what would you have Jesus do for you?

Helen Keller was once asked what was worse than life without sight. In response, Keller simply replied, “No vision.” That is what sticks out for me this week through the Gospel: a lack of vision. For sometime now Jesus has been working to get the twelve to see and understand that the road leads to Jerusalem, up the hill to Calvary, down the hill to the cemetery and then right through the grave to resurrection three days later. All the disciples cold see was what Jesus death would mean for them and their little lives. They were wondering how they would get to be in power or positions of authority. Where was their wealth and fame to come from? That is why we learn of a man named Bar-Timaeus. (Mark 10:46-52)

Here is a man who leaves both his profession (begging) and this only real possession (cloak) behind when Jesus calls for him to come. Others have been trying to keep him away and still others trying to keep him from disturbing Jesus and those who are listening to him. Such actions make Bar-Timaeus all the more pushy and loud, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Like Jesus, James and John and the rich young ruler, Bar-Timaeus has a plan and it is a simple one: get to Jesus and he will heal me. So when he is called and assisted by those who had been trying to keep him quiet to come to Jesus he immediately gets up and goes and leaves the old life behind. Even before he gets to Jesus his life is already different because he is coming to the Master in response to his call. He has left everything that has been his life behind for the possibility of a new life, a new way of being because of an encounter with Jesus. The end of the old ways and the old life is the beginning of the new life and the new way of seeing.

For a long time, Bar-Timaeus has been in the margins of his community and his faith. Even his name notes this for the name “Bar-Timaeus” means one of two things: (1) son of my impure ones, noting that he was born blind because his parents were sinners, or (2) “ransomed one”. I like the later because it speaks to what God does in the life of this and how he is enabled to follow Jesus. Thus in this man we are called to see God at work to remove the barriers and to draw together the holy nation, the royal priesthood of all those who believe and serve him. There is a greater sight to which we are call drawn and to which every Christian must come: the face and person of Jesus. It is Jesus who stopped and had mercy in calling Bar-Timaeus to himself. It is Jesus who responded prayerfully to Bar-Timaeus’ request that he might see by giving him this eyesight. And in giving the gift of sight and of vision, Jesus enabled Bar-Timaeus to follow him into the city and to the cross.

Not only did Bar-Timaeus get his sight, he saw things in a new way. He saw colours and the vibrancy of creation. He saw the state of human life and people as they were and as they could be. Bar-Timaeus could see the world in ways which God wants all of us to see the world but refuses to. We would rather claim that we cannot see and that we do not wish to know because it doesn’t fit with what we want to see for us and for others. And where did this gift of sight take Bar-Timaeus; to Jerusalem, to the cross and to the resurrection.

So in considering all this, what would you have Jesus do for you and for us?