PASTOR'S PERSPECTIVES: LESSONS FROM A BLIND MAN STILL VALID TODAY

As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd were leaving Jericho, a blind man, Bartimaeus was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me! Mary rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" Jesus stopped and said, "Call him." So they called to the blind man, "Cheer up! On your feet! He's calling you." Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus. "What do you want me to do for you?" Jesus asked him. The blind man said, "Rabbi, I want to see." "Go," said Jesus, "your faith has healed you." Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus. (Mark 10:46-52)

Someone once bluntly asked Helen Keller, "Isn't it terrible to be blind?" Keller replied, "Far better to be blind and see with your heart, than to have two good eyes and see nothing."

The gift of sight is something which most of us take for granted. However, with each passing year, life teaches us the value of being able to see. As we get older and various kinds of normal eye problems begin to develop, we are forced to seek out the best medical treatments available in order to preserve our eyesight. In the Bible there is a different kind of eye problem that is much more difficult to detect and treat. It is a problem diagnosed as spiritual blindness; a lack of insight into spirit realities. As such, it is a problem only treatable by making a visit to the master eye surgeon. His name is Jesus.

In the above passage, Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem. His arrival during Passover is designed to help people see who he really is. Along the way Jesus meets various types of people. People who are all suffering from the same basic malady. People who are all suffering with varying degrees of blindness. Yet some recognize their problem, while sadly, others do not.

Have you ever pondered why it is that some folks come to Christ and others do not? Why are some people's eyes opened to the truth about Jesus, while others seemingly remain blind? Why did Bartimaeus receive his sight while so many others, like the Pharisees and Pharisets did not?

First, you must be willing to see yourself as you truly are. That involves a willingness to admit your own spiritual blindness. Unfortunately, we often act like the young man who was dancing with his girlfriend while another guy kept breaking in. Finally, he stopped, took off his glasses and said to his girl, "Will you please hold my glasses?" The girl became anxious and said, "Oh, you aren't going to fight him, are you?" "No," replied the young man. "I just can't stand the sight of him." In order to be helped by Christ you must be willing to see yourself as you truly are; to admit that you really are blind. No one had to convince Bartimaeus that he was blind, nor did he pretend otherwise.

You must believe the truth of what you've heard about Jesus. When Bartimaeus heard the good news that it was Jesus passing by, he cried out for help. Why? Because he had heard the miraculous stories circulating about Jesus -- stories of his willingness and ability to help the blind to see. Bartimaeus simply believed what he heard to be true. His faith is obvious in his repeated cries for help. It is evidenced by the very words he uses when calling Jesus the Son of David, the long awaited savior. Bartimaeus' faith in Jesus is also evident by way he persevered despite those who told him to be quiet.

His situation was like that of a stray cat who was advertised in the lost and found section of the local paper: "Found kitten with white paws and bib. Very affectionate. Answers to the name Go Away!" At some point, you too must decide whether what you have heard about the Jesus of the Bible is true or false, and act accordingly.

You must also act upon the gracious invitation of God. I recently read a pamphlet entitled, "Now Showing ... Too!" "Too!" is a movie about those who were: much too young to think about God, much too busy to think about God, much too happy to think about God, much too tired to think about God, much too smart to think about God, much too late to think about God.

Jesus heard an honest cry of faith, stopped in his tracks and called for Bartimaeus. At this point, the blind man acts far differently than so many in our culture. Without a moment's hesitation, he acts upon Jesus' gracious invitation. He immediately leaves his cloak behind, and jumps at the chance to meet the only one who can give him his sight. Jesus then ask the crucial question, "What do you want me to do for you?" The blind man asks for what he needs most -- his sight. Imagine the look on his face when the first thing he sees is the face of Christ. "What do you want me to do for you?" is still the most important question God will ever ask you. Your response is crucial. For at the end of the day, it is only those willing to admit their blindness who receive their spiritual sight.

The Rev. Art Hunt is pastor of Christ Presbyterian Church which meets at the Health and Education Department of St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau.