To See What is Possible

Mark 10: 46-52 (October 25, 2009)
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1) The Text

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.

2) The Context

Jesus and his disciples are now nearing the end of their journey from Caesarea Philippi (in the north) to Jerusalem: “Jericho” is some 25 km (15 miles) from Jerusalem. We have seen the disciples’ misunderstanding and blindness to Jesus’ message. Mark has told us of the healing of an unnamed blind man (8:22-26), one who is healed gradually.

Here Mark gives tells us the name of this “blind beggar”. Bartimaeus makes a politically charged statement: Jesus is “Son of David” (v. 47), King of the Jews, and Messiah. Elsewhere, Jesus orders silence on the matter, but not here: his time is approaching. For the first time, a sane person immediately proclaims Jesus’ true identity. The “cloak” (v. 50, garment) Bartimaeus throws off is probably the cloth he uses to receive handouts; in Mark, garments often indicate the old order, so Bartimaeus has accepted the new. Jesus’ question in v. 51 is the one he asked James and John when they sought status in the kingdom (10:36), but Bartimaeus’ approach is different: he comes in humility (“My teacher”, v. 51). Jesus simply tells him that his “faith”, (v. 52, his receptivity of God’s healing word, “has made you well” (also meaning has saved you from impending destruction.) Bartimaeus is cured immediately and becomes a follower of Jesus (“the way”, v. 52).

The story of blind Bartimaeus is the last healing miracle recorded in Mark. Although the healing of Bartimaeus reveals something of Jesus' messianic credentials, the story focuses on the response of Bartimaeus himself. He tenaciously cries out for mercy and ends up following Jesus. The persistent faith of the blind man leads him on the road to Calvary.

3) Interpretation

How many "marvels" have you seen in your life? How have you been affected by these "marvels?"

Marvels and astonishing feats begin with a vision. Someone somewhere tilts his or her head in a different way and sees what was not seen before. The mind's eye pictures the impossible as possible. Ingenuity and hard work make the possible real and available.

Miracles also require a vision that makes the impossible possible. Unlike marvels or feats, however, miracles require a level of faith. Miracles require people to trust in a power greater than they possess. On a dusty road, a blind beggar saw with faith what was possible. And he reached out to One who could help him.

Blindness can be more than physical. In today's gospel, a blind person sought Jesus out for a cure, because the man could "see" in Jesus what his followers could not, a chance for change.

Bartimaeus could see with his spirit that Jesus could cure his eyes. The ability to see beyond the present is wisdom. To see beyond the possible is faith, a grace from God. The Spirit of God empowers us with spiritual intuition and insight. We cannot arrive at faith by ourselves.

Yet faith is not forced upon us. Faith is a truly human action, for it requires human choice. God offers us his gift. We are free to choose it or reject it. When we choose faith, we actually choose cooperation. We become partners with God in our salvation and in the salvation of the world.

While faith exceeds understanding, it does not conflict with human reason. In fact, human reason can lead to (but never replace) faith. If reason and faith appear to be at odds with each other, reason requires patience. Human knowledge is never complete, as old insights give way to new ones and as new areas of knowledge bring new questions. Understanding takes time.

Human understanding can deepen and expand faith. We know that we believe. We want to know why. Faith and understanding work hand in hand to bring us closer to God. But, faith needs to push the envelope of knowledge. For knowledge tells us what is possible. Faith tells us what is impossible. It is a vision of the impossible that brings us to God.

Bartimaeus gave us an interesting example of conversion. Bold and persistent, the blind man could see the possibility Jesus offered, and risked social alienation for the result. But the result was far deeper that mere physical sight. Jesus offers us the same. At the risk of social standing, we, too, are challenged to boldly ask for and boldly receive change in our lives.

4) Thought Exercise

What seems impossible in your life right now?

How has God helped you do what you thought was impossible?