46 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. 47 When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48 Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 49 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.” 50 So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. 51 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.” 52 Jesus said to him, “Go; your faith has made you well.” Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way. [NRSV]
On one hand this is an awesome miracle story of restoration.
On the other hand it is the ordinary story of someone trying to connect with Jesus in everyday life.
Here the practical side of this passage: How to get up when we are blind, stuck and blocked…
A. I want mercy.
“Give me a break” “Back-off” “I need some space” Like the elementary school games of squeezing hands until someone yields. (Actually this is a gross muse use of the word.”
“I need to be heard even though I am one voice” “I want to be included even though I have nothing to offer.” “i’m on the side-line or stuck on the back-burner.” Lord Jesus come to me.
MERCY: is loving-kindness. Kindness grounded in love not fairness or payment (No killing with Kindness model)
B. Stern Dis-Couragers.
Demotivators: Failure: When you tried your best and it wasn’t good enough,
Think of all that works against us.
Those who were nearest to the Son of Tomas, worked hard to keep him quiet, in his place, and away from embarsing them.
There are those who have a reputation for being needy, disappointing, frustrating, ignorant and even stubborn..
C: The antithesis of MERCY: Judgement
Some sternly complained, rebuked, rejected, and silenced the voice of the voice-less.
Those in our own community, family and church can be some of the hardest obstacles to finding Jesus.
What happens when the faithful become the ANTI- disciples, the discourager, the silencers
Bartemas, bartemas… the son of Tomas’ son.. REPUTATION of multiple generations… either in success or failure, Bar-Bartomas is KNOWN by all as a bother, an interruption, or a dis-appointment.
D. Jesus asked. “Naming what we want.”
Bricks in a coat pocket object lesson!
<How do you leap when your pockets are filled with failure, fear, shame, hurt, guilt, pride, etc?
Seek Mercy and be freed-up to get up with
Spring up and come to Jesus
