Day 30 : Mark 10:46-52
What do you want me to do for you?
Bartimaeus was a marginalised person, literally at the roadside. He was blind and unable to do anything about his situation, so was dependent upon help from others by begging. He asked Jesus for ‘mercy’. Jesus’s intervention in his life comes from his compassion. Bartimaeus’ request echoes our general human need for God to do for us what we can’t do for ourselves. Not necessarily the restoration of physical sight but of our relationship to God, each other and creation.
Bartimaeus appeared to be among the ‘last’ in his society. But although Bartimaeus sat on the margin and was physically blind, somehow, he had a deeper insight of who Jesus was than many others: perhaps even James and John. He knew Jesus was more than a prophet, teacher or healer. He called Jesus ‘Son of David’, which was a loaded term at the time. It hinted at the Jewish hope of a Messiah to rescue them.
Bartimaeus knew he needed Jesus’s help, asked for it and wasn’t put off by others. Jesus simply yet profoundly asks ‘what do you want me to do for you?’ (NRSVA) enabling Bartimaeus to participate in his own healing. It wasn’t just ‘done’ to him; Bartimaeus had asked believing it was possible. A relationship began to develop as Bartimaeus acknowledged Jesus as ‘my teacher’(NRSVA), and once healed ‘followed him on the way’ (NRSVA) that led from Jericho to Jerusalem and the cross. Jesus’s intervention was life changing. Bartimaeus regained his sight and got a whole new life.