“What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man said to him, “My teacher, let me see again.”
In 1779, a new hymn book was published in rural England. At a time when printing was not easily accessible, it was not uncommon for a local congregation to publish its own hymnal for Sunday use in that church. But this hymnal contained a special hymn that would eventually become so well known that it is estimated to be performed 10 million times per year.
This hymn was written by John Newton, who was raised without any particular religious conviction. His life took many twists and turns based on what others thought he should do. He reluctantly joined the Royal Navy and, after leaving service, became involved in the Atlantic slave trade.
In 1748, a violent storm battered his ship off the County Donegal, Ireland, coast. So severe was this storm that he called out to God for help and mercy. Although this moment marked his conversion, he continued in the slave trade until about 1755, when he gave up his seafaring career altogether.
Newton began studying Christian theology and became an abolitionist. He was ordained in the Anglican Church in 1764 and assigned to the rural parish of Olney. While there, he met the poet William Cowper, and the two began to write hymns.
The relatively unknown hymn I mentioned earlier is Amazing Grace, and it was written to accompany a sermon Newtown preached on New Year’s Day 1773. It is unclear if there was any music that accompanied the words. It was common practice for hymns to be chanted by the congregation rather than sung to any particular tune. One of the many artifacts we have in the display case at the back of the church is a plainchant hymnal from the very early days of our congregation.
Amazing Grace was unknown until it started to be used in the early 19th century by Baptist and Methodist preachers as part of evangelization during what is known as the Second Great Awakening. America was coming to grips with the horrors of slavery and the Civil War and was looking for answers and redemption for the sins committed not only individually but nationally.
Amazing Grace is a song about redemption and forgiveness, and it reminds us that both are possible regardless of the sins we have committed. God’s All-Sufficient Grace can deliver the soul from despair if we just open our eyes.
If there was ever a time that we needed to hear the message of Amazing Grace, it is now!
Today, the writer of Mark’s Gospel introduces us to Bartimaeus son of Timaeus. This story of the healing of Bartimaeus appears in all three of the synoptic Gospels, although Mark is the only one who gives the blind man a name. Naming is important in Scripture, and we need to pay close attention to it.
Jesus and his Disciples were in Jerico, and as they were leaving, a blind man called out to him, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Bartimaeus had heard about Jesus and thought that this was his big chance to obtain his sight. Not wanting to cause a problem, those around him tried to silence him, but it only made him shout louder, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
Jesus stops, calls the man to him, and asks him, “What do you want me to do for you?” Bartimaeus replies to Jesus, “My teacher, let me see again.” That word “again” is going to prove very important.
This passage from Mark is only seven verses long, but it is filled to the brim with meaning if we just open our eyes to see past the magic that is taking place.
This is the last of the healing stories in Mark. Healing stories, like all the miracles of Jesus, contain a much deeper meaning than we see on the surface, and this one is no exception. Typically, the person being healed is not mentioned, which usually means the story is meant for all; it is an amalgamation of healing that had taken place. This is not to say that Jesus did not heal people; rather, the Scriptures contain only a small section of what Jesus did.
The man is named Bartimaeus, son of Timaeus. The name is interesting as Bartimaeus literally means son of Timaeus. Again, it is unusual that the man is named at all, and his name is a strange Semitic-Greek hybrid. Scholars agree that this person is a reference to an actual person from history.
But is it the person in front of Jesus, or is it someone else?
Some scholars point to Timaeus in Plato’s works, who delivers Plato’s most important cosmological and theological treatise, which involves sight as the foundation of knowledge. If you have read Plato, you understand that sight was an essential part of his philosophy, and we must look for answers before we can find understanding.
But there is more. When Bartimaeus stands to walk to Jesus, Mark tells us that he “throws off his cloak.” Keep in mind that everything written has meaning; nothing is put in Scripture just to take up space. Bartimaeus not only removes his cloak but also “throws it off,” signifying he will no longer need it. He also signifies that he is throwing off all his possessions to follow Jesus. This is to remind those around him, and especially his Disciples, of the need to rid ourselves of those things that hold us back.
Bartimaeus’ response to Jesus’ questioning is that he wants to see again. So, Bartimaeus was not blind from birth but lost his sight at some point for an unknown reason. The ancients believed that there was a connection between our health and our sin. Was it something he did that caused his blindness? Was it something that someone else did that caused it?
Blindness in Scripture is often a metaphor for spiritual blindness or being blind to Jesus’ message of love and acceptance. For sight to be recovered, we must first acknowledge that we are blind, and only then can we seek solutions and healing.
But we can be blind to many things, especially things that do not directly involve us, like the suffering and pain of others. It is easy to shut ourselves up in our own world and keep others out. If we close our eyes tight enough, it will go away.
What else blinds us? There is some truth to the idea that sin can cause blindness. When we are filled with hate, we are blind to the truth. Far too often, people believe that narrative is placed before them, blinding us to the truth. When people say what we want to hear and hate the same people we hate, we become blind, and our blindness causes all sorts of problems.
But before we start to feel all righteous in our position, know that righteousness can also blind us. Just because we have the right beliefs does not give us a license to ignore or disdain those who do not. If we are to obey Jesus’ command to love all, then we have to be willing to see the other and to listen. People suffer for all sorts of reasons. We may not agree with how they express their suffering, but that does not diminish the fact that they are suffering.
Yes, our own ignorance can cause us suffering, but sometimes, we need someone to help us find our way back. Love is the best way to help someone regain their sight.
Bartimaeus acknowledged that he was blind and needed help to change his life. He acknowledged Jesus’ kingship and asked him to help him regain his sight. Bartimaeus cried out in faith and despair, just like John Newton did on the deck of that ship. In both cases, God reached out his hand and provided what was needed.
Jesus tells Bartimaeus that his “faith has made him well.” Bartimaeus received his sight but did not go away; he followed Jesus. Newton’s life was changed, not instantly, but from one of slavery to service, and that service continues to this day.
How many lives have been changed by Amazing Grace? The song is popular not only in religious circles but also in secular circles. My guess is it would be hard to find someone who has never heard the words, “Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me.” I was lost, but now I’m found. I was blind, but now I see.
What blinds us? Whatever it is, know that God’s all-sufficient Grace can restore your sight. All we need to do is ask.
Amen.
