Bartimaeus

Mark 10:46 - 52

In today's (February 14, 2015) readings the Gospel lesson is Mark 10:46 - 52 and is labeled in The Jerusalem Bible as "The blind man of Jericho." Bartimaeus, being both blind and a beggar, calls out to Jesus as Jesus is passing by and is so loud and unruely that Jesus calls him over and asks what he wants. Bartimaeus replies that he wants to see again. Jesus says that his faith has saved him and his sight is returned. Then, as it is translated in The Jerudalem Bible, the last phrase of verse 52 says, "... and he followed him along the road." (Mark 10:52b; emphasis mine.)

This scripture can be read in two ways, as is true with much of the Bible. It can be seen as the restoring of an individual's sight, as surely it was, or it can be seen as allegory, with a hidden meaning. The allegorical meaning here, I believe, is not all that hidden. Sight can be to be visually complete or sight can mean intellectually understand. Bartimaeus asked to see again which would imply that he had been able to see previously. In the allegorical sense do we make a fuss and scream to see / understand again so that we regain or strengthen our understanding, and when we do do we then "...follow him along the road"?