Hi, my name is Mitchell Eggenberger and I am a freshman at Bellevue High School. I am reflecting on the passage, Mark 10:46-52. In this passage of the New Testament a blind beggar on the outskirts of Jericho, Bartimaeus, calls out to Jesus. Jesus is with his disciples and a large crowd has been following him along the road. Bartimaeus calls to Jesus, “Jesus, Son of David have mercy on me!” Jesus acknowledges his request and asks Bartimaeus what he can do for him, to which Bartimaeus replies, “My teacher, let me see again.” This passage carries a very powerful message. This passage is in fact a metaphor. From the outside it can be seen as a simple, physical healing by Jesus, when in fact it is also a spiritual one. Notice that when Bartimaeus calls for help he does not beg for his eyesight to be healed but for Jesus to have mercy on him. He realizes that he has sinned in his life and has been blinded. It is clear that he understands why he has been blinded and has repentance for his sins. While members of Jesus’ entourage begin to heckle the poor, blind, beggar; Jesus recognizes that Bartimaeus has forgiven his sins. How can we tell that Bartimaeus is not lying? He addresses Jesus as his teacher. This shows that Bartimaeus truly does forgive his sins and asks for the mercy of Jesus. Just as we do as Episcopalians every Sunday that we beg for the forgiveness of sins during the Nicene Creed, Bartimaeus is begging Jesus to forgive his sins. Jesus forgives Bartimaeus by giving his eyesight back. Jesus wants us to understand that we need to forgive and understand our sins before he forgives us.
—Mitchell Eggenberger
No comments:
Post a Comment