Jesus Is Calling

One of the temptations Bible readers face is to begin and end with analysis. Too often, we don’t take time to enter imaginatively into the biblical story. In this we reflect our culture which “is competent to implement almost anything and to imagine almost nothing” (Walter Brueggemann). Today’s graphic narrative can help us to put this right. Why not imagine you are Bartimaeus? Then follow the key points of the story: (1) You shout out to gain Jesus’ attention; (2) the crowd doesn’t like you and tells you to shut up; (3) you shout all the more; (4) Jesus stops; (5) Jesus says “Call him”; (6) the crowd now encourages you; (7) you jump to your feet, throw off your beggar’s cloak and come to Jesus; (8) Jesus asks you what you want; (9) you tell him and he heals you; (10) you decide to join Jesus on the journey to Jerusalem.

Now, reflect on the background. (1) Jericho is a beautiful town rebuilt by Herod the Great as his winter capital. (2) The large crowd is composed of pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem for Passover. (3) “Son of David” is a popular title in Judea for the Messiah. (4) Blind people were illiterate; Bartimaeus would have learned this title from listening to others reciting it. (5) The people regard Jesus as a celebrity, someone too important for a blind beggar to bother. (6) The appeal for “mercy” may have been a polite request for a coin; perhaps this is why Jesus asks Bartimaeus to be specific (51). (7) “Rabbi” here translates a term of respect.  For “Reverend,” Bartimaeus said, “Very Reverend.”

Tell Jesus your answer to his question: “What do you want me to do for you?”