Ask and you shall receive
Reading for Saturday April 8
Bible section: Mark chapter 10:46-57
Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem. He has already explained to his closest followers that at Jerusalem he will be arrested, flogged, executed and after three days rise from the dead. His followers don’t understand. Peter had previously spoken hastily; saying that such a thing should not happen and been sternly rebuked. The rest were bewildered, but wanting to see what would happen.
They were bewildered because the idea of a spiritual kingdom and a nation of direct descendents of God born by faith rather than biology was entirely incomprehensible to them. They did understand that Jesus would soon be establishing his new government, and they were hopeful, expecting a national throne, with military power and an exalted position for each one of them.
They were also astonished and afraid because Jesus was boldly walking into hostile territory unarmed.
Leaving the town of Jericho they are joined by many pilgrims. At this time of the year people normally made pilgrimage to Jerusalem for the Passover ceremony. Sitting beside the road is a blind beggar. Pilgrims are usually generous and this blind man, called Bartimaeus could have hoped to receive more money than usual, instead of begging he begins to call out to Jesus, loudly and insistently. .
Beggars were despised. There was a mistaken notion that any bad fortune a person had was because he or his parents had sinned, so the crowd thought he deserved to be blind.
The man’s constant calling out irritates the crowd, it conflicts with their mood. Also since he is a despised person with nothing to recommend him the crowd imagines he should be self-effacing and feel degraded. Bartimaeus had heard that Jesus was a descendent of Israel’s greatest king; King David, and therefore entitled to become ruler of the land. He calls loudly, “Jesus, son of David.” Various people in the crowd tell the beggar to shut up. But Jesus stops and stands still; the whole pilgrimage is held up for a single man of no social position or power. ‘Call him’ says Jesus and the crowd, now excited to see why and what, tell Bartimaeus that Jesus wants to speak to him.
Throwing aside his only hindrance, his coat, the man rushes toward the sound of Jesus’ voice. Jesus treats him with cordial respect,
“What do you want me to do for you?” he asks,
“Teacher, I want to see.” he replies.
And without further questioning, Jesus replies; “Go, your faith has healed you.” The man does not rush to explore the sights he has not seen, he does not run to find friends and foes and tell them he can see, he joins the procession and follows Jesus along the road to Jerusalem. Because Mark, the writer, knew his name it would suggest that he became a permanent follower of Jesus and one of the new creation that the Spirit of God was bringing to life.
Present day readers of this account get confused about the next words of Jesus, ‘Your faith has healed you.” It is clear to the reader that Jesus requires faith but they allow these words to hinder them from praying to Jesus. They are not sure if they have faith, they are not sure how much faith is required. Let me give you the answer, based on a life-time of helping people get to know Jesus: If a person is trying to pray to Jesus, seeking to learn about him, hoping that Jesus is the answer to his hopes; then that person has faith. Jesus says the smallest amount of faith is sufficient (It grows as a person gets to know Jesus) so anyone who is wanting to call out to Jesus, like Bartimaeus did, should feel confident. Jesus was not angry at the man’s importunity. He seemed rather to be pleased that Bartimaeus persevered in his request
This story illustrates the upside-down nature of the spiritual kingdom of God. A person of no influence, without any power was so important to Jesus that he stood still and waited for him. We who have believed Jesus have entered into that spiritual kingdom of God, and this is how we should always behave. We do not need to attract people of influence nor please people of power, because their earthly sphere is passing away. Instead we are commanded to love the lame, the unfortunate, to show respect to the despised. This is the unarmed kingdom of God, vulnerable to the hostile powers around but enduring beyond death, to become the kingdom that shall come, and shall forever and forever be.
Bible section: Mark chapter 10:46-57
Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem. He has already explained to his closest followers that at Jerusalem he will be arrested, flogged, executed and after three days rise from the dead. His followers don’t understand. Peter had previously spoken hastily; saying that such a thing should not happen and been sternly rebuked. The rest were bewildered, but wanting to see what would happen.
They were bewildered because the idea of a spiritual kingdom and a nation of direct descendents of God born by faith rather than biology was entirely incomprehensible to them. They did understand that Jesus would soon be establishing his new government, and they were hopeful, expecting a national throne, with military power and an exalted position for each one of them.
They were also astonished and afraid because Jesus was boldly walking into hostile territory unarmed.
Leaving the town of Jericho they are joined by many pilgrims. At this time of the year people normally made pilgrimage to Jerusalem for the Passover ceremony. Sitting beside the road is a blind beggar. Pilgrims are usually generous and this blind man, called Bartimaeus could have hoped to receive more money than usual, instead of begging he begins to call out to Jesus, loudly and insistently. .
Beggars were despised. There was a mistaken notion that any bad fortune a person had was because he or his parents had sinned, so the crowd thought he deserved to be blind.
The man’s constant calling out irritates the crowd, it conflicts with their mood. Also since he is a despised person with nothing to recommend him the crowd imagines he should be self-effacing and feel degraded. Bartimaeus had heard that Jesus was a descendent of Israel’s greatest king; King David, and therefore entitled to become ruler of the land. He calls loudly, “Jesus, son of David.” Various people in the crowd tell the beggar to shut up. But Jesus stops and stands still; the whole pilgrimage is held up for a single man of no social position or power. ‘Call him’ says Jesus and the crowd, now excited to see why and what, tell Bartimaeus that Jesus wants to speak to him.
Throwing aside his only hindrance, his coat, the man rushes toward the sound of Jesus’ voice. Jesus treats him with cordial respect,
“What do you want me to do for you?” he asks,
“Teacher, I want to see.” he replies.
And without further questioning, Jesus replies; “Go, your faith has healed you.” The man does not rush to explore the sights he has not seen, he does not run to find friends and foes and tell them he can see, he joins the procession and follows Jesus along the road to Jerusalem. Because Mark, the writer, knew his name it would suggest that he became a permanent follower of Jesus and one of the new creation that the Spirit of God was bringing to life.
Present day readers of this account get confused about the next words of Jesus, ‘Your faith has healed you.” It is clear to the reader that Jesus requires faith but they allow these words to hinder them from praying to Jesus. They are not sure if they have faith, they are not sure how much faith is required. Let me give you the answer, based on a life-time of helping people get to know Jesus: If a person is trying to pray to Jesus, seeking to learn about him, hoping that Jesus is the answer to his hopes; then that person has faith. Jesus says the smallest amount of faith is sufficient (It grows as a person gets to know Jesus) so anyone who is wanting to call out to Jesus, like Bartimaeus did, should feel confident. Jesus was not angry at the man’s importunity. He seemed rather to be pleased that Bartimaeus persevered in his request
This story illustrates the upside-down nature of the spiritual kingdom of God. A person of no influence, without any power was so important to Jesus that he stood still and waited for him. We who have believed Jesus have entered into that spiritual kingdom of God, and this is how we should always behave. We do not need to attract people of influence nor please people of power, because their earthly sphere is passing away. Instead we are commanded to love the lame, the unfortunate, to show respect to the despised. This is the unarmed kingdom of God, vulnerable to the hostile powers around but enduring beyond death, to become the kingdom that shall come, and shall forever and forever be.
posted by Jessie Coates at 7:10 PM
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