The Question

"What do you want me to do for you?" Jesus asked him.  Mark 10:51

       Bartimaeus, Son of Timaeus. He is named. He belongs to someone, or at least used to. He had a family, a history. But apparently there is no one to care for him any longer. He has no position, no livelihood, no ability to take an active part in the community. He is often in the way of people passing by, an intrusion in the lives of those around him as he daily begs for money so he can eat. Very few want to be bothered by someone else's desperation and endless need. To some it's an affront to their status, to others it creates fear, and to many it is too much of a reminder of their own weakness and need. It makes them all feel vulnerable in ways they try to deny. But, here he is. Day in and day out on the side of the road. Waiting. Listening. Hoping to hear the clinking of coins drop in his cup; likely hearing snide remarks of passers-by.
        There is something about sitting by the side of the road everyday. Even without sight you observe things. You can feel and hear the buzz of conversations and news all around. There had been enough chatter of a "Jesus of Nazareth" that Bartimaeus was aware of who he was, and perhaps had spent many hours sitting in his familiar darkness imagining what it would be like if he ever got to meet Jesus. On this particular day, he got his chance. Jesus walks by with a large crowd following, a large crowd full of the kinds of people Bartimaeus was confronted with everyday - the ones that dismiss him and ignore him. He is desperate to be heard, so he cries out as loudly as he can, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" Bartimaeus is declaring a truth that many in the crowd reject - that Jesus is the promised "Son of David". Bartimaeus is used to being humiliated, so when the crowd rebukes him and tries to "put him in his place", he cries out even louder, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" This blind man can see what most in the crowd, with their sight, cannot. He sees his desperate need for mercy and knows Jesus is the only one who can give it. Jesus stops. He calls for Bartimaeus and asks, "What do you want me to do for you?" His answer, "I want to see."
        "I want to see." Isn't that our heart's cry? We are keenly aware of the darkness, of those areas where we so desperately need to be healed. We want light to shine in. We want the sheer brilliance of Christ's presence to dispel the shadows. Like Job, we have heard of him, now we want to see. We want to see Him. We believe Jesus is who he says he is. We know he is our only hope. Yet, at times we sit by the side of the road waiting, listening; lost in our familiar darkness. All the while we could throw aside our cloak and come to Jesus who is already here gently asking us the same question he asked Bartimaeus, "What do you want me to do for you?" There is no other answer worth giving or equal to our need than, "I want to see. I want to see You!" And therein lies our healing.