There are two stories of healing someone blind in Mark. In between those stories are three episodes where Jesus reveals to his disciples what will happen in a few days: He is going to Jerusalem. He will be handed over to the religious leaders to be put to death. He will rise up after three days.

The contrasts of the two stories of healing the blind man create a great story line to coordinate with the three “reveals” of Jesus concerning his last days.

The first story (Mark 8:22-26) has a blind man brought to Jesus. Jesus has to touch the man twice. Actually, he spits on his eyes.

But it takes two “touches” to heal the blind man completely.

The second story (Mark 10:46-52) has the blind man, Bartimaeus, calling out to Jesus. In all reality, he is shouting after Jesus. He won’t shut up.

⁴⁶ Jesus and his followers came into Jericho. As Jesus was leaving Jericho, together with his disciples and a sizable crowd, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus, Timaeus’ son, was sitting beside the road. ⁴⁷ When he heard that Jesus of Nazareth was there, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, show me mercy!” ⁴⁸ Many scolded him, telling him to be quiet, but he shouted even louder, “Son of David, show me mercy!” (CEB)

He knows exactly what he wants. He asks for the ability to see. There is no indication that Jesus even touched him. He spoke an affirmation of the man’s faith and Bartimaeus was healed.

The attitude of Bartimaeus and the attitude of the first man’s story stand out in the storyline of the gospel. With the healing of Bartimaeus, the story right before that episode is James and John coming to Jesus and asking for “most favored” status in the Kingdom.

THIS came right on the heels of Jesus explaining a third time what would happen to him in Jerusalem. (Talk about blind guys!)

While the disciples were “blind” to what was about to happen, and they were “blind” to the actual nature of the Kingdom, here is the story of Bartimaeus screaming out for the opportunity to see.

Mark’s story is great. The question is this: Do you want to see or not?

Do you want to go bumping around, not really wanting to understand what the Kingdom is TRULY about (and that includes the cross), or do you truly want to see and understand what the Kingdom has in store for those who will cry out?

In life there are those who remain blind and miss the Kingdom. There are those who have a “partial touch” and bump around. They see only one side of the Kingdom or the other. (They see only the cross or only the resurrection.) Then there are those screaming out to Jesus to SEE.

The cross, the resurrection… the cost. And they follow Jesus.

Do you WANT to see… truly see… or not?