The account of Jesus healing a blind beggar by the name of Bartimaeus is quietly tucked away in the gospel accounts, almost mirroring the way Bartimaeus himself first appears in the story—sitting by himself on the side of the road to Jericho. Now for those of you attempting to speed-read through this article, I will summarize the scriptural account for you: “Bartimaeus shouted at Jesus. The people in the crowd yelled at Bart. Bart shouted louder at Jesus. Jesus healed Bart. Bart praised God. Then the people praised God too.”
There is obviously so much more unfolding here in this story, and it’s worth unpacking some of it.
Bartimaeus hears the noise of a crowd going past where he is seated beside the road. He asks what is happening and is told that Jesus the Nazarene is going by. Jesus—he had heard the stories of the miracles; he knew who this must be: the Messiah, the “Son of David.” This was his chance—his time; so he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Suddenly the people in front of him began to yell at him, “Be quiet!” But he only began to shout louder at Jesus, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Nothing was going to keep him from missing this opportunity to have his sight restored.
When Jesus heard him He stopped and said to the people, “Call him.” Bartimaeus was so excited that he threw his cloak aside and jumped up from where he was seated to go over to where Jesus was. “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked. Bartimaeus’ answer to Jesus was indeed simple and straightforward: “I want to see!” And Jesus’ response to him was amazing in its simplicity also: “All right, receive your sight! Your faith has healed you.” And instantly—at that very moment, Bartimaeus began seeing! And the very first person he saw was no one less than Jesus Himself—the one whom some folks in the crowd had tried to keep Bartimaeus from disturbing with his shouting.
Following this remarkable encounter, the crowd and procession began to slowly make its way again toward the city of Jericho. But now their number had grown by one: one remarkable man who was also now following Jesus along with the rest of the people—and he was praising God as he went. There was now a marked change in everyone’s countenance and demeanor: all who had just witnessed what had happened were praising God right along with Bartimaeus.
Sometimes it takes a Bartimaeus to cause us to stand still long enough to see the grace, mercy, and healing power of Jesus in action—often in the most inopportune times and places—so that we can all praise God together. Sometimes it takes a Bartimaeus to interrupt our religious routines and remind us how desperate we all are without Jesus—and that what we label as an “interruption” is often what God calls an “appointment.”
Too often our busy lives and frenetic religious activities resemble that crowded procession to Jericho, and the best we can say to the needy who may appear along our path is “Jesus is passing by. No, sorry—He’s not stopping right now.” No wonder Bartimaeus shouted out loud—it’s hard to keep your decorum when you suddenly realize the opportunity of a lifetime may be slipping past you! You’ve seen that look on the faces of people flailing their arms and shouting as they run after a bus that has just pulled away, or sprint toward the closing door of an elevator, or race into an airline terminal where a flight has just taken off. It is the look of someone watching their door of opportunity for an important appointment close right before their eyes. The windows of time may be old and creaky, but they can close very, very quickly.
This journey we are on is more than just being a part of a crowd of people walking behind Jesus as He travels down a road somewhere. For Jesus, people are the journey; and if it takes a road to get there, so be it. If it means stopping on a road for a divine appointment in order to truly continue that journey, then by all means let’s not tell Bartimaeus to be quiet!
What does this have to do with worship? Nothing by way of technique or methodology, just some heart insights for those who love to worship God as well as those who attempt to lead others in worshiping God. Together, like Bartimaeus:
- Allow your desperation to overcome their hesitation. (Be sensitive to those around you. Of course, Bartimaeus…oh, whatever!)
-
Even if there are those present who are trying to “protect” Jesus from “unnecessary” interruptions, Jesus will Himself stop a crowd, even interrupt another divine appointment (Luke 8:40-50), to respond to a heart that is pressing through to Him in faith.
- We should be heard by Jesus first and foremost.
- The people heard Bartimaeus and said “Be quiet!” Jesus heard Bartimaeus and said, “What do you want me to do for you?” Sometimes our good intentions can inadvertently keep others from being heard by Jesus.
-
Jesus stopped for Bartimaeus—just as He did for the woman with the persistent bleeding condition who pressed through the crowd to touch the hem of His robe. Sometimes it takes a shout and sometimes it takes just a touch.
- We should run with the anticipation of meeting with Jesus once we have “connected” with Him! It’s contagious: When Bartimaeus realized he had an audience with Jesus, he threw his cloak aside, jumped to his feet and came to Him. (Not bad for a blind man—perhaps we are hindered too much by our “sight” to respond so openly!) And then folks in the crowd—instead of telling him to be quiet again, began to actually cheer him on: “Cheer up—come on, He’s calling you!”
-
We should praise God for the wonderful things He is doing in our lives and in the lives of people around us. When Bartimaeus received his sight, he “followed Jesus, praising God. And all who saw it praised God, too.” Isn’t this the bottom line, after all?
Praise God for all those who press through the crowds in order to encounter Jesus! Bartimaeus did so boldly and loudly. The woman with the serious bleeding condition did so quietly but tenaciously. Zaccheus did so by going around the crowd and positioning himself strategically to see Jesus up close and personal. And each of these encountered Jesus in a life-changing way.
[Scripture references from Mark 10:46-52; Luke 18:35-43; NLT]
|