In the Name of God:  Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Alright, today we’re gonna start with a little lesson about a couple of words.  The words are exegesis and eisegesis.  Seminarians learn about these words very early in their scholarly careers because they both refer to the study of Scripture.  Exegesis is the work of Biblical scholars because exegesis is the critical examination and explanation of Scripture using lots of tools like archaeology, sociology, history, literary analysis, the study of languages, etc.  You might say that the goal of exegesis is to draw out the full meaning of Biblical texts.  Eisegesis, on the other hand, is something that seminarians are strongly warned against.  Eisegesis is the process of interpreting Scripture in such a way that one’s own ideas are introduced into the text.  Instead of drawing out the meaning of a text as in exegesis, with eisegesis the reader reads his or her own interpretation into the text.

Eisegesis makes for very bad scholarship, but can make for some very interesting preaching.

Why am I going on about this?  Because this morning I thought we’d spend some time looking pretty closely at today’s Gospel text, and I thought I should warn you up front that I’m gonna mix up scholarship with my own interpretation . . . and besides, a little vocabulary work never hurt anyone.

So . . . why do I want to focus on today’s Gospel story so closely?  At first glance, it looks like just another healing story, doesn’t it?  We know a lot of stories about Jesus healing people, and some of them are a lot more exciting than this one . . . so why look at this one so closely?  Because in the Gospel of Mark this is the last healing that Jesus does . . . he has other business to take care of after this.  After today’s story the next thing we hear about is Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem . . . the story we tell on Palm Sunday.  Mark has placed this story about the healing of Bartimaeus at this point in his Gospel for an important reason.  Before the story of the passion and all that comes with it, Mark wants to give us a final summary of discipleship . . . a final reminder of behavior that we are called to emulate.

At the beginning of the story we meet Bartimaeus .. . a blind man doing what he has to do to survive . . . begging for alms.  A boisterous crowd is approaching . . . now this may be very good news for Bartimaeus, because this may be an opportunity to score some big bucks from the happy revelers!  Those of us with some marketing background, know that to make the most effective pitch, you have to know your audience, right?  And Bartimaeus is a smart guy.  So, he asks what’s going on . . . maybe to refine his pitch.  He hears that Jesus is the cause of all the hubbub.  Now, if you think about it, an obvious strategy would be for Bartimaeus to focus on all of these followers of Jesus . . . there are an awful lot of ‘em after all . . . and if he makes the right pitch, he might get a lot of money out of ‘em.  But Bartimaeus has heard of Jesus.  He knows his reputation.  So he takes a big gamble . . . a single roll of the dice, if you will.  Instead of focusing on the crowd of people, Bartimaeus focuses on Jesus. 

How many of us are willing to gamble on Jesus?  It’s much easier to conform to the ways of the world . . . to do the expected, usual thing . . . to follow a safe route that may lead to a big profit . . . it’s much easier to do all of this than to buck convention and to risk all on Jesus.  But this is exactly what disciples are called to do . . . to forget about the crowds and the world surrounding us and to focus on Jesus.

Bartimaeus, being a pretty good pitchman, does something pretty dramatic to get Jesus’ attention.  In the midst of that big crowd, he publicly calls Jesus the Messiah.  This is what he’s doing by addressing Jesus as the Son of David.  This is the only place in the Gospel of Mark that Jesus is given this title, and it’s a pretty dramatic declaration that Jesus is the Messiah, the descendant of David the King of the Jews.  The crowd appears to be both excited and upset by this declaration, and they attempt to shut Bartimaeus up.  But he only shouts more loudly.  “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!”

Ya know, the world resists single-minded reliance on Jesus.  And to speak out loudly about such reliance . . . such faith . . . well, it’s just not the done thing, is it?  The world wants us to rely on . . . the ways of the world . . . which include the expectation that we’ll keep our faith discreetly to ourselves.  But as disciples of Christ, we’re called to resist both the temptations and the disapproval of the world . . . and to stay focused single-mindedly on Jesus.  Disciples are meant to be steadfast and persistent and outspoken about their faith.  “Son of God, have mercy on us!”

Hearing Bartimaeus yelling, Jesus stops and calls to him.  Bartimaeus is told to cheer up, to take heart, to have faith, because Jesus is calling him.  This is another element of discipleship . . . even when we’re told to hush up, even when it seems that Jesus may pass us by, we’re called to have hope.  Knowing all the stories of the loving care of Christ, we’re called to keep strong in our faith . . . to never lose hope.  Because Jesus IS calling us . . . he is always calling us to him.

Bartimaeus jumps up.  He throws off his mantle, and runs to Jesus.  This is not a minor point . . . this throwing off of the cloak.  If I remember correctly, in the time of Jesus, one’s cloak is crucial to one’s survival.  If you are a beggar, your cloak is what you wrap around yourself to keep from freezing at night, and it is what you spread before you during the day for people to drop their alms into.  In a way, if you are a very poor person, your cloak or mantle is both your house and your means of making a living.  Bartimaeus doesn’t take his cloak with him when he runs to Jesus, nor does he give it to someone else for safekeeping.  He simply throws it off.  Symbolically, he is throwing off his old way of life and relying entirely on Jesus.

You and I may not be called to do anything so dramatic.  We may not be called to abandon our way of life entirely.  But as disciples of Christ, we ARE called to transformation . . . and we are called to give up reliance on the false idols of power, and money, and prestige . . . and to rely entirely on Jesus.

Jesus asks Bartimaeus what he wants.  Bartimaeus says he wants to see.  Don’t we all want that?  Don’t we all want to see truly . . . to see JESUS truly?  Sight is often a metaphor for understanding in the Bible.  And don’t we all yearn for a deeper understanding of Christ?  Knowing full well that complete understanding will not be ours in this life, we nevertheless yearn for ever-deepening understanding . . . truer sight.  Eventually, just as in today’s story, disciples of Christ are bound to hear Jesus say, “Your faith has healed you.”  Your faith has made you whole.  What other response can there be than simply to follow Christ?

Ya know, this summary of discipleship includes – as it must – not just reminders of how we are to behave as disciples, but a reminder of how Jesus responds to those who seek him . . . and how differently he responds than we probably would in his place.  Remember that in today’s story Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem, in fact, he’s almost there.  Along the way, he’s been teaching his disciples about the passion and crucifixion and resurrection.  The climax of his story is about to occur and Jesus seems to know it.  In other words, he’s got a mighty big job ahead of him . . . the culmination of this career.  As today’s story begins, Jesus is leaving Jericho and he’s not only surrounded by his disciples by but a large crowd of admirers.

Put yourself in Jesus’ shoes.  He’s pumped up.  Use whatever analogy you’d like . . . but maybe it’s a little like the last game of the world series, bottom of the ninth, the bases loaded, two outs, you’re up at bat and your team is behind by three runs.  You have to hit a home run.  You gonna stop on your way to the plate to have a conversation with some little boy who wants your autograph?  I doubt it.  But that’s exactly what Jesus does.  He stops on his journey and in the midst of all the hubbub and adulation he calls Bartimaeus to him.  Jesus speaks to him, looks into his soul, and heals him.  I wonder if anyone else had ever before stopped and heeded blind old Bartimaeus?  That’s what Jesus does.  He’s never too busy.  He’s never distracted.  No one is unimportant.  Everyone matters.  He looks into the soul of each and every one of us with love.  And in his love we will be made whole.  How could we not follow him?

Focus on Jesus.  Beg, plead, pray for what you need, for understanding . . . for Jesus notice you and heed you . . . and if you’re opposed . . . if the world attempts to stop you . . . SHOUT all the louder!  Be persistent, stay focused on Christ, and take heart, keep your faith, hold onto hope.  Cheer up!  Because Jesus IS calling you!  Right this moment.  Run to him, run with open arms, leave behind your old way of life, drop any false idols you may be quietly cherishing . . . run to Jesus and be ready to be transformed, to be made whole.  And then follow him.  Follow Christ!

Amen.

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