By Jared Warner
Willow Creek Friends Church
October 27, 2024
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Mark 10:46–52 (ESV)
46 And they came to Jericho. And as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside. 47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48 And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 49 And Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart. Get up; he is calling you.” 50 And throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. 51 And Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” And the blind man said to him, “Rabbi, let me recover my sight.” 52 And Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way.
The past few weeks I have focused on Jesus’s response to the human quest for power. I hope that this has caused us to rethink some things within our lives. I hope that this prompts us to examine our motives and our motivations. Do the words of Jesus encourage us to look at the world through the fear that the kingdoms of mankind want us to consider or do those words encourage us to look a the human potential that can be possible if we turn away from our will and cling to the will of God?
I hope the words of Jesus will continue to ring in your ears as we move throughout our communities these next few weeks. I hope they will haunt us as we engage those within our neighborhoods, that the spirit within those words will cause us to consider if our actions truly reflect the beliefs we claim.
Last week we met James and John along the roadside. They asked Jesus to grant them whatever they asked of him. I mentioned that this is often how we approach prayer. We often see Jesus as this divine vending machine that we put our spare change into and expect a return on that investment. I encourage you to take a step back for a moment and consider that. I pray. I pray daily. I expect God to answer my prayers. We have books and videos from various Christian media sources that encourages this practice and for the most part I do not disagree with their positions. But there is something within this teaching that does not sit well. The expectation that God will answer our prayers as we expect.
“Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” Why?
I have given my tithe. I have given God ten percent of all my earnings. I have given on the Gross income and not the net, because that is the teaching of the financial ministers. They tell us that God will bless that sacrifice. We give a tenth and we expect a return. What would happen if we approached the rest of our economy with the same expectations we approach God with?
On average we as American’s spend just under 13% of our income on food. Do we demand the grocers to do for us whatever we ask of them? We do not, and we even give more of our income to them than we give to God. According to the US Bureau of Labor statistics last year we spend 39% of our income on housing, 17% on transportation, 12.9% on food, 12.4% of our income on insurance, and 8% on healthcare. These of course are averages, but I want us to just let that sink in for a bit, 89.3% of everything we spend is on basic survival. For most of us this would probably be closer to 100%, for others if we were fully honest it would be greater than our actual income.
We give 89.3% of our income to the grocer, the bank, the insurance companies, the car dealers, and gas stations. What is our expectation from them? Do we go into the banker’s office and boldly say, “Banker, I want you do to for me whatever I ask of you.” If you have and were not laughed out of the building I would like to you accompany me to a meeting.
No, we do not approach the people of the kingdoms of men with that attitude. We submit, the bank tells us we will pay 7% interest on our mortgage and we say thank you and sign on the dotted line. We give them this, and what have we gained from that transaction? Over the course of the last few years the amount we spend on these various items has increased. We become increasingly more frustrated with the cost of food, and we lash out at the clerks stocking the shelves. We are annoyed by the interest rates and we cannot do anything about it so we seek someone to blame. And the news picks up on this, the politicians see it and they capitalize on our insecurity and frustration. They give us a scape goat someone to blame, and we give them power. What has changed?
We still give the bank or the landlord 40%, the grocer 13%, and the insurance companies 12%. Nothing changes, we give them everything expecting some return and we are left right where we were.
“Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.”
Jesus used that request to teach his disciples something important. He told them that in the kingdoms of men the rulers will lord it over them that they will exercise authority over them, but it shall not be so among the people of God’s kingdom. Jesus is telling us something profound, Those that have power will keep power. They will continue to maintain the same influence over the people. The people who hold the power might change at times, but the situation remains the same. We still pay 40% of our income for housing, 17% of our income to get where we need to go, 13% for food and so on. The kingdoms of men have not changed even when we vote for someone different. My lifestyle has not changed dramatically with a democrat or a republican in the White House, because the things that are really affecting my life and lifestyle they will not touch, because those are the things that keep them in power.
Today Jesus and his disciples are continuing down the road, they are walking from Galilee toward Jerusalem. This is Jesus’s final trip, before he faces his trial. And they come to Jericho. Jericho is mentioned often in scripture, because it is situated on the best route through the mountains. If you are wanting to get to Jerusalem, as you travel across Israel you will likely walk through Jericho. It is in Jericho that Rome situated the tax booths to collect the tariffs they place on trade. Nearly everyone would travel through this town as they traveled. If they wanted to worship at the temple, they would pass through Jericho pay a tax, and proceed forward. If they wanted to return home, again they would pay the tax.
For centuries this city held power in the region because no matter what direction you went you would likely pass through this area to get to where you wanted to go. That is why the first city we come to in Joshua’s conquest of the land of promise is Jericho. It is the cross road. Today it would be that city on interstate where all the highways seem to meet. A city that holds more power than it probably should for it’s size. In America it would be similar to Chicago. In itself there is nothing really spectacular except the railroads, boats, and highways all seem to go through Chicago as they travel east or west.
Jesus is leaving Jericho, and a crowd of people are following him. And on his way out of the town Bartimaeus, a blind beggar is sitting by the roadside. Mark gives us this man’s name, this does not always happen, in fact it rarely happens. A few years ago I focused on the name because I found it to be important. But I will not go as deeply into it today. Bartimaeus means Son of Timaeus. There is a play on words in this section. Timaeus in Hebrew could mean contaminated, impure, or profaned. Yet in Greek it means honorable. There are not many names within these languages that have as stark a difference.
This blind beggar is sitting on the side of the road. In Hebrew culture he is the son of impurity. The embodiment of sin. In many religious traditions bad things happen to bad people. I do not know why we come up with this idea since bad things often do not happen to the worst people, but fall on seemingly innocent members within society. But that is often the concepts societies develop. We look on the poor, the injured, the sick and we try to explain why they are in that condition and we conclude they must have done something to deserve their lot. This blind son of contamination is sitting on the side of the road.
He cries out to Jesus, “son of David have mercy on me.” And everyone responds just how we would. They tell him to shut up.
I say they respond just how we would, that should shock us a bit, but hopefully we are able to proceed. I have student loans, these loans I have no illusion of paying off in my life, yet every month they suck up my income. I do not complain much as I know I took the loans, I am in this situation by my own will, but if I do raise my voice, there are segments within the population that will cry out telling me to shut up. I made my bed now I need to sleep in it. They do not know anything about my life, yet they know everything. I have paid on my student loans for twenty years and the remaining amount owed has not changed. I still owe the same amount I have always owed. Work harder, pay extra, I know all the cliche answers. I, like Bartimaeus, will remain in my current position. Seeking mercy while people tell me to be quiet.
But his name also has a different meaning, son of honor.
He, this blind beggar, this man that depended on the charity of others to live, cried out for mercy. He even shouted louder as the voiced sought to silence him.
He has no hope. He has no options. He has nothing to lose. And by chance Jesus walks by. He has heard stories, and he takes a chance.
Jesus told the disciples that the kingdoms of men lord power over the people. And they exercise that authority. They hold the power and they use that power to maintain their power. Law and order, war and violence, debt and collateral. These things only change if those in power find a different way to hold power. This is why Jesus says that the poor will always be with you. Someone will always be exploited by those that can. And Jesus said to his disciples, this is not so with us. The followers of Jesus are not to use the ways of men to influence. He instead says that if we want to be great we must be a servant, if we want to be first we must be a slave to all.
It is difficult to process what that means, because we like the strong and the powerful. We want to be like the celebrity that has all the wealth and influence. We want. And we ask for it, we expect it because we have given so much. We look to the heavens and demand God for justice, and believe we should be listened to because we have done so much. We have given 10%. I should get something. So we yell at the cashier. We threaten the customer service representative on the phone. But what can they do? They have no power they have no control they are just insignificant clogs in the machine, stuck in the same place we are, powerless.
The blind man has nothing. This son of corruption cries out for mercy, while everyone tells him to know his place and shut his mouth.
He has nothing. Yet Jesus heard his voice.
Bartimaeus, throws his cloak on the ground. He jumps to his feet and came to Jesus. He tossed everything he had of value. And proceeded forward. We look at James and John, we marvel that they left their father’s boat to follow Jesus, but we often forget that their father is still living. There is still a boat to go back to. When Peter and the twelve sat in the upper room waiting, Peter stood up and said, “I’m going fishing.” We see these great men of faith turning back, returning to their previous way of life as times seem to get dark. But this man is blind, the throws off his cloak and goes to Jesus. He throws off the one thing he has to his name leaves it behind. He is blind, it will not be easy for him to find his cloak again once he enters that mass of people. Yet he goes forward.
He cried out to God. And just as James and John were listened to, this man is heard. Jesus asks him the same question he asked the sons of Thunder, “What do you want me to do for you?”
James and John were told that their request could not be fulfilled. They wanted greatness. They wanted the seats of power, positions of honor and respect. They wanted to have authority over the other disciples, over the kingdom of God. They did not want to answer to anyone others than Jesus himself. The answer Jesus gave to them was, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” They of course said yes, because we always think we are capable. Jesus continues, “You will drink it and be baptized in it but to sit at my right and left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.” They wanted the power, but the power of God does not always go to who we expect. It often resides in the ones we least expect. It often goes to the least. The powerless. God chose Israel, not the superpower of the age, Egypt. God chose Gideon of the tribe of Manasseh, the least of the least, instead of a leader from greater tribe, Judah. God chose David, the youngest of the brothers, instead of Saul who stood a head taller than everyone else in Israel. God often chooses the least not the greatest.
And today Jesus chose the blind beggar over the Sons of Thunder.
“What do you want me to do for you.”
“Grant us to sit one at your right hand and one at your left,” the Sons of Thunder say. But Bartimaeus says, “Let me recover my sight.” The Sons of Thunder demand, where the blind man makes a humble request.
They demand power, where this man requests the ability to see. They want control over others where this blind beggar simply wants to live.
I often sit with these two passages thinking. I listen to various teachings on how we should pray and what we should say. I consider various theological positions. Can we demand things from God? Can we expect to be healed?
Often we are taught that if we have enough faith it is God’s will to heal everyone. I was told this as my little sister died. I was told this as past relationships fell apart. I was told these things when my world seemed to be crashing around me. If I only had enough faith then everything would change. I demanded, I cried out to God. And nothing changed.
I stood on a cliff overlooking the Black Sea and I yelled…well I did not yell out loud but in my mind, “I have went to the other end of the world to serve you, grant me the thing I ask.” Maybe I should have actually yelled, but the reality is I was asking for myself. I wanted control, I wanted power, I wanted to be the master of my own destiny. And in the kingdoms of men that is perfectly fine, but that is not God’s kingdom.
I went to Ukraine and it was a life changing experience. I would not be a pastor if I had not made that trip. It was there in that land across the ocean where my ears were finally open to what God was saying. I expected things, I was demanding things. I thought I was doing great things, and because of that I should receive something in return.
Transactional faith. I gave, where is the return? I gave my tithe, where is my blessing? I gave my time, I should now have receipts in heaven that I can call in for payment, right? God should be in my debt. That is not faith, that is economics. That is the kingdom of man. “But it shall not be so among you.” Jesus tells us.
The blind man Bartimaeus, had nothing to offer and all he did have he threw on the ground as he jumped up to go to Jesus. This son of impurity became in that moment the most honorable son. He had nothing but gained everything. He did not demand power or influence, he only wanted to see.
Bartimaeus knew who he was and where he once sat. We do not know exactly what he did once he recovered his sight, only that he followed Jesus on the way. What we do know is his name. There were thousands of people in Israel that could have benefited from this very healing, but we do not know them. There were multitudes around the region of Judea that could have benefited and many did, but this man we know his name. Why?
This man shows us something about faith. We do not have the right to demand things from God. We can only cry for mercy. Sure I am a decent person in comparison to others, but I know who I am and what I am capable of. I know that I want to do good, but if I had the power to tell someone to be quiet I would probably use that power for my own benefit. If I had the power to ease the burden of my friends, I would, even if that burden would be passed on to someone else. That is the difference between the request of James and John and the request of Bartimaeus. They wanted power and Bartimaeus wanted to see. They wanted to be served Bartimaeus only wanted to lesson a burden. They wanted greatness and Bartimaeus wanted to life.
I used to think I knew a great deal. I used to think I had the answers. Life has a way of changing our perspectives. I used to listen to the news and come away angry, today it makes me sad. It makes me sad because, I have drank from the cup of Christ I have become saturated in his life. I now see things a little bit differently. What I was once sure of now has a different hue. I once to the son of corruption to shut up, but now I want to listen and hear his story.
There is pain all around us. Pain that is often caused by good intentions and pain caused by intentional exploitation. We need mercy, not blame. We need hope not fear. We need to recover our sight.
The kingdoms of men seek power to lord authority over others, but it shall not be so among us. The great among us must be willing to serve and the first must be willing to toss aside all they have to offer hope. It is not about God’s blessing us but us becoming a blessing to those around us. We should see the honorable son within the one the world sees as the despicable. Let us be conduits of mercy.
Previous Messages:
Living Stones
By Jared Warner Willow Creek Friends Church May 03, 2026 Click here to Join our Meeting for Worship Click to read in Swahili Bofya kusoma kwa Kiswahili 1 Peter 2:2–10 (ESV) 2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— 3 if indeed you have…
Endure
By Jared Warner Willow Creek Friends Church April 26, 2026 Click here to join our Meeting for Worship Click to read in Swahili Bofya kusoma kwa Kiswahili Query 4 (Faith and Practice of EFC-MAYM pg 61) Do you provide for the suitable Christian education and recreation of your children and those under your care, and…
Ransomed to Love
By Jared Warner Willow Creek Friends Church April 19, 2026 Click here to join our Meeting for Worship Click to read in Swahili Bofya kusoma kwa Kiswahili 1 Peter 1:17–23 (ESV) 17 And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time…
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