Blind Bartimaeus at Jericho Mk 10 46-52.

Gospel of mark series: Blind Bartimaeus at Jericho.

THE BIBLE  GOSPEL OF MARK SERIES ICON

During 2019, each week, I will write a weekly post about the Gospel of Mark, as I review and explore each of the 16 chapters and how it may be applied in our daily lives. If you are following this series for the first time, you will find this series under Scripture- New Testament- Gospel of Mark. 

Click here to read the first post in the series. I have written this series in different years (2012, 2015, 2018) with some irregularity, but am determined to complete this series this year since I am more than half way through this Gospel.

My goal is to understand and pray the Gospel of Mark. I hope you will join me on this journey as we travel through the liturgical season.  In today's post we explore chapter 10:46-52 which is called Blind Bartimaeus at Jericho.

Blind Bartimaeus at Jericho.

The story of Bartimaeus concludes the teaching of Jesus about service of others (10:32-52).  Jesus serves this blind man, begging beside the roadway, by freeing him: from his blindness.

The giving of sight to the blind to Bartimaeus also concludes the fifth part of Mark’s gospel, where Jesus had been forming his disciples in his way.  With the earlier healing of the blind man at Bethsaida, the healing of a Bartimaeus: forms a frame for the whole of this part, we Jesus tries, unsuccessfully to enlighten the blindness of his disciples.

As Jesus leaves Jericho on this journey up to Jerusalem, these disciples and a large crowd of people follow him.  At the side of the roadway since the blind Bartimaeus begging.  He is apart from the disciples and the others, and under able to see.  He hears Jesus of Nazareth is there and begins to shout: for mercy without knowing exactly where to shout.  He calls Jesus Son of David, a title for by expected Messiah.The crowd try to silence him, but the more they try, the more he shouts.

Jesus stops and asks them to call him.  Bartimaeus eagerly jumps to his feet, throws away the cloak, which likely he has spread it on the ground before him to receive alms, and runs to Jesus.  Notice how the disciples and others are drawn to help, once  Jesus begins to act.

It is clear what Bartimaeus wants.  

Nevertheless, Jesus ask him to speak it out.  Please stands in his blindness before Jesus, whom he cannot see, with nothing but he is human need to be healed.  Through the faith of Bartimaeus Jesus gives him sight.

Though: told to go, Bartimaeus does not go.  His eyes have begun to see.  No longer does he sit beside the way as an outsider.  He follows Jesus as a disciple joyfully, maybe with dancing, along the way up the slope to Jerusalem.

JOURNAL REFLECTIONS

In our journal and/or our discussion group we may wish to reflect on this passage as follows:

• Name the key points that you have learnt about the person of Jesus in this passage of scripture?

• Imagine that you are one of the disciples- What do you see and hear and feel. What can I learn from this?

• Imagine being Bartimaeus both as the blind person and as the Bartimaeus  who can now see.- what would you have felt?  

• What is reading the Gospel passage with the eyes and ears of disciple mean to me?

• How does Jesus invite me to look at my own blindness?

• What are the areas in my life I need to bring to Jesus? What questions do I want to ask Him about my blindness?

• Am I willing to look into myself with honesty and ask how much do I grasp what it means to be a true disciple of Jesus with sight in the light of this teaching? 

• Is my faith in the divine power of Christ, whom we follow, large enough to make us ready to walking faithfully his ‘’way’’ with sight?

• In the light of this passage, how will you respond to Jesus as a true disciple?

• If a fellow parishioner had read this passage, what might he/she say about this passage?

• In the light of this Gospel passage what positive change will you adopt in your life and in your spiritual life.  How will you implement these changes?