Mark 10:46-52 - The Chocolate Problem

 

My dad once painted a picture from his childhood. It's in front of R. E. Coombs' grocery and deli in South Shore, Chicago. His mother is picking out some fruit from bushel baskets, propped up on orange crates. His father is sitting on another crate, talking with Mr. Coombs who is leaning in the doorway to the store. My dad is sitting in his little red wagon, eating a chocolate ice cream cone.

The flavor is significant, but not just because it was his favorite. My dad had a dark brown birthmark between his lower lip and his chin. It had pretty much faded by adulthood, but when he was younger it was rather obvious. People were constantly trying to wipe the chocolate off his chin, or --when he was old enough to do so-- telling him to wipe his face. They assumed three things: (1) That there was a problem. (2) The nature of the problem. (3) How to solve the problem.

In the ancient city of Jericho, there was blind beggar named Bartimaeus. Each day he positioned himself near the city gate where he could take advantage of pedestrian traffic.

One day, Jesus was leaving Jericho and --as usual-- a crowd was with him. Bartimaeus asked what the extra noise was about. When he heard it was Jesus, he cried out, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" The people around him, annoyed, told him to keep quiet. He wouldn't stop...but Jesus did.
Jesus said he wanted to talk to Bartimaeus. Excited, he jumped up and found his way to Jesus. Jesus asked him,
"What do you want Me to do for you?"

Now isn't that odd? Jesus, having spiritual insight, knew many things without being told. But even the human bystanders could have surmised what Bartimaeus wanted. Indeed, Bartimaeus gives the expected response:
"Rabboni, I want to regain my sight."

Jesus didn't always ask people what they wanted from Him. Several times, He healed people without making them say what they desired.

In this case at least, Jesus asked before taking action. He restored Bartimaeus' sight "and [he]began following Him on the road." (Mark 10:46-52, New Living Translation, 2015)

Lord, Keep us from hasty conclusions when we think we know what someone needs. Before we come up with a solution, show us what the problem is... or if it's even a problem in the first place. Restore our sight to see people around us the way that You do. And then to follow You. Amen.