Yet, the teaching was not easy, just prior to today’s passage there was the third prediction of Jesus’ death. Immediately came a request from James and John to sit beside Jesus “in glory”. Using this as a teaching opportunity, Jesus spoke about how those who want to be great must become servants. This was followed immediately by the text for today (10:46-52). It is the tale of the named beggar, Bartimaeus, who shouted out to Jesus requesting to receive sight. Ultimately, Bartimaeus was healed and became a follower.
As I read this chapter, and re-read chapters 8 & 9, in an attempt to grasp the context, I have to ponder whether the spiritual is mirrored in the physical. This is not the first time in these chapters that a person has received the gift of physical sight. It was clear that in spite of previous teaching the disciples still hadn’t seen servanthood. They needed spiritual sight and revelation to understand what was being taught to them. The disciples needed spiritual sight, Bartimaeus needed physical sight. Maybe the healing was a lesson without words.
As an aside, for those who were present at the Theology School on Monday night. The chapters studied of Trible’s book God and the Rhetoric of Sexuality made much of how sight and the other senses were so prevalent at creation. I could not help but to ponder that along with this passage.
Yet, as I mused on it, perhaps the point that gave me the most to think about was the connection between faith and healing. The final words to Bartimaeus were, “Go, your faith has healed you” (52).
I can’t help but think how problematic those words have been for decades. The connection between faith and healing has caused many people feelings of inadequacy and not being good enough. It is a hard subject and one to which I have no answer.
I have seen people healed divinely, without any medical intervention, but to be honest it does not happen very often. Or, at least, I have only seen it happen rarely.
I have seen lots of people healed through medical interventions and procedures — through the skills of dedicated doctors, nurses, science and all others who are involved. Yet, for many of them it was not an either or. It is okay to invoke God and follow the advice of the medical profession.
However, I have heard it said that if people are not healed divinely it is because they have a lack of face. Many years ago, I was told by an older lady that if only people had enough faith they would never die. She, herself, expected that to be her reality — very sad.
In addition, I knew a person who was wheelchair bound. They dreaded it when their church had a visiting preacher — often choosing to skip the meeting. They told me that these meetings almost always included an altar call for a prayer for healing. Subsequently, she endured glances and comments about why her faith had not allowed her to walk — very sad.
I also have had more than one friend who has died from cancer. These were good, faith full individuals. In, one case someone approached me to tell me that if the person had enough faith then she would have been healed — very sad.
I think my thoughts began after I read on Facebook a post saying that people shouldn’t get vaccinated for COVID-19 as God would protect them because of their faith. Interestingly, after I had written this blog but before posting it, I was in the car listening to my favourite radio station (LBC-Leading Britain’s Conversation). There was a phone-in discussion about the governments new COVID regulations. People were phoning in with their thoughts. One guy phoned in to say he was against vaccination because he was a Christian and God would protect Christians. He was asthmatic and even the host urged him to rethink his position.
Anyway, I think, the whole subject raised by the passage today is a very difficult one. Humanity is frail and ultimately all will die. When reading a text which highlights a link between faith and healing it should be handled with care. This text should not be used to make anyone who seeks immunization or medical intervention feel inadequate.
So, I don’t want to deny the possibility of divine healing, at the same time, I want to be grateful for the skills and advances in medicine and science. As is often said, all truth is God’s truth.
