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I
Was Blind...Now I See The name John Newton is an unfamiliar one to many; yet, his life story is one similar, if not identical, to that of the blind man Bartimaeus. During the mid to late 18th century, John Newton was a British sea captain of a vessel used for the transportation of slaves. Witnessing firsthand to the horrors of the slave trade coupled with the ill treatment of other human beings, Newton struggles to make sense of this senseless act. Believing the slave trade and the treatment of the slaves to be inhumane, immoral and ungodly, Newton boldly confesses to God his own sins for being an active participant, renounces the practice and mends his life. Newton further dedicates his new life to the service of God by becoming an ordained minister and active abolitionist. While many may not know the name, all should be familiar with the words to a well-known hymn he composed after realizing that life as a slave ship captain is the antithesis of being in the service of God. The hymn is "Amazing Grace." The first stanza reveals Newton's struggle as he makes a significant change in life from one working against God to one seeking forgiveness and redemption. Amazing
grace! We have heard this beautiful piece sung at burials, signifying that the life an individual once lived is changed as one enters into God's nearer presence. This hymn calls for each of us to exchange this life of sin and take on the mantle of love; by taking on the mantle of God's love, we now come to see more clearly that which we have seen dimly for so long. This brings
us to the life story of one blind man named Bartimaeus. Bartimaeus is
sitting by the roadside, perhaps in a contemplative manner, reflecting
on his own life and its relationship to God. While sitting, he hears what
sounds to be a great band of people approaching his way. He perks up,
but unable to see all that is going on, he decides to ask a passerby why
all the commotion. The passerby, in a fit of joyous excitement, cries,"It's
Jesus of Nazareth." Let's examine Bartimaeus' request for sight. One could easily attest that the blind man eagerly desires to regain his physical ability to see again. He is privy to both worlds, that of physical "light" and physical "darkness." His life since his blindness has been one of hardships and struggles. On the physical side of life, the blind man has been relegated to second-class status, left to fend for himself. Perhaps very few people care about his situation, thereby making him a marginalized individual with a discounted price tag on the value of his life. Certainly, on one level the man wishes to regain his physical sight. However, I wish to take an alternative view in examining the man's request. Be reminded that the blind man's request to Jesus is simply, "let me see again." Perhaps, the blind man is asking to be liberated from a life of sin, seeking forgiveness and a new way of life under God. It is possible that the blind man is not happy with the manner in which he's living his life and wants to return to a time in his life in which he respected all individuals as people created in the image of God. At some time in his life, he took a wrong turn, and he has been lost ever since--sort of like John Newton. Perhaps the blind man isn't so concerned with regaining his physical sight as much as he is about regaining the love and respect he once had for people. Perhaps, as a result of his blindness, Bartimaeus' life became bitter toward the world, and he stumbles in his relationship with God. The realities of a cruel world capture his spirit, so he gives in and decides to treat the world as the world has treated him-with disrespect. Realizing his own life has been devalued in the process, the blind man seeks restoration and forgiveness from God. There's no indication in the Gospel that the blind man is unhappy with his condition. It could be that the blind man, in his blindness only wants a clean and contrite heart. That when he asks Jesus, "My teacher, let me see again," he is asking for an amendment of life and the strength to accept and appreciate his condition. This probably seems strange to many, because in our eyes, the natural assumption would be to ask for the restoration of physical sight. However, we don't know Bartimaeus' heart, and so it could be that he has accepted his condition, but now wants his life to reflect one committed to the cause of God's Kingdom. Jesus now asks you and me the same question he posed to Bartimaeus and John Newton, "What do you want me to do for you?" In our "blindness" what will we ask of Jesus? Whether our blindness is physical or spiritual, the lesson we learn from these two wonderful persons of God who were both once blind and now see is that the power of God is much deeper and more meaningful than we could ever hope to imagine. Both make a confession of faith and their lives are forever changed. I believe that if Bartimaeus was around when John Newton wrote his wonderful words to "Amazing Grace," he would have quickly identified it with his own life-changing experience. And so we learn from Newton, Bartimaeus and Our Lord this one valuable lesson: When
we've been there ten thousand years, Amen. Copyright 2000 Calvary Episcopal Church Gospel:
Mark 10: 46-52 |
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