Mark 10:46-52 NRSV
They came to Jericho. As he and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus, son of Timaeus, 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.
I have a way of stopping and paying attention when the Lord brings a passage of scripture into my life, particularly when he does it in triplicate. I have a way of stopping and paying attention when the Lord does anything in my life in triplicate. It's kind of hard to ignore or to pass off as coincidence.
I am taking Inductive Bible Study on the book of Mark, and we recently did a book survey. I spent some extra time with this passage as I considered how Mark employed the use of Jesus as "teacher" in his gospel. Then, Tuesday night in my lyric and theology class another student used this story as the basis of his song. Then today during Vocation of Ministry we read this passage when we were doing Lectio Divina in our small group. So, I'm paying attention.
The part that really jumps out at me immediately is that the blind man sprang up to Jesus. He knew who Jesus was, and was moved to exuberance. He was compelled to respond. No, not just respond. Do you see him, the eagerness? I see him leaping up. He probably stumbled getting over to Jesus. He was blind, you know. But the sense of abandonment and urgency compelled him.
And, I find it difficult to ignore the fact that Bartimaeus threw off his cloak. Anytime someone gets naked in the Bible i am intrigued. Not that I am advocating for nudity in church, mind you, but what would happen if encountering Christ meant that we let go of everything that covered up our shame? What if we let go of the things we put on to cover up ourselves? What if our hearts were naked before the Lord... So that when he asks us, "What do you want from me?" We can be real. What if we could be honest with the Lord about what we really want? What if we were aware of our brokenness in such an honest way?
In some private time with the Lord today he reminded me of my place in this passage. He reminded me that my prayer life regularly includes the phrase, "Have Mercy!" In fact, it may be the phrase that I write most frequently in my journal. You see, I know enough to know that I continue to find myself awake in the world that knew Lost Jill. Jill without Jesus resided on earth, and without HIM in my life everyday, I am still that person. I depend on His mercy for each day.
This of course gave way for new considerations of this passage. I find myself at a stage in life where I am actively responding to the call of God on my life. And, there are parts of that call that I find myself crying out to the Lord even louder for mercy. I need him to show up. He invites me closer, and I let go of the things that cover my shame to earnestly ask Him what I want. He is faithful, and He will make me whole in every way that I desire. This is our God.
I have spent time in my life wondering if I wasted years between college and seminary. I wondered if I missed something by needing the excursion. Here's what Tomlin says,
A refuge for the poor
A shelter from the storm,
This is our God.
He will wipe away your tears
And return your wasted years.
This is our God.
He's the God that wastes nothing!
Soundtrack: This is our God, Chris Tomlin
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