Step 33

Mark 10:46-32 Bart Gets What He Asks For

About Mark: Blind Bartimaeus blindly stumbles into this context as if by accident. It all seems far too simple. In the previous section James and John had played a different game, and confused the rules. Their attitudes were alien to what Jesus had been teaching.  

Bartimaeus had a huge advantage. He was a beggar and he knew it. On the street he had learned the proper attitudes to Christianity, for in front of God all are beggars. So the experience of Bartimaeus is an important part of Mark's story, balancing the negative overtones left by James and John.  

Bart asks for, and gets what he seeks, because he has Christian attitudes. The exchange in 10:51 compares with both Mark 10:35 and 11:24-25. In the latter context, getting what we pray for also depends on the readiness to forgive others (25). In other words, every Christian privilege has an attached Christian obligation.  

Bible: Mark 10:46-52, The Healing of Blind Bartimaeus
46 They 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. 47 When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" 48 Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" 49 Jesus stood still and said, "Call him here." And they called the blind man, saying to him, "Take heart; get up, he is calling you." 50 So throwing off his cloak, hesprang up and came to Jesus. 51 Then 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." 52 Jesus said to him, "Go; your faith has made you well." Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way.
 
Comment: BART GETS WHAT HE ASKS FOR
Christian attitudes always come more naturally to the deprived, to the beggar, to the blind who depend on others to show them the way. Such people are much more naturally nearer the kingdom than others.

And so, immediately he received the privilege of sight ... he undertook the obligation of following Jesus. So it is when people pray in this manner, not demandingly or stridently, not for personal advantage nor for power or prestige, but like a beggar with authentic humility, and forgivingly (Mark 11:24-25). For the privilege of forgiveness is only available to people who undertake the obligation to forgive others as we wish God to forgive us. Only then can we leave the past behind, as Bartimaeus left his cloak on the Jericho Road (10:50), and follow Jesus towards new horizons. 
 
Discipleship today: It is important to see if we have the attitudes of Bartimaeus. Mark had earlier talked much about sight and perception, especially at Mark 8:18-21. Now he gives a further example of the appropriate attitude for gaining sight, for seeing the light, and for following Jesus.