A Man Who Was Blind Who Could See Quite Well

Psalm 34:1-8; Mark 10:46-52

According to a study from the Pew Research Center, these are the top ten reasons people in this country attend church services.  These are people who indicated that church attendance is “very important” to them.

Reason number ten:  To please their spouse.  Okay, they’re just being honest here.  According to the study, sixteen percent of you are here to please your spouse.  And it’s more likely to be the husband trying to please his wife.  And he has indicated that it is “very important” to keep his wife happy.  We all know the old saying: “If mamma ain’t happy, nobody’s happy!”

Reason number nine:  To meet people or socialize.  We call that koinonia or fellowship.

Reason number eight:  They feel obligated to go.  Okay, we all feel that way sometimes, don’t we?  We feel the same way about going to work sometimes or to social commitments and other events.  That’s the way we’re made.

Number seven:  To continue their family’s religious traditions.

Number six:  To be part of a faith community. 

Number five:  They find the sermons to be valuable.  Good to know!

Number four:  For comfort in times of trouble or sorrow.  How many of you have received a prayer shawl?  Or a casserole delivered to your house?  Or an encouraging card or phone call?  People are saying this is very important to them.

Number three:  To become a better person.

Number two:  So their children will have a moral foundation.

Number one:  To become closer to God.  Eight-one percent of you are here because what happens here draws you closer to God.  That is always my hope and prayer.

I found equally instructive, if not more so, the reasons people don’t attend church.  Here are three of the top reasons:

They don’t feel welcome.

They haven’t found a house of worship they like.

Here’s the number one reason people gave for not attending church:  They practice their faith in “other ways.”  It’s not that they don’t have a faith.  They just practice it in other ways.  Thirty-one percent gave that answer.

I suspect “They don’t feel welcome” and “They haven’t found a house of worship they like” are probably connected.  They haven’t found a house of worship they like because they don’t feel welcome when they attend.  It’s not that they don’t want to be here.  It’s not that they don’t have spiritual practices.  They don’t feel welcome, so they practice their faith in other ways.

I see this as a good news-bad news report.  The good news is there are people out there looking for a church like ours.  They’re open to coming in.  They embrace faith.  But here’s the bad news.  They haven’t found a comfortable way to get in.  Like the man named Bartimaeus in our text.

This man has been known through history as blind Bartimaeus, which is unfortunate because he was more than his blindness.  He was a person first.  People who work in this arena today encourage us to use “people first” language.  He was a man who was blind, not a blind man.  She is a person with a disability, not a disabled person.  People first. The text describes Bartimaeus as a beggar.  He had few other options in his day.  He sat beside the road, Mark says, likely a main road into the city of Jericho, and begged from the passersby.  He probably received just enough handouts for subsistence.  And he had probably learned through the years to ignore the ugly comments.  Sure, they tossed a few coins his way, and some surely tossed a few crude remarks also: “What did you do, mister?  Hey, blind man, what did you do to deserve to be blind?”  That’s the way they thought back then. 

The text does not indicate how Bartimaeus became blind.  We do know that he had vision at an earlier time in life because he asked Jesus to let him see again. Perhaps it was some kind of accident.  Maybe it was something as simple as cataracts.

Mark says that Bartimaeus heard that Jesus was one of the passersby.  He must have overheard people talking. “Hey, have you heard about this man named Jesus?  They say he heals people,” passersby were saying.  “Yeah, he feeds them, too. Yes, I’ve heard the same thing.  He even makes the lame to walk and the blind to see.”

Mark says that Bartimaeus began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”  The language here is strong.  He didn’t just “say” this.  The grammar of the Greek text suggests he “shouted.”

But the people got in his way.  He was sitting, humbled beside the road, just a blind beggar.  His eyes may not have seen Jesus, but something else did.  In faith, in hope, he called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.” But the people got in his way.  Mark even says that “many” of those people “sternly ordered” him to be quiet.  If Bartimaeus used strong language to get Jesus’ attention, the ones who wanted to silence Bartimaeus used equally strong language.

But Bartimaeus would not be deterred.  Mark says that he shouted even louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

This time Jesus heard and responded.  “Call him here,” Jesus said. Notice Bartimaeus’ actions.  Matthew, Mark, and Luke all record this story.  Matthew says there were two beggars, not just one.  Luke says simply, “he came near.” Mark is the only one to record the urgency, the sense of excitement in Bartimaeus.  Mark says that he threw off his cloak.  Then he sprang to his feet and ran to Jesus.  I can see this in my mind as one rapid motion.  He throws off the cloak as he jumps to his feet and eagerly rushes to the sound of Jesus’ voice.

When Bartimaeus stood before Jesus, the tone of the encounter softened.  No more shouting. No more jumping and rushing. “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked.

Bartimaeus said what anyone who was blind person would have said, “My teacher, let me see again.”

Jesus didn’t touch him.  He didn’t use saliva to make a paste to put on his eyes, like he did on another occasion.  He said simply, “Go; your faith has made you well.”

But notice what happened next.  This is important.  Mark says that Bartimaeus “immediately” received his vision.  But Bartimaeus didn’t “go” as Jesus had instructed him. Mark says that he stayed with Jesus and “followed him on the way.”  Bartimaeus may have been blind, true, but he could actually see quite well.

Like the people who are sitting along the roadside here.  On Cannstatt Drive.    Up Weatherly Road.  Down Bailey Cove.  In your neighborhood.  And mine. Some of these people are looking for us, for our expansive message.  They want to see Jesus, but they can’t find their way inside.  So, what must we do to help those sitting along the roadside to stand with us on the inside?  Let me offer two suggestions based on what they’ve told the Pew researchers.  First, we must extend unconditional welcome.  We must be a place where everyone is welcome: rich and poor, black and white, gay and straight, liberal and conservative.  If we’re going to say, “Everyone Welcome,” then everyone must be welcome.  Let us declare unequivocally that this is a church where all God’s children are safe and welcome.

Second, we must offer people meaningful ways to practice their faith.  Are you concerned about race relations?  We are too, and we’ve partnered with an African American church to learn from one another and practice healthy race relations.  Help us with that. Are you concerned about the animosity toward immigrants arriving in our country and city?  We are too, so we welcome them here, teach them English, and help them become established in our country.  We help some become citizens.  Help us.  Are you concerned about affordable housing in Huntsville?  We have a team working two days a week rehabbing affordable housing.  Help us.  Are you concerned about the anger and ostracism directed to the LGBTQ community?  We are too.  Help us do something about that.

It is a good news-bad news report.  The bad news is that the “nones” and “dones” are growing.  When asked their religious preference, they check the box “none.”  They are saying they are “done” with churches.  But we also know that Bartimaeus is out there.  He sees quite well, and he is looking for a church like ours.  He’s even told us what he’s looking for:  to be welcome and to have a meaningful way to practice his faith.  May our inclusive, discovering fellowship be just that.

Closing Prayer

 We thank you, Lord, for the model we have in Jesus, who welcomed all.  Help us to do likewise.  Amen.