“You come here and tell us to believe in Jesus without giving us money. But God is generous, right? And if God is good, then why did this happen to me?” He motioned toward his damaged left eye hidden behind a pair of crooked sunglasses. My mind raced for words of assurance that wouldn’t be insulting and clawed for concrete ideas to lift this man out of poverty.
But what I failed to recognize was the lament woven into each seemingly antagonistic phrase he tossed my way. In addition, my hesitation in those moments revealed that I had limited the power of the gospel to be only so much and not enough for this man. While my assessment of his situation highlighted several material needs, he needed much more. He needed true and good news.
In this Advent season, the need is no different. Our own communities and the world at large are uniquely in distress at the tail end of a long year. But do we hear the underlying cries of lament and truly believe that knowing Jesus is better than being employed, being healthy, or being unafraid to freely walk through the neighborhood in our own skin? Or have we instead reduced the gospel to an idea that is palatable for our times? Though much has changed all across the globe in 2020, the good news that the season of advent heralds to us this year rings just as true as it did in the first century.
We consider the time until Christ’s appearing in the flesh as “the advent” — the time in which the people of God waited for their promised Messiah. For us, the season typically begins at the end of November and ends on Christmas Eve. Because of the brevity of this four week period and the typical marketing campaigns that dominate our TVs, radios, and phones, it’s less of a “wait” and more of a flurry.
We often forget that the Jews at the time of Christ’s appearing had waited for four hundred years for liberation. Such a long time span is difficult to fully grasp — the United States is just shy of 250 years old. However, Scripture has no lack in pointing us to a beautiful picture of a life lived in a posture of advent — a life we would be well-served to reflect upon during this season.
Living In Advent
About thirty years after the first Christmas, Jesus and his disciples were preparing to depart from Jericho and make their way to Jerusalem. A great crowd surrounded them, and just outside that crowd sat a blind beggar named Bartimaeus. Though in the eyes of society he had nothing and was nothing, Bartimaeus believed differently.
“Jesus, Son of David, Have mercy on me!” Embarrassed by their neighborhood blemish, the surrounding crowd immediately attempted to shush him. But after years of being dismissed, Bartimaeus refused to be passed over and called out to Jesus even louder than before. His entire lifetime had been a season of advent. The promised Son of David he had waited for was now here.
While the crowd uncomfortably shuffled amidst cacophonies from their local eyesore, Jesus instead heard a cry of great faith and lament from one of his own. Though he did not respond immediately, such delay did not dishearten Bartimaeus. He persisted until he heard sweet words of encouragement from those in the crowd, “Take heart. Get up; he is calling you.” He immediately threw off his cloak, perhaps his only possession of value, and made his way through the crowd to Jesus.
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.” 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. (Mark 10:51-52 ESV)
Being Made To See
The crowd knew Bartimaeus well, yet such familiarity left them blinded to his need. They passed him by on the daily, perhaps some days dropping him a few coins or morsels to eat. They did not think it possible that he could ever be healed, yet this was his greatest need.
Furthermore in their eyes, Jesus was a great teacher and rabbi, but not Lord and King. Bartimaeus was indeed a blind beggar, but not a sinner in need of a savior.
It is all too easy to be like one in that crowd. The many “reality checks” that 2020 has delivered can tempt us to dial down what we understand to be the gospel so that it doesn’t disappoint us or other people. We can believe by sight only and in so doing, completely miss the true needs of others as well as our own. When we forget that we are sinners in need of grace, we can fail to love and instead choose to abandon.
But Christ never chooses to abandon one of his own, whether blind and a beggar or one of the crowd. While Jesus could have harshly rebuked the crowd and approached Bartimaeus himself, he instead chose to include the crowd in the process to reinstate Bartimaeus into their society and into their hearts. He gave them the command to, “Call him.” In that moment, the crowd shifted their gaze away from the tunnel vision set by cultural norms to Christ himself. They finally could see clearly. Bartimaeus’s merits or lack thereof had no importance compared to the call from Jesus. His authority was the only thing that mattered.
In a year that has revealed much division in our nation and within the church, have we also decided that there are those who are simply irredeemable? Have we kept certain members of our communities at the margins instead of clearing a pathway to Jesus? Christ came for sinners, stopping not even at death for our redemption.
Consider how God has thus reconciled us to himself and how he may be including you in the reconciliation of another in your sphere. It is the call of Jesus, and not our merits which allows us to approach the throne with confidence. Let us ask for wisdom and speak words of encouragement to the waiting soul to take heart, for Christ the King himself is beckoning.
Faith That Sees
Though likely blind from birth and a beggar most of his life, Bartimaeus was fully aware of the multiple realities he occupied. In one reality, he had no livelihood nor qualification to enter the temple to worship. In another reality, he was the treasured subject of a great king who was also the greatest servant.
Though his life saw many days in the first reality, Bartimaeus never let go of the sweet melodies of the second — it was greater and truer than the first. Even though he could not see, Bartimaeus recognized Jesus immediately upon his appearance in Jericho. After coming before his king, he begged one last time for mercy and received his sight. The now-seeing disciple continued in his joy to follow Jesus and would soon enter Jerusalem at the side of the Son of David.
Our Posture For This Advent Season And Beyond
Do we look to Jesus with the same anticipation? Do we approach him with the same unashamed attitude and honest reverence?
As we continue to await the second appearing of our savior, let us with great anticipation be persistent in our pursuit of Jesus, no matter our condition. Like Jesus, let us hear the cries of lament from our neighbors, and draw them near to the only one who can save. Because of Christ’s appearing, we can sing full of confidence and joy,
“Glorious vision! heav’nly ray!
All my gloom has passed away;Now my joyful eyes can see,
And my soul still clings to Thee,Thine the glory evermore,
Mine to worship and adore.” (Ginny Owens – Do Not Pass Me By)