To See or Not to See
To See or Not to See
Read Mark 10:46-52
One of the joys of reading the Bible is that the more you do it, the more you get out of it. It happened to me today. While studying today’s text, I saw some things I’d never seen before. I suppose it is fitting, considering the subject of our text is a man whose sight was restored.
His name was Bartimaeus. The fact that he, unlike most of Jesus’ healings, is mentioned by name strongly suggests that he was a well known figure in the early church.
Unlike the disciples, Bartimaeus is an excellent model for us to imitate. I believe Mark wants us to see him that way.
Bartimaeus is a model of faith. While the disciples struggle to figure Jesus out, Bartimaeus immediately and boldly recognizes him as the “Son of David,” a clear messianic title. He is the first person outside of the twelve to affirm Jesus’ identity.
Bartimaeus is a model of persistence. When others rebuked him for calling out to Jesus, “he cried out all the more.” No matter what others thought, he was going to get Jesus’ attention.
Bartimaeus is a model of enthusiasm. When Jesus finally called him, look what he did: “And throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus.” The picture of a blind man eagerly plunging forward to find Jesus is comical and beautiful.
Bartimaeus is a model of confidence. Look what else he did: He threw off his cloak. That could just mean it had been a cold day. But it is more likely that his cloak was used to spread in front of him in order to catch coins people offered him. If so, he cast away the cloak because he was confident he would no longer need it. He was sure of it.
It is striking to observe (and this is the first time I’ve noticed it) that Jesus asks exactly the same question to Bartimaeus as he did to the brothers James and John: “What do you want me to do for you?”
James and John wanted Jesus to give them a place of honor. Bartimaeus just wanted Jesus to give him his sight.
Thus, a section which began with Jesus saying to his disciples, “Having eyes do you not see? (8:17), closes with a blind man boldly asking, “Rabbi, let me recover my sight” (10:51).
Jesus answered Bartimaeus' prayer. From that day forward, Bartimaeus followed him “on the way,” which is a reference often used in Acts to describe life in the early church.
I can see it in my mind’s eye. Someone in Jerusalem calls across the room one Sunday after worship is over. “Hey Bart! Tell my friend that story about what Jesus did for you on the road to Jericho. He’s never heard it!”
God grant that similar stories might be told across the picnic tables on breakfast Sunday at Church at the Chip!
Read Mark 10:46-52
One of the joys of reading the Bible is that the more you do it, the more you get out of it. It happened to me today. While studying today’s text, I saw some things I’d never seen before. I suppose it is fitting, considering the subject of our text is a man whose sight was restored.
His name was Bartimaeus. The fact that he, unlike most of Jesus’ healings, is mentioned by name strongly suggests that he was a well known figure in the early church.
Unlike the disciples, Bartimaeus is an excellent model for us to imitate. I believe Mark wants us to see him that way.
Bartimaeus is a model of faith. While the disciples struggle to figure Jesus out, Bartimaeus immediately and boldly recognizes him as the “Son of David,” a clear messianic title. He is the first person outside of the twelve to affirm Jesus’ identity.
Bartimaeus is a model of persistence. When others rebuked him for calling out to Jesus, “he cried out all the more.” No matter what others thought, he was going to get Jesus’ attention.
Bartimaeus is a model of enthusiasm. When Jesus finally called him, look what he did: “And throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus.” The picture of a blind man eagerly plunging forward to find Jesus is comical and beautiful.
Bartimaeus is a model of confidence. Look what else he did: He threw off his cloak. That could just mean it had been a cold day. But it is more likely that his cloak was used to spread in front of him in order to catch coins people offered him. If so, he cast away the cloak because he was confident he would no longer need it. He was sure of it.
It is striking to observe (and this is the first time I’ve noticed it) that Jesus asks exactly the same question to Bartimaeus as he did to the brothers James and John: “What do you want me to do for you?”
James and John wanted Jesus to give them a place of honor. Bartimaeus just wanted Jesus to give him his sight.
Thus, a section which began with Jesus saying to his disciples, “Having eyes do you not see? (8:17), closes with a blind man boldly asking, “Rabbi, let me recover my sight” (10:51).
Jesus answered Bartimaeus' prayer. From that day forward, Bartimaeus followed him “on the way,” which is a reference often used in Acts to describe life in the early church.
I can see it in my mind’s eye. Someone in Jerusalem calls across the room one Sunday after worship is over. “Hey Bart! Tell my friend that story about what Jesus did for you on the road to Jericho. He’s never heard it!”
God grant that similar stories might be told across the picnic tables on breakfast Sunday at Church at the Chip!