Mark 10:51 “What do you want me to do for you? Jesus asked. “My Rabbi,” the blind man said, “I want to see.”
Mark tells this story right after he tells a story of Jesus’ disciples asking for a place of honor in the coming kingdom. It is obvious that these disciples are just as blind as Bartimaeus is; they may have some understanding of Jesus “for” them but no understanding of Jesus “in” them. However, for Bartimaeus his life is at a place where he wants to see. His whole life he hasn’t been able to see and here comes Jesus who can allow him to see for the first time. When Jesus questions him, he does something significant; he calls Jesus Rabbi. He essentially tells Jesus, I want to see the way you see. Unlike James and John he doesn’t ask what’s next, doesn’t ask for a place of honor he just simply says, “I want to see (what you see).” This chapter ends with Bartimaeus being healed, seeing, and then getting up to follow Jesus. He becomes one of his disciples. Perhaps the biggest twist is the very next chapter is Jesus coming into Jerusalem. In being healed, in seeing for the first time, Bartimaeus then immediately begins his journey with Jesus to the cross. As Jesus does this amazing work “for” Bartimaeus, Jesus immediately calls Bartimaeus into an amazing work “in” him. Perhaps this is why it is so hard for the rich man earlier in the chapter to follow Jesus. He wants the work of Jesus “for” him but he can’t quite allow the work “in” him to take place. When it comes to following Jesus, they both go hand in hand. Jesus does a work for us that the work in us may be accomplished.
I am the rich man that can’t fathom giving away everything to follow Jesus. I am the disciples asking to sit at the place of honor with Jesus, not knowing what I am asking for. I am these people most importantly because I am blind Bartimaeus. I cannot see and something inside of me knows that in some way Jesus can see and that if I ever want to see I must yell out for Jesus to heal me. Something inside of me knows that the world around me is not the way it is supposed to be and that if I want to see what is real and true it can only happen through Jesus. Through Jesus, I am healed of my blindness and realize that the cross is not just something for me; but Jesus’ healing of my blindness is done for me so it can give birth to His work of grace in me. As I see I realize that the call of Christ is to continue His ministry to continue the journey to the cross; to continue serving, sacrificing, and loving the world that they may be healed of their blindness. I realize that this impossible task of following Jesus is actually possible through God’s grace that allows me to see the world as it should be and to give everything I have into helping the world become that place. Jesus heals me of my blindness that I may get up and travel with Him to the cross and join Him in loving the world to heaven through service, sacrifice, and love.
Jesus, heal me of my blindness. Help me to see as you see; give me the grace to not go through today blind to the injustice and brokenness of this world. Give me the grace to see the world for what it is and what you desire it to be through your loving grace. Use me today as a agent of what your vision is for this world. Do the work of the cross in me today that others may be healed of their blindness. Give me the grace to live a life of service, sacrifice, and love that points to my rabbi. May Crossroads be the kind of Church that realizes the cross if for us so you can do your work in us. Help us not to loose our sight of this truth; when we do, heal us of our blindness and call us back to the way of the cross that you continue to work in and through us to bring about the holistic redemption of the world. Thank you for this gift of grace today. Amen!
I was blind but now I see and this changes everything!
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