Drop ItSample

Jesus stops his journey and issues a command to the crowd — “Call him.” Remember, there was a huge crowd throbbing as they surrounded Jesus. But in the order of those who were important enough to be around Jesus, blind men like Bartimaeus were at the bottom of the ladder. They certainly were not part of the entourage. Bartimaeus was so socially insignificant that the crowd and Jesus' entourage (the disciples) sternly rebuked Bartimaeus to remain quiet. But then everything changes because the caller speaks a calling to the one at the margins!

The crowd responds appropriately, “Take heart; rise, he is calling you.” Jesus has always known Bartimaeus, always loved him and always called him. The crowd has avoided Bartimaeus, pushed him to the margins and told him to shut up. But when Jesus calls us, Jesus defines us. This is why some in the crowd recognize that this is a significant turn of events for someone like Bartimaeus and tell him to cheer up at the possibility of a new life through the call of Jesus.

The phrase “cheer up” comes from the Greek word that literally means “take courage.” But Jesus actually uses this word quite a bit. He uses it to convey certain hope at the coming life transformation. The word for “cheer up” or “take courage” almost always precedes not only a miracle, but both peace and astonishment.

The same is true for Bartimaeus. He comes expecting to receive what he believes Jesus, the Son of David, can provide—mercy and healing. We humans are fickle, and the only person in this story consistently devoted to responding to the call of Jesus was Bartimaeus. He comes across as the hero and gets recognized for his audacious and tenacious cries for mercy.

When Jesus calls us, no matter our position, the call holds a certain hope of coming life transformation. The only uncertainty about the call is if we will expect to receive what is promised.