Calling of Outsiders

Calling of Outsiders
Rev. Dr. Chris Hensley
October 27th, 2024
Mark 10:45-52

We have been following Jesus’ journey southward from Galilee to the city of Jerusalem in Mark’s Gospel account. To this point, Jesus has been unnerving his closest followers by declaring that he is going to his death and they have responded with anger, misunderstanding, and delusions of grandeur. Suffice it to say, these guys do not fully get it, Jesus’ inner circle especially is guilty of these misunderstandings. Our text for this morning holds within it a couple distinctions worth noting; to begin with, this passage closes the journey toward Jerusalem, further, we have the final healing event which this account records for us. The healing is also climactic, not because of the grand stage or the specific actions or words uttered by Jesus. No, it is climactic because of the response of Bartimaeus, in that he follows Jesus along the way.

The stage is set for our passage, Jesus is heading with intentionality to his looming death, his closest disciples, the in crowd, meander behind and daydream of what it means to follow this Jesus from Nazareth. There is a crowd gathered to him, many have borne witness to his teachings and the associated miracles as they are recorded within the text. Others may simply be traveling the same direction, on their way to Jerusalem for the coming Passover celebrations. Not dissimilar to folks traveling an interstate in the same direction.

Regardless, many within the crowds were the inner circle and they were consumed, apparently, with their own thoughts about this individual who caught their attention at some point. Then, as they left the city of Jericho, the daydreamers, schemers, and confused crowds’ thoughts were interrupted by the cries of a blind beggar, one of the few whom Jesus heals and is named. This beggar, Bartimaeus began calling out to Jesus, seemingly recognizing the name of a miracle worker as it was uttered amongst the crowd. Bartimaeus calls out to Jesus for mercy, seeking restoration through a healing miracle of his own, similar to those which he has no doubt heard of and are compelling him to call out in faith that something good might come his way as well. The crowds recognizing Bartimaeus’ voice as belonging to that of an outsider attempt to actively silence the man, demanig that he be quiet. An example of insiders actively working against those who they view do not belong to the group. Yet, Bartimaeus calls out the louder.

Jesus then calls Bartimaeus forward, and note with me the interaction. It is brief and pointed, and Jesus does not actually do anything except to make statement to the man, affirming Bartimaeus’ faith. Bartimaeus knew what he wanted and Jesus saw in him a faith which was clear and focused. As such, Bartimaeus was healed. Now, make what you will of the healing miracle, wrestle with it and come to your own conclusions as to its authenticity. I follow this text and wanted to bring another issue to light which is revealed to the reader here.

The author of Mark exercised great intentionality in placing this last healing miracle, that of restoring the sight of a blind man, immediately after those within the inner circle of Jesus revealed their own blindness. There is a clear and intentional divide amongst those considered in and out of the group surrounding Jesus. Jesus, though, does not care about this exclusivity which the group around him has seemingly created in their collective imaginations. Further, Jesus intentionally takes a break from his hyper focused journey and pauses, however briefly, to address Bartimaeus.

The crowds did not see Bartimaeus for who he was. The interesting thing is that Jesus calls all kinds of people to discipleship, and the Church often ignores the calling. It is important that we not fall into our implicit or explicit biases. As a straight, white, cis-gendered, Christian man from and living in the Southern United States, I have my own biases which I need to be aware of when engaging with other persons. It is imperative that we do the work of growing to recognize our biases so that we might better engage with those who present as different than ourselves in myriad of ways. The importance lies not necessarily in the personal growth, though that cannot be ignored, but of higher significance is that each person we lay eyes upon is a loved child of God worthy of dignity and respect which our biases may distort or rob from them.

Bartimaeus was worthy of sight and of being seen by Jesus, even in the midst of the busyness of Jesus’ life and ministry at this point. Bartimaeus was considered an outsider by Jesus’ circle. Forced to a life of otherness. Yet, Jesus, in wisdom and compassion, removes this otherness and opens the doors of inclusivity, the opportunity for personal growth of his other followers, and a restoration of the dignity of Bartimaeus. We here at Sardis consider ourselves an inclusive group and that is a wonderful and blessed thing, something to be affirmed as this attitude emulates both the Jesus of the Christian NT as well as the prophets of the Hebrew Bible. And, there is always room for growth, always room for self-reflection. So, this week, I encourage and invite us all to continue to examine ourselves, what are our blind spots? What are our implicit biases? How might we continue the work of Jesus in smashing the barriers which exist in the world in which we live, work, and play to ensure all persons receive their Divinely ordained dignity and respect? Let us begin, as always, with ourselves.

Resources:
• Williamson, Interpretation: Mark
• Burridge, Four Gospels, One Jesus
• Implicit Biases tests provided by Harvard University https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/takeatouchtest.html