In
the past few chapters Jesus has told the disciples three times, that he will be
arrested and killed. The responses from the disciples has been:
In
chapter 8, Peter says – no, it isn’t going to be like that
In
chapter 9 Mark writes – The disciples did not understand what Jesus meant, and
they were afraid to ask; then the disciples argue about who is the greatest
And
here in chapter 10, James and John come and ask Jesus to give them what they
want, to be at his left and right in his glory.
These
predictions or announcements of the trial and crucifixion and resurrection of
Jesus are set in a series of teachings book ended by healing from blindness.
Between
Mark 8:22 and Mark 10: 52 (the two stories of healing) there are many stories
of “spiritual blindness”:
o
Peter doesn’t see what it means for Jesus to
be the Messiah,
o
Peter James and John don’t see the importance
of the Transfiguration and want to stay on the mountain,
o
the disciples cannot see the importance of
prayer in healing the boy with the unclean spirit,
o
they do not see that to be greatest is to be
least,
o
they do not see the importance of the little
children and
o
they don’t see that we need to be served[i]
I
wonder in what ways do we not see the Kingdom as Jesus does.
We
look at nations and kingdoms and see leaders with wealth and power and status. Do
we operate the same way, or follow in the way of Jesus?
Power
in the Kingdom of God is not defined in the way it always has been. Power is
not about control and coercion. Instead, it is about service.[ii]
In
following the way of Jesus, we asked to:
Deny
one’s self
Put others first
Be dependent on grace, mercy, and forgiveness
Extend the same to others when they appear to have done you wrong
Put others first
Be dependent on grace, mercy, and forgiveness
Extend the same to others when they appear to have done you wrong
Risk
suffering rather than embrace security
sounds like Madness.[iii]
sounds like Madness.[iii]
In
the Kingdom of God
power is demonstrated through service,
greatness is shown in vulnerability,
and achievement comes through compassion.
power is demonstrated through service,
greatness is shown in vulnerability,
and achievement comes through compassion.
Can
you imagine, for just a moment, what the world would be like if our leaders
behaved like this – vying with each other to see who could best serve the needs
of the vulnerable, holding debates about the best way of coming in last so that
others could come in first?[iv]
Just
because our leaders do not live like that does not mean we cannot live in the way
of Jesus, where serving and compassion are signs of greatness.
…
Jesus
is on the road to Jerusalem, the capital, the place where the Temple is – Jerusalem
is the centre of civil and religious power. But he doesn’t take an army to
overthrow the current regimes. He goes with love and grace.
This
reading also talks of Jesus being in Jericho, a place of great national pride,
this was the site if a national victory. I find it odd, Mark notes that they
came to Jericho, then as they were leaving Jericho a man is sitting by the side
of the road. Nothing about what happened in Jericho.
This
man is named, not everyone Jesus encounters is named in the gospels. This man
is Bartimaeus, we know he is blind, he is a beggar and the son of Timaeus. He
calls out: ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’
Son
of David is a political statement, the crowd tell him to shoosh, and he shouts
louder. Calling Jesus, the Son of David is dangerous, it announces that someone
other than Caesar is Lord and that is dangerous, not only to Jesus but to Bartimaeus
and the crowd.
Bartimaeus
calls out to Jesus, calls for mercy.
When
Jesus calls him, he throws off his cloak. Some commentators write how this may
have been his only possession, some suggest he is coming to Jesus naked. But notice
he does this before he is healed. He is still blind when he stands up, throws
off his cloak, and walks to Jesus.
Last
week we heard about the rich man who “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 Jesus 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…. 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.” [v]
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.” [v]
One
question connects two conversations in this passage:
What
do you want me to do for you?
A
reading – 2 voices
What Do You Want? from Spill the Beans
…
If
Jesus asked you, what would you ask for?
Notice,
those who asked for glory and the one who asked for sight, are all followers of
the way.
Being
a follower of Jesus isn’t about always getting it right, it is a way of life
that takes seriously the call to service, to know ourselves loved and to live
in hope.
Time
to listen for the spirit…
[i]
https://www.pulpitfiction.com/narrative-notes/2-27
[ii]
https://www.pulpitfiction.com/narrative-notes/2-27
[iii]
http://www.davidlose.net/2012/09/mark-10-32-34/
[iv]
http://www.davidlose.net/2012/09/mark-10-35-45/
[v]
http://www.davidlose.net/2012/09/mark-10-46-52/
