Bible Reading: Psalm 42:1-6 & Mark 10:46-52
Dear Friends,
The contrasts between the blind beggar in this week’s Gospel reading Mark 10:45-52 and the previous people Jesus has been dealing with couldn’t be greater. Compared with the rich man, Bartimaeus is dirt poor,
sitting “along the way” or, perhaps more vividly, “in the drain.” Yet while the rich man could not give up his wealth to follow, Bartimaeus, when Jesus calls him, throws off his cloak, perhaps his only possession? in
order to join him on the way.
And then there are the disciples. Jesus asks both the disciples and Bartimaeus what they want from him. But while the disciples ask for status and power, Bartimaeus simply wants his basic needs met: “let me see again.” And, as a result, he immediately moves from sitting “by the way” to following Jesus “on the way.” He has gone, that is, from beggar to disciple. What Jesus says to him is, in this context, important to note. It is translated: “Your faith has made you well,” but the Greek word for “well” is also “whole” and, importantly, “saved.” So we might read it as “Your faith has saved you.”
Earlier in the chapter the rich man asked how he could inherit eternal life. When Jesus told him to admit his dependence on God by giving up wealth and solidarity with others by giving his wealth to the poor, he couldn’t
do it. When the disciples themselves saw what they believed was an extreme requirement, they also despaired “then who can be saved?”. Jesus answered them, “With humans it is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
And now he shows him the truth of his words. For in every way imaginable it should be impossible that Bartimaeus can be saved. Both blindness and poverty are taken as signs, in the first century, of punishment for sin.
That’s why those around him try to hush him up it’s embarrassing to have such a sinner call out to a revered teacher. Yet he calls and Jesus answers. And simply by recognizing his need, trusting that Jesus can provide, and
being willing to give up what he has in order to follow, Bartimaeus has been saved, restored, invited into the kingdom. A miracle.
His response? Follow Jesus.
And ours?
Solomzi