From Discipleship to Apostleship

Mark 10:46-52

“Helen Keller, so brave and inspiring to us in her deafness and blindness, once wrote a magazine article entitled: "Three days to see." In that article she outlined what things she would like to see if she were granted just three days of sight. It was a powerful, thought provoking article. On the first day she said she wanted to see friends. Day two she would spend seeing nature. The third day she would spend in her home city of New York watching the busy city and the workday of the present. She concluded it with these words: "I who am blind can give one hint to those who see: Use your eyes as if tomorrow you were stricken blind.'¹

Brothers and sisters, indeed let us not take for granted that we have eyes which can see. What a wonderful miracle of God.

Mark tells us this story, as a conclusion before Jesus entering to Jerusalem.

This is the last event of a series of miracles. Let us not take this miracle lightly.

First, I do not know why Mark mentioned the name of this man, Bartimaeus. Not only his, but also his father’s name is mentioned. We do not know who Timaeus is. His name occurs only here. It seems Mark gives enough attention to this event to mention these names.

Second, they were on the road to Jerusalem (10:32). Bartimaeus was sitting “by the road side.” After his healing, Bartimaeus followed Jesus along the road (way). (10:52)

Do you see here the significance of the usage of the word “way”? In all four Gospels, there is a direction towards the “way to Jerusalem.” Jesus is going towards Jerusalem. Along the way, Jesus encounters with many people. He meets many people, communicates with many people, sympathizes with many people. Every person is important for Jesus. Even on his way to Jerusalem, he stops his journey (his “way”), and takes time to talk to this blind-beggar.

Third, Jesus asks both sons of Zebedee and Bartimaeus the same question, “What do you want me to do for you?” (10:36, 51). “The disciples’ answer to this question is telling: They want to sit on thrones with Jesus and reign with him in triumph. Bartimaeus sits in the dust, makes no demand for glory, but cries out from his wretched poverty: He only wants to see. The disciples see Jesus as a Messiah who will bring them mastery and glory; Bartimaeus sees him as the Son of David who brings him healing and sight. Jesus cannot grant the disciples’ request for power, but he can grant a blind man’s request for vision.”²

Do you see what is happening? Let me tell you a Chinese story.

Thousands of years ago, a young Chinese emperor called upon his family's most trusted advisor. “What is the single most important advice you can give me to rule my country?" The advisor replied, "The first thing you must do is to define the problem." ³

We need to define the problem. The blind man did define his problem. He knew that his problem was not just blindness; it was more than that.

We will continue in the English sermon.

1 Illustration from eSermon.com

2 Garland. “Bridging Contexts” In NIV Application Commentary, New Testament: Mark. By Garland, 422. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, © 1996

3 King Duncan, Collected Sermons, www.Sermons.com