There are too many people who want to make us too dignified. Bartimaeus is a correction. For the crowd wanted him to shut up.
He wanted to see.
46They came to Jericho. As he and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside. 47When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 49Jesus stood still and said, “Call him here.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart; get up, he is calling you.” 50So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. 51Then Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man said to him, “My teacher, let me see again.” 52Jesus said to him, “Go; your faith has made you well.” Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way.
A Russian memorial to the lab animals used in DNA research.
When he saw, he followed. He was a witness, But to what? Christ was going to Jerusalem. He saw triumph, then an arrest and crucifixion. Then he heard of a resurrection.
Christ had his authority and dignity mocked. He was beaten. He was strung naked to die in pain. There was no dignity in that sacrifice.
All too often dignity is about the self esteem of those who follow, who think they have power in being the gateway to those who have power. Who puff themselves up.
Christ had no need for that. And when we turn to him, like Bartimaeus, we realise we cannot afford it.