Mary W. Anderson wrote the following in The Christian Century (Oct. 18, 2003):
We disciples of Jesus have vision problems. We sometimes describe our blindness as an inability to see the forest for the trees, but that is a benign analysis. More worrisome is the inherited blindness of each generation, which so often assumes it, is the best generation of all, with no lessons left to learn, only an inheritance to enjoy. This arrogance is the root of our blindness. We still need the miracle of restored sight.
We still need the amazing grace of God so that those of us who are blind may have our sight restored as did Bartimaeus long, long ago. The greatest danger to the Kingdom of God comes from those who are blind and still persist they are the ones with the truth.
Jesus had to confront blindness of this kind on many fronts. In Mark we have bookend stories about blind men being healed. The first has no name; the last is Bartimaeus. Between these two healings we see the blindness of the disciples. The inner circle of Jesus' followers cannot hear Him telling them about the nature of true discipleship. They want power; they want prestige. They are not alone. They are spiritually blinded.
The religious leaders of Jesus' day were also blind. They could not understand or accept the spirit of the Law God had given them. They were intent on people earning their own salvation which is impossible to do. It can only be received in faith as a gift.
The blindness of others cost Jesus His life. This spiritual blindness has always had an adverse effect on the Church and today's Church, unfortunately, is not exempt from this disease.
Almost 500 years ago the spiritual blindness of the Church had become quite serious. The problem was not so much with the laity as it was with the clergy. The leadership of the Roman Catholic Church had in effect removed the Word of God from the people. Furthermore, they had corrupted the whole business of confession, forgiveness and salvation taking it from a free act of Grace from God on our behalf and turning it into a money-making process where a sinner was expected to buy his or her way out of sin.
Martin Luther, a young priest, wanted to change this. He had no intention of starting a new church. He merely wanted to reform the one he loved. He had 95 concerns he wanted addressed. His superiors were so enraged by his concerns he had to flee for his life. He was joined by other like-minded clergy and the Protestant Church began through a movement now known as the Reformation. Its guiding motto has always been "The Church reformed, always reforming."
Among the leading characteristics of the Reformed Church we have the following:
- Faith alone, grace alone, Scripture alone.
- The priesthood of all believers.
- The sovereignty of God over the whole creation.
- The church as a covenant community.
The Reformers did not believe in papal authority nor did they see the need to confess to a priest.
Jesus Christ gives us direct access to God. The Reformers felt the Word of God belonged to the laity and was not the exclusive domain of the clergy. The Reformers felt there was not to be a division of power between clergy and laity. Rather each person had distinct gifts all of which were needed for building up God's Kingdom.
There are those today who claim we need a new reformation. Others believe it is already in motion but we will not realize its outcome for several years. The issue always seems to be who is seeing the truth as it really is compared with those who for a variety of reasons are blind.
Let's return to the story of Bartimaeus. At one point in his life he had been able to see but something had happened to cause him to lose his sight. His options for survival were limited. He would sit along the road hoping people would be kind enough to throw a few coins on his cloak which was spread out in front of him. He lived in Jericho which was about 15 miles from Jerusalem.
During festival times and holy days many people would pass along the Jericho road on the way to Jerusalem. This normally would mean increased income for beggars. Being blind, Bartimaeus had to use his other senses more keenly. He had listened intently to the conversations of those moving by him. He heard stories of a new teacher and healer.
Somehow Bartimeaus put the stories together with what he knew from the Hebrew Scriptures. He began to understand and believe Jesus was the Anointed One of God. When word came to him that Jesus was coming near, Bartimaeus saw his opportunity and began to cry out hoping Jesus would notice him. It happened that Jesus did hear someone calling Him, "Son of David," and He told His disciples to bring the beggar to Him.
Here is where the story gets interesting. Mark says when people called him to Jesus Bartimaeus threw off his cloak, jumped up and came to Jesus. What is not stated is that Bartimaeus gave up all that he owned in the world in order to come to Jesus.
His outer garment and the coins people had placed in it were abandoned in order that he could stand before the One he believed could heal him. Contrast this with the rich young man who could not give up anything to follow Jesus. Contrast this with James and John, the disciples of Jesus, who wished to be seen by others as being in positions of power. They were blind but did not know it.
Bartimaeus knew his limitations and he wanted to be free of them. He believed Jesus had the power to heal him, and he was not disappointed. Jesus tells him, "Go, your faith has made you well." Our English translation doesn't do full justice to the original language. Being made well meant much more than physical healing, it also meant forgiveness of sin and salvation. Bartimaeus not only saw things, he also understood who Jesus was and what Jesus had to do.
His response to his being healed by Jesus was to travel with Him to Jerusalem perhaps being the first disciple to know what that meant. The author of Mark places this story where he does to show what Jesus can do for us and what our response should be.
We are invited to understand and accept that Jesus is the healing love of God that has come into the world in order that we can be healed and receive salvation. The question the story raises is whether or not we truly want this healing in our lives — a healing that allows us to understand and accept what God has done for us in Jesus Christ. |
