Throw Aside Your Cloak!

The Jericho of the Old Testament was destroyed by Joshua. But a new city called Jericho had been erected nearby, one of the winter residences of King Herod. In this tropical paradise the tax-collector Zacchaeus lived. Jesus and his disciples spent some time at his house.

The occasion of today’s Gospel reading a large crowd was following Jesus though Jericho. On His way out of town there was a blind man, named Bartimaeus. In that day and age, the tragic condition of blindness almost invariably left one a beggar.

As Jesus passed through the city the commotion caused by all the people following Jesus did not go unnoticed by blind Bartimaeus. When he learned that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by, he began to cry out: “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” The reports of Jesus’ miraculous signs and wise teaching enabled even the blind to recognize Jesus as the promised Messiah, as the title, “Son of David,” illustrates. This title Jesus accepted as the climax of his messianic work drew so near.

Bartimaeus was desperate. Hope was gone, which turned into despair, which led to doubt and denial that hope can be restored. This is a tragic place for anyone. But what’s heartwarming about this account is Bartimaeus knew that the only possibility for him to be healed came from Jesus alone, and He just happens to be passing by. Wow!

What a powerful message and reminder for our day, in an age when people are looking to science and doctors, counselors and therapist, drugs and alcohol for solutions, or numb the pain of their life’s problems. People, Jesus is right here and He is the only hope for healing today. So Bartimaeus serves as our example this morning and as we watch carefully, note that he threw aside his cloak of despair, doubt, and denial when he learned that Jesus is right there.

A Christian Is a Blind Beggar who Throws aside his Cloak for Jesus’ Mercy.

The cloak of despair (Mark 10: 46, 47)

Mark 10:46–47 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!”

Blind Bartimaeus was full of despair because there was no hope to cure blindness. People like him, and others with various maladies often sat on the outskirts of town begging for just a little help to ease their hopelessness. Nothing society or the science of the day had anything to offer that would do any good. They were outcasts, similar to a leper. Society wanted nothing to do with them, because it was seen as a sign of uncleanliness: for some reason, they thought, God is not pleased with them. With no cure, people often fall into despair.

Fast-forward two-thousand years and people remain in despair, looking for any hope that may ease their suffering. We live in an age with all manner of diseases plague our society. There are many who live on the outskirts because of their condition. AIDS and HIV we don’t hear much about any more, but there was a time when people were afraid to be near those patients. Today we are in a pandemic age, which is effecting everyone. No one wants to get sick and so we are told to keep our distance, cover our faces, and get vaccinated to protect you from the virus.

Maladies abound which have been with us for generations, like cancer. With all these things medical science makes progress for a cure and just when we think the right combination of therapeutics are available, their condition overtakes their life.

The cause of all which, for which there is no human cure, is sin; more specifically, the curse when humanity fell into sin. God said we would die because we succumbed to Satan’s temptation. Humanities efforts to save themselves is right up there with, “I made this mess and now I have to clean it up.” We are constantly looking for a cure of our own making. And when we continually fail to find one, despair is the ultimate result.

Blind Bartimaeus heard Jesus was passing by and despair was replaced with hope. Finally, the Son of David — the very one who created all things and sustains all things with His spoken Word — was walking by and hope came alive. He begins crying out saying, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

Jesus is the cure God had promised Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden (Gen 3:15), after the curse was placed on them and all of humanity. And at this point in Jesus’ ministry Jerusalem and the cross are not far away, where Jesus would crush the head of the serpent.

Bartimaeus, yells-out Jesus’ Messianic title, “Son of David,” the very title that the crowd used on Palm Sunday, when Jesus entered Jerusalem where the cross awaited Him. This blind beggar realized this great opportunity; it may never come again. He was unable to see and make his way to Jesus, so he raised his voice in the loudest cry. He shouted again and again with all his might in the hope that Jesus, who wasn’t very far away, may hear his cry for mercy.

Likewise you and me. Though we try and try to solve our problem, and though have the greatest understanding of medicine the world has ever known, we still cannot answer our problem. All manner of religions and philosophies bark at us to pray to them, but only the Son of David, the very Messiah, the one who created and sustains everything by His Word, is the cure, the only cure for the world today. Because of Jesus, we can throw away our cloak of despair, because Jesus does all things well and He never fails those who look to Him in faith.

The cloak of doubt (Mark 10: 48, 49)

Mark 10:48–49 ESV

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.”

Bartimaeus cannot see so he doesn’t know if Jesus even hears his cry for mercy. To make matters worse, people in the crown tell him to be quiet. So, not only does he have to try to make sure his voice can be heard over the noice of the crowd, he also has to deal with those who think he is being a bother. Yet that doesn’t stop him and he cries out all the more. But Jesus does hear his prayer and send for Bartimaeus. The people said to him, “Take heart. Get us; Jesus is calling you!” Doubt no longer, Bartimaeus, for Jesus has heard your prayer and is asking for you directly.

We, too, deal with the cloak of doubt in life. We exhaust everything we know to do to solve our problem and are disappointed again and again. We cry out to God and wonder if He has even heard our prayer. Worse yet, the world tells us to stay away for those places where God promises to dispense His gifts. We’ve done everything we know to do, and we even start searching for a cause where we can cast the blame, but alas, we are never quite sure. This leads to doubt. Am I not trying hard enough? Or, Is there something more I could do? The curse of the Fall lays heavy upon us.

Friends, Jesus is the CURE, He is the ONLY answer for the challenges we face today. He is the Messiah. Blind Bartimaeus knows that the Messiah cares for the blind as the OT reading prophecies regarding the Anointed One. And Jesus, the Messiah, cares for the lame and everyone else as well.

The Psalmist also prophecies of the Messiah when he records, “When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion . . . The LORD has done great things for us. . . . Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy!” (Psalm 126). Jesus, on His way to the cross where His death and resurrection is the cure for the curse “restores the fortunes, leading to shouts of joy!” Know this, He hears the prayer of faith from Blind Bartimaeus, and He hears all prayers offered in faith to this day. Throw away your cloak of doubt. Jesus’ death and resurrection is the cure for what ails you.

The cloak of denial (Mark 10:50-52)

Mark 10:50–52 ESV

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.

Blind Bartimaeus knew Jesus could heal him, and when he was told that Jesus heard his cry, he threw off His cloak and came to Jesus. No more denial. No more doubt. No more despair. Bartimaeus knew that Jesus is his only hope, and faith enabled him to throw aide his cloak and jump to his feet for Jesus is here. His faith made him well — healed him — saved him.

So many people today are wearing the cloaks of denial, doubt, and despair, when they don’t need to any longer. Because Jesus’ death and resurrection has taken care of curse of sin and has paved the way for our entrance back into Paradise. The problem is, the world is continually telling them that they have the answer.

The Epistle reading today reminds us that Jesus, the one who was crucified, died for you, cancelling out the debt of sin against you — Your CURE — has risen from the dead to show you that death is not the final word for those who trust Jesus by faith, now is at the Father’s right hand praying for you directly (Heb. 7:25). Just as He heard the prayer of Blind Bartimaeus, Jesus hears your prayer offered in faith. In fact, Jesus not only hears prayers of faith, He, himself, is praying at this very moment for you.

If you are wearing cloaks of despair, doubt, or denial, it is the Holy Spirit who is calling you by this Gospel message to throw then off and look to Jesus, who is the author and finisher of your faith. Who for the joy that was before him, went to the cross, suffered and died, but then rose again to show that death no longer has a hold on Him. AND, death no long has a hold on you who trust Jesus for your life and salvation.

While we live on this side of heaven, we will still have to contend with sickness and disease, but Jesus hears your prayer and is praying for you. One day He will call you home, restoring the fortunes to you that the curse of sin stripped away. And what a glorious day that will be. Your mouths will be filled with laughter and you will sing for joy! Glory be His name!

Amen.