Ep414. Mark 10. The Blind and the Seeing.

Hello, I’m Daniel Westfall on the channel “Pray With Me”.

At the end of Mark 10, blind Bartimaeus received his sight, but the disciples continued in their spiritual blindness. 

Here’s the story. 

For the third time in Mark’s gospel, Jesus told the disciples he would be mocked, spit on, flogged, and killed (Mark 10:33-34). 

The disciples’ response? James and John said, “When you come into your glory, we want the best seats of honor beside you” (v. 37). Weren’t they listening to what Jesus said? Was he talking about glory or about being tortured and killed?

Jesus replied to the disciples, “You have no clue about what you’re asking. Are you prepared to be baptized with the baptism I will soon experience?” (v. 38).

“Sure,” they replied. “No problem. Bring it on!” (v. 38). 

Jesus said, “OK. Count on it.” They didn’t understand that Jesus was walking into a baptism of torture and death. 

Then Jesus continued, ”But it’s not me who assigns seating in God’s kingdom. So don’t count on the seating arrangements you want” (v. 40-41). 

When the disciples heard James and John asking for favors they got angry. So Jesus played the peacemaker, saying, “In the Gentile world, the game is control. Lords lord it over people and officials officiate and Trumps trump everybody. But in God’s world, leaders serve, and slaves are first in line. Look at me,” he said. “I came to serve and to give my life as a ransom” (Mark 10:45). 

The disciples were blind to Jesus’ meaning; they couldn’t grasp the vision of him dying. They saw him as king, not a king’s ransom. 

Mark’s gospel moves to the story of blind Bartimaeus, who called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” (Mark 10:47). People told him to be quiet, but he shouted more loudly, until Jesus asked, “What do you want?”

“I want to see,” he replied. Jesus gave him sight, saying, “Your faith has saved you” (Mark 10:52). 

Two comments. 

The disciples won’t see clearly until after the crucifixion and resurrection. The crisis of Jesus’ death will lead them to a place where God’s spirit can bless them with the words Jesus said to Bartimaeus, “Your faith has saved you.” 

Second, like so many of those Jesus healed and saved, we never hear of Bartimaeus again. Was it just his eyes that Jesus saved, or was it his whole person? 

Let’s pray. 

O Jesus, when you restored Bartimaeus’ sight, you said his faith saved him.

His simple faith contrasts with the disciples’ politicking.
– They argued about getting places of honor
– They didn’t understand that your kingdom privileges those of low status–servants and slaves, the disabled, blind, lame, and deaf. 

O Jesus, our wealth and technology does not buy us privilege in your kingdom. We invite you to baptize us into your family, to give us servant robes in your kingdom, to teach us to take your name into a world that despises you. 

Amen. 

I’m Daniel, on the channel “Pray with Me”.  

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