We have today a wonderful Gospel passage about Discipleship. 

Discipleship? Surely Louise it is about a miraculous healing?  There is a healing in the narrative that is true, but what is the true nature of that healing?  

We have had a number of examples over the last couple of weeks about what it means to follow Jesus, to be a disciple of Jesus.  We heard about the rich young man, who although loved by Jesus, at the point that we hear about, cannot give up everything to follow Jesus.   Last week we heard about James and John, who faced with the insecurity of Jesus’ tone as he makes his way to Jerusalem and his eventual crucifixion, look to establish a bit of security for afterwards.  Yes, we know the next stage is going to be painful and tricky, but AFTER that, can we sit on your right and left in Glory. 

Today we have Bartimaeus.  Day by day Bartimaeus comes and sits on the roadside, out of the way. His source of income is begging, his identity in many minds formed by the fact he has to beg to survive and that he is visually impaired.  

Bartimaeus shouts out to Jesus. “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” “Quiet!” say those who are near by.  The inference is that Bartimaeus is not worthy to make a fuss.  He is being rude, intrusive.  However Bartimaeus perseveres – an encouragement and reminder to us that each of us have permission to call out to our Saviour, to our God.   

“Have mercy on me!” Bartimaeus cries, and Jesus hears his cry and with compassion stops and then we hear different voices of the crowd encouraging Bartimaeus to go to Jesus.  

“What do you want me to do for you?” 

Isn’t it interesting that Jesus does not presume to know what Bartimaeus needs.  I wonder if we would have thought, “Of course, Bartimaeus wants to see.  What an obvious question.”  For Jesus it is so much more about partnership, about listening, being with that person rather than telling.  He is interested in what is at the heart of the person.  What are their longings.  What do they REALLY need?   

I wonder what are YOUR longings?  What do you really need? 

Bartimaeus asks for his sight.  It is the first thing he asks for.  However this encounter with Jesus actually answers a need far deeper than that – the need to know he is worthy and that he can follow Jesus.  Ultimately, the healing that Jesus gives Bartimaeus is his salvation.  That is his cure.  “Your faith has made you well.”   

You can tell that this is the true healing by Bartimaeus’ response.  It is as if he has been waiting for this day all his life.  Bartimaeus immediately follows Jesus.  No questions. No prevarication.  The deep need of his heart has been answered.  From being out of the way, Bartimaeus is now on THE WAY*.  From having his identity wrapped up with his visual impairment and his economic status, Bartimaeus’ identity is now found in Christ.  

His old identity, the cloak has already been thrown off in readiness.  If you think for a moment of Bartimaeus placing his cloak before him to receive any alms and gifts of money.  Now he has no need of it.  It is cast to one side. 

Bartimaeus’ calling, his whole being is now as a follower, as a Disciple of Christ. That was what he wanted all along.  That was what he needed all along. 

Just as Jesus saw people called them and drew out their true need so he does for you and for me.   

We often think we need all sorts of things.  We gain our security from all sorts of things and we do love to feel secure.   I wonder what that cloak of security is for you and me?  Maybe it is the resources, the money, the status of the rich man.  Perhaps it is wanting assurances that everything will work out as we hope and imagine in the end in a way which we can comprehend. 

What is Jesus calling us on to as calls to the very heart of us, as he invites us to put aside that cloak and follow him?  

“Jesus, have mercy on us!” we cry.   

“What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asks us, and will keep asking until we see that what we need to do is to follow him.