Journal: Journal of the Grace Evangelical Society
Volume: JOTGES 29:57 (Autumn 2016)
Article: The Healing Of Bartimaeus (Mark 10:46–52), Part 2
Author: Kenneth W. Yates

JOTGES 29:57 (Autumn 2016) p. 3

The Healing Of Bartimaeus (Mark 10:46–52), Part 2

Kenneth Yates

Editor

I. Introduction

In Part 1, I argued that Mark’s so-called discipleship section (Mark 8:22–10:52) is addressed to believers. The section begins and ends with the healing of two different blind men. Both men are a picture of the disciples. The disciples were believers. They had eternal life. But they were still blind. They needed their eyes opened as to the costs of following Jesus. Jesus teaches them about those costs in the discipleship section of Mark.1 All of this indicates that there is a difference between being a believer in Jesus Christ, and thus having eternal life, and being a follower or disciple of Jesus.

In Part 2, I will argue that Bartimaeus is a picture of what a disciple is. A disciple is one who understands what it means to follow Christ, and where that path leads.

The account of the healing of Bartimaeus can be broken down into two sections. The first section is Bartimaeus’ call to the Lord (vv 46–48). The second is the Lord’s call to Bartimaeus (vv 49–52).

II. Bartimaeus’ Call To The Lord (Mark 10:46–48)

In Part 1, I argued that Bartimaeus is a picture of a believer before he is healed. The fact that his name is given in the account strongly suggests that he was known to the early church. He knew that Jesus was the Christ, and in vv 46–48 he twice calls Jesus by the Messianic title “Son of David.” But believers also need to see what following Jesus means.2

JOTGES 29:57 (Autumn 2016) p. 4

But these verses do not just deal with Bartimaeus’ spiritual condition (i.e., that he was a believer). They also are part of the picture of what a disciple is. A translation would be helpful in discussing these issues:

And they came to Jericho. And as He was going out from Jericho, along with His disciples and a large crowd, the son of Timaeus, Bartimaeus, a blind man begging, was sitting by the road.

And having heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out and to say, “Son of David, Jesus, have mercy on me.”

And many were rebuking him, in order that he might be silenced. But he cried out much more, “Son of David, have mercy on me” (vv 46–48).

A. The Persistence Of Bartimaeus

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