As Mark tells us about the life and ministry of Jesus, he is telling us the truth. He is not making up stories or embellishing accounts of Jesus’ activities. We are not reading myths or fanciful tales when we read the Gospels; we are reading eye-witness kinds of reports of who Jesus is and what he did when he walked the countryside of Palestine.
But under the inspiration of the Spirit and shaped by the kinds of things that Jesus said and did, Mark is still telling us what he does with a view to making some point. His recording of the life and ministry of Jesus is not a random collection of disconnected thoughts. Mark is writing to tell us something, some specific things, about Jesus. His words, the way he arranges his account, the kinds of things he emphasizes–all this helps us not miss what Mark wants to highlight for us.
For example, reflecting on the exchange that Jesus had with the rich ruler (Mark 10:17-22), the way Mark summarizes what the young man did is more than just a statement of fact. Having heard Jesus’ invitation to disposes himself of what was keeping him from pursuing life, the young man was called by Jesus to “follow.” Throughout Mark, that idea of “following” Jesus is one of discipleship, entering into an apprenticeship with Jesus, relationally connecting with Jesus and finding him to be the real center of life. And Mark tells us: “Disheartened . . . [the young man] went away sorrowful” (Mark 10:22). The man didn’t end up following.
But this is different with the account of blind Bartimaeus (Mark 10:46-52). Jesus meets this man as he is on the way to Jerusalem, to face his death. The blind man cries out. Jesus invites the man to come close. And, having ascertained from the man what he really wanted, Jesus healed him. Notice how Mark recounts this:
And Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way. (Mark 10:52).
Jesus heals Bartimaeus and, in doing this, encourages him to “go [his] way.” That is, go from here following the path you want to follow. And Bartimaeus, having recovered his sight, does just that. He goes the way he wants to go–but where he wants to go is with Jesus, wherever Jesus is going.
The rich ruler is given all he needs to truly see (spiritually), and catching a glimpse of that he turns awayfrom Jesus and goes his own way . . . away from Jesus. Bartimaeus is given all he needs to truly see (physically), and once seeing he turns toward Jesus and goes his own way . . . following Jesus. I think the way Mark tells us these two accounts is intended to illustrate a particular point.
If you let Jesus touch you, open your eyes, help you see, meet your need, will that be enough for you to then follow him? Will you, seeing, join him “on the way”?
Once you see, what then?
