The Son of Timaeus Calls on the Son of David

QUINQUAGESIMA

50 Days Before Easter

February 11, 2018

ST. MARK 10:48–50

The Son of Timaeus Calls on the Son of David

In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Among the many remarkable things about this incident of Jesus healing blind Bartimaeus (which means this man was the son of Timaeus—Bar means son) is how Bartimaeus approaches Jesus.

ST. MARK 10:49–50 Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called the blind man and said to him, “Have courage! Get up; he’s calling for you.” He threw off his coat, jumped up, and came to Jesus. CSB 2017

Jesus calls him and throws off his coat and jumps up. This is a blind man doing this! If I were him, I'd sensibly leave my coat on and not risking not finding it again in that big crowd and having it stolen.

And he jumps up. I don't imagine the blind do much jumping. But Bartimaeus jumps up! What caused him to have this courage?

Of course, the answer is Jesus! Bartimaeus throws off his coat into the darkness of his blindness, jumps up into an uncertain future, and comes to Jesus. All of this because Jesus calls him.

Jesus' call bids us come to Him, but in His calling is the life and faith. Here the call comes not directly from Jesus; others must relay His words to the blind man. But they are still just as potent.

Last Sunday another blind sinner was brought into the sight of faith through Holy Baptism. Jesus baptized this little babe, but He used the hands of another to put the water on her head and speak His holy call. And they are the power of the Word of God. When God talks, things happen. The deaf hear; the blind see (Isaiah 35:5). Even the dead are raised.

Baptism isn't magic; it isn't an incantation. It is the living Word of God with water and received by faith in Christ. Dr. Luther summarizes this joy:

Baptism works forgiveness of sin, delivers from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe this, as the words and promises of God declare. What are these words and promises of God? Christ our Lord says in the last chapter of Mark, Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

Faith receives what Baptism freely gives: Jesus Christ. Those outside of faith cannot see, cannot get Jesus. But Jesus gives us trust (which is what faith is) in His saving deeds: His incarnation and His crucifixion. Our faith is simply agreeing with God that His Son became a true man, who died to pay for our sin and unbelief. Babies are born unbelievers and they need Jesus.

Many in this world, even more in the visible Christian groups of this world, scoff at babies being baptized. They ignore the Word of God and claim that babies aren’t sinful. In their mental gymnastics they end up claiming that Jesus didn’t die for these babies. But the truth is that He did come for them and to die for them, because He comes and dies only for sinners (Mark 2:17).

I hear their objections to babies being baptized when I hear the crowd of Jewish pilgrims, members of the visible church, telling Bartimaeus to keep silent and to keep away from Jesus.

ST. MARK 10:47–48 When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Many warned him to keep quiet, but he was crying out all the more, “Have mercy on me, Son of David!” CSB 2017

Our song of “Lord, Have Mercy” echoes the cry of blind Bartimaeus. The Son of David is a special name for Jesus that proclaims that He is the promised Deliverer from evil and death for sinners of all ages. And we boldly ask Him to give us good things: salvation and forgiveness above all else, but also good food, good sight, good families, all that we need for body and health.

Bartimaeus wanted to see. He trusted that Jesus would give good things. So when Jesus asked him what his prayer was, he was bold to pray:

ST. MARK 10:51b “Rabboni [which means my teacher], I want to see.” CSB 2017

Bartimaeus called on Jesus to teach him; he calls Him my Teacher! This is faith which trusts in what cannot be seen. Jesus had given this blind man saving faith.

Even though Jesus gives Bartimaeus permission to depart (Go!) once he can see—and just imagine all the places and things that a newly seeing person would wish to stare at—he uses his new eyes and goes with Jesus, so that he might look at Him and listen to Him even more.

What a wise choice! For within hours Jesus would ride into Jerusalem on a donkey, be Him falsely convicted and condemned, and be nailed to a cross.

Were you there to see it? No.

Was Bartimaeus there to see it? We don't know, but we do know that he began to follow Jesus on the road. God grant the same for us.

In Jesus' Name. Amen.

God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Thanks be to God!