I Want to See

Gospel: Mark 10: 46-52 

Jesus is making his way toward Jerusalem where he will face arrest, trial, torture, and execution.  His final stop along the way is the city of Jericho, where a blind man calls out to him for help.  People try to prevent the encounter, as in so many other instances, but Jesus insists on meeting him.  The blind man, named Bartimaeus comes forward, and Jesus asks him, What do you want me to do for you?  Though it seems obvious, Bartimaeus replies, I want to see.

The question may seem obvious, but Jesus is asking him - and us - Do you really want to see what is to come?  My own disciples do not want to see it.  I have been trying to tell them what is coming: my arrest, trial, torture, and execution.  They would rather argue about who is more important among them than this reality to come.  So, I ask you again: what do you want me to do for you?  Do you really want to see these events of the passion?

To his credit, Bartimaeus picks up his things and follows the Lord onward to Jerusalem.  In his first days of having eyesight he will see the drama of redemption.  When we have our spiritual blindness removed from us, this same fundamental kerygma of our faith should be the first thing we see:  the reality that I am a sinner, the reality that Jesus has provided a way for me out of that predicament, and that it is my role as a disciple, like Bartimaeus, to gather my things and follow the Lord on his way.  

Cognitive Dissonance

Gospel: Mark 10: 32-45

Jesus pulls aside the twelve and tells them all that is going to happen to him in a few short weeks:  arrest, betrayal, trial, torture, and execution - but he will rise from the dead.  One can imagine a variety of ways to respond to hearing this information.  Unlikely on that list is the way in which the twelve react to the announcement.  They proceed to argue among themselves who is the most important among Jesus' followers and who will have the seats of prominence in the kingdom.  

And yet this reaction of the disciples has become the dominant Christian activity ever since.  And ever since Jesus has continued to remind us that discipleship is about service to others, not being served and concerning oneself with power, influence, and wealth.  We can readily discern who authentic disciples of the Lord Jesus are and who are frauds based on the criteria of this passage.  Those serving others are following the Lord; those obsessed with power and influence are frauds.

Christian leaders are often busy on social media attempting to show us how they are about serving others by posting about themselves at some service project, as if this were their day to day activity when more likely it is a photo op designed to create a positive image of themselves in others so they may have more power and influence.  Let us be about the work of serving others without fanfare or self-promotion, rejecting the temptations to power, influence, and wealth.  

The Great Reward

Gospel: Mark 10: 28-31

The rich man has walked away sad.  Now Peter comes forward and says to Jesus: we've given everything up to follow you - what's the reward?  Peter has the same false expectation of Jesus as many others in his day.  He is thinking that Jesus is a political Messiah, so he figures that when Jesus restores the kingdom of Israel that he and the others will be rewarded with political power, riches, and influence.  For Peter and the others, that would make all this sacrifice worth it.

But Peter and many others are disappointed at Jesus' response.  The followers of Jesus will have many friends and families - and persecution.  It is the same outcome as Jesus had in this life, where he had no home of his own, but many welcomed him into their homes and tables, and of course the persecutions he received along the way, ultimately leading to his arrest, trial, and execution.  The servant cannot be greater than the master.  

Many have the same expectation as Peter, and many will not accept the answer of Jesus.  Instead, they will reinvent Jesus to be the political Messiah they so desire so that they may have the power, influence, and riches for which they pine.  They will have their reward.  Our task is to follow the Lord in every aspect of his life, accepting the same lot in life as he received.  The task of healing, liberating, and feeding others - the task of the towel and basin - is the mission of the disciple.