Hi First Presbyterian,
Palm Sunday is this weekend, the day in the liturgical calendar when we remember Jesus’ “triumphal entry” into Jerusalem. Transport yourself back over 2,000 years ago and to ancient Judea. Today, Wednesday, Jesus would be continuing his journey from Galilee to the big city. In fact, about this time of the week, he may have been on the Jericho Road, one of the main routes into Jerusalem named as such because it connected Jerusalem to the city of Jericho. The Gospels tell us about an interaction Jesus had in the city of Jericho on his way to Jerusalem: he healed someone who was sitting by the road begging. In Matthew’s and Luke’s Gospels, the person is simply called “a blind man.” However, in Mark’s Gospel, he is given a name. He is called “Bartimaeus.” This is peculiar for a couple reasons. First, it is very rare that we are ever told anyone’s name in the Bible who is not a main character. The fact that this person is given a name should catch our attention. Second, look at how Mark tells us his name in 10:46: “Bartimaeus son of Timaeus.” In Aramaic (the language that most Jews spoke in the first century), the prefix “bar-“ means “son of.” In other words, Mark is introducing this person by calling him, “Son of Timaeus, son of Timaeus.” This is not an accident. Mark is not being redundant here. In fact, I think he’s trying to tell us something significant.
Without getting too much into the weeds with my explanation of what’s happening, Mark seems to be using a wordplay. He’s combining Aramaic and Greek to tell us something about what’s happening with this man in Jericho. “Bartimaeus” (in Aramaic) means something like “son of the unclean.” “Son of Timaeus” (in Greek) means something like “son of the highly prized.” I think what Mark is trying to show us is that this person who was considered “unclean” by his society, has instead become “highly prized” because of his encounter with Jesus. This is the heart of the Gospel!
Blindness was wrongfully considered punishment for sin and, out of fear, societies ostracized people with blindness and kept them at a distance. This person, who spent his days begging at the roadside, had been pushed to the edges of society because of a condition he had no control over. In the eyes of people, he was “unclean.” In the eyes of Jesus, however, he was “highly prized.” As he called out to Jesus to have mercy on him, people were actively trying to silence him. Jesus pushed past their condescension, their pride, and their fear and sought to meet Bartimaeus, whom he considered to be a beloved child of God. Jesus healed him, and the man followed him the rest of the way to Jerusalem.
Thank God that Jesus looks past what others think and say about us and sees us for who we truly are: beloved children of God. You are highly prized and valued by God. You are not what people think or say about you. You are not even necessarily what you think and say about yourself. You are a beloved child of God. Those who are forgiven much, ought to love much (cf. Luke 7:47). Since we have been forgiven by God and loved so greatly, let us go out and be generous with our love to others, especially those like Bartimaeus, who are pushed to the margins and thought of as unclean.
As we prepare to welcome Jesus triumphantly this Sunday, let us do so with joy and humility, knowing how greatly God loves us all.
Peace to you,
Pastor Neff