Matthias Gerung (1530-32), “Jesus Heals the Blind Bartimaeus”
Do you ever wonder if God hears your prayers, or if there’s any use in praying, especially if your prayers seem to go unanswered?
The early Christians certainly had these same concerns. Jesus was physically gone. They had no idea when he would return in glory. Was Jesus even available to them anymore?
The writer of Hebrews wants to encourage these early Christians. He wants his listeners to know—”Yes, Jesus is still available to you and Jesus DOES hear your prayers, every one of them!”
The writer uses the familiar figure of the high priest to help the people understand that Jesus is now our high priest, making intercession for us eternally. “He is able for all time to save those who approach God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.”
Later in Hebrews, the writer encourages his listeners to have faith, “the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”
So today’s lectionary passages remind us that even though Jesus is not here physically with us, Jesus is present in our midst, and that we can be assured that Jesus hears our prayers and that he is interceding for us.
Today’s gospel reading gives us some great pointers about how to pray to Jesus, who is always interceding for us.
The blind beggar Bartimaeus makes a great prayer partner! So let’s give some attention to his story and see what we can learn.
As he and the disciples left Jericho, only fifteen miles from Jerusalem and the last stop for pilgrims headed for the city, Jesus had a lot on his mind.
In addition to thinking ahead to his triumphal entry into the city, Jesus must have also been pondering his last days, his impending arrest, condemnation, the humiliating mocking and scourging that he would endure, and then his death, followed by resurrection. We know this is on his mind because he has just told the disciples for the third time that all of this would happen.
And Jesus must have been concerned about his disciples and whether or not they understood enough to carry on his mission after his death and resurrection. James and John had just asked him if they could have positions of authority when Jesus came into his glory. They must have been expecting that Jesus was about to be made the Messiah, that the Romans would be overthrown, the world order would change, and that they’d be persons of importance. In response to this misunderstanding, Jesus had taught the disciples again that to be his disciples they must be servants of all, and that to be first they must be last. But did they understand his teaching?
Meanwhile, on the dusty road outside Jericho, the blind beggar, Bartimaeus, was sitting and hoping for any little gift from those who passed by. He had heard of Jesus somewhere, and what he had heard had convinced him that Jesus was the Messiah, because when he heard that Jesus was going to pass by, he cried out addressing Jesus as the Son of David, a title reserved for an anointed King of Israel.
Many in the crowd told this insignificant beggar to be quiet, but Bartimaeus was persistent and cried out even more loudly, “Son of David, have mercy on me.”
Jesus heard the cry of Bartimaeus. Even though he had a lot on his mind, Jesus stood still. Jesus listened. Jesus called Bartimaeus to come to him. Jesus asked Bartimaeus the same question he had asked his own disciples, James and John, when they had come to him with their request.
Jesus asked, “What do you want me to do for you?”
Bartimaeus has one simple request, “Teacher, let me see again.”
Jesus replied, “Go, your faith has made you well.” And Bartimaeus instantly regained his sight and followed Jesus on the way.
The story of Bartimaeus reminds us that Jesus listens to our prayers when we cry out to him. This story also teaches us three important things about how to pray.
First of all, persistence in prayer is essential.
Bartimaeus was persistent in his prayer even when many sternly told him to be quiet. Bartimaeus just cried out even more loudly, hoping Jesus would hear him. He wasn’t about to give up!
Second, Bartimaeus was humble in prayer. Bartimaeus knew to whom he was praying. He addressed Jesus as “Son of David” when he called out to Jesus. Bartimaeus was using the title that the Jewish people would have used for anointed kings. He knew that Jesus was a person of authority, appointed by God.
Remember too, that when Jesus taught the disciples to pray, he had them address God as our Father. God our Father is full of compassion and mercy, but God is also the one in authority, not us. God is our father, and we are God’s children.
Bartimaeus reminds us to pray to God in humility as God’s servants, not as God’s equals.
Third, Bartimaeus called out to Jesus, believing that God is full of mercy and compassion. And God is full of mercy and compassion, as the Psalmists note repeatedly throughout the psalms, and as Jesus made clear throughout his lifetime in his many merciful and compassionate actions.
Some of you may have heard of the Jesus prayer, which goes like this. “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner.” Many Orthodox Christians use this prayer as a way of getting to inner quiet. By saying this prayer throughout the day, the mind begins to rest in our God of mercy, who knows what we need before we even ask. In other words, this simple prayer can give us the clarity of mind and heart that we may lack when we forget to pray, or when we don’t know what to pray for.
When Jesus asked Bartimaeus what he needed his answer was simple and direct. “My teacher, let me see again.”
The request of Bartimaeus is a good request for us to make in prayer as well. Addressing Jesus as teacher reminds us that Jesus is the one in authority, the one who leads the way, teaching us, rather than us telling God how we think things should be when we pray–as James and John did when they asked to be put in positions of authority.
Limiting our sight to our own narrow perspectives is easy to do, and we tend to forget that as his disciples, Jesus asks us to see the world through his perspective, a world in which the reign of God has already come near.
Praying “Let me see again” daily helps us to see the world more and more through God’s eyes, which means that we become more merciful and compassionate to those around us, and more merciful and compassionate toward ourselves as well, because we know that Jesus will hear and answer our prayers in the fullness of God’s own mercy and compassion.
Praying persistently and humbly to the One in authority and control, the One of mercy and compassion, is an act of faith.
When Jesus called Bartimaeus to him, Bartimaeus threw off his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus. His cloak was all he had, and instead of wrapping up in it to come before the Lord, he threw it off. He instantly answered the call of Jesus, full of gratitude.
So often, what we have and our concerns over our stuff get in our way of praying. But Bartimaeus reminds us that what God has in store for us is greater than anything we’ve stored up for ourselves, and that when God hears our prayers, our best response is to spring up and to go to Jesus, leaving everything else behind.
So this coming week, I encourage you to pray along with Bartimaeus. Be persistent and faithful in prayer, knowing that Jesus hears and intercedes for you to his heavenly Father. Know to whom you are praying, the Lord and ruler of all. Expect mercy, for the Lord is merciful. Pray that prayer for mercy often, for in that prayer space, your specific prayers will become more articulate and tangible. Pray to regain your sight and to see the world through God’s eyes of compassion, so that God can transform you into a merciful, compassionate and healing presence yourself, with God’s help. And once you have prayed, go with Bartimaeus, and follow Jesus on the way.