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
As the story continues everything changes. Jesus stops in his tracks and instructs someone to “Call him here.”
 
Those who, a moment ago ignored the blind beggar, now listen to Jesus, obey him, and they approach Bartimaeus offering words of acceptance, invitation, and encouragement: “Take heart, get up, he is calling you.”
 
Bartimaeus responds by throwing off his cloak, so that he’d have nothing to trip on and prevent him from reaching Jesus. After he throws off his cloak, he jumps up enthusiastically and comes to Jesus.
Then comes the wonderful encounter. Jesus asks Bartimaeus: “What do you want me to do for you?”
Bartimaeus says: “My teacher let me see again.”
The word “my” shows that Bartimaeus’ wants to follow Jesus.
Does God still heal? Does he still answer our requests?
Jesus responds by saying: “Go, your faith has made you well.”
Or was that only during Biblical times, when Jesus walked the earth?
A couple of quick examples of God’s healing power that I have recently seen or heard of.
A friend of mine had a granddaughter born 12 weeks early. The baby was 3 pounds, for 44 days, she was in the hospital, they never knew how she would fair. She went home – and is now whole – thriving and loving life.
Al Bronner – here in our church – young, healthy is found to be with lung cancer, after months of treatments – is now whole – thriving and loving life.
I reflect on Virginia, Kathy, Lenny, Bob – all who had some issues, all now on the mend.
In all those cases we certainly need to be grateful to the skilled people who attended them, the love and support that kept them strong throughout their struggle.
The prayers that were made on their behalfs.
We see here that God’s hand was at work for some unknown reason, known only to him, why these two were healed, just like Bartemaues.
I mention these two this morning, to help us visualize healing.
We may not have heard the voice of Jesus, nor did we see Jesus, but he heard and saw us.
I also mention it, because when we think or reflect on healing, many of us reference physical healing. There is so much more.
Spiritual healing – are we spiritually whole, or do we have a few cracks in the foundation?
As we pray for physical healings, should we also be seeking spiritual healing?
Today, as you come to this place, Jesus asks you: “What do you want me to do for you?”
It is an invitation to each of us to come and receive Christ’s healing in our lives—whether our healing be physical, emotional, mental or spiritual.
Like Bartimaeus, we too are blind. Bartimaeus had the courage and the faith to ask Jesus for what he wanted. Do we?
Maybe today’s lesson from Bartimaeus is that we should examine ourselves to what we maybe blind to and, like Bartimaeus, ask Jesus to heal us.
AMEN