How Did the Story of a Beggar Become a Gospel Story?

The passage about the blind man of Jericho, Bartimaeus, Luke 18: 35-43, Mark 10: 46-52, begins saying, ‘a blind beggar was sitting by the roadside near Jericho’; and ends saying, ‘he following Jesus on the road’. How did this transformation happen? How did this story of a blind beggar become a gospel story? There are a few factors that bring about the transformation; there are a few factors that make human stories good news for themselves and others.

There are two people in this parable; they are models and examples of two categories of people we find in society: one helpless and another capable. On the one hand we have the blind beggar, who was in a helpless situation; on the other hand we have Jesus who is capable of great things. How does ones helplessness get transformed into a gospel story? How do capabilities become good news for others?

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Poor and future

Helplessness is a common human condition; sickness, failures, natural calamities, wars, etc. can render people helpless. Here we have Bartimaeus, who was helpless because he was blind and poor, but he had amazing survival attitudes and skills.

Never give up attitude: Bartimaeus was born blind, people must have told him of his situation. He could hear people talking about colours, but he never knew what they were. Years passed. Anyone would have gone tired of looking forward. I have heard of a palmist telling a poor man that he will have to uncomfortably beg and live for next 25 years. The poor man looked at the palmist in expectation of a better life after 25 years. The palmist continued, in 25 years you will get used to your poverty and you would have outgrown the discomfort of begging. Here was a man, even after so many years of his fateful situation, would not take a ‘no’ for an answer. Despite the opposition by people he kept calling out to Jesus.

Bartimaeus would not let an opportunity slip by. It was the last visit of Jesus to Jericho. We do not find Jesus visiting Jericho anymore. And Mark makes a mention that Jesus was leaving Jericho. Jesus was going back after his last visit to Jericho. If Bartimaeus had missed him, he would have missed Jesus forever. He actively looked out for options to get better.

Person of faith: Bartimaeus possessed amazing faith. He had no half measures. Once he heard Jesus calling out to him, he was sure that he would be well again. He springs up into the dark air, throwing away his cloak, which was his only protection as a beggar and into which he would receive the offerings of those pass by. An author highlights that he even threw out his walking stick. Anyone knows how important a walking stick is to someone who is blind. Jesus had no doubt about his faith. Jesus tells him, “Your faith has made you well”.

What is so special about the blind man's faith? The blind man of Jericho had an unstoppable faith. The crowd tells him to shut up, and he calls out all the louder. People are embarrassed as the local beggar goes ballistic when Jesus comes to town, but he doesn't care. He has an intensity of desire that overcomes obstacles, rebuke, and embarrassment to achieve what he desires. Jesus is pleased.

Attitude of giving: As soon as Bartimaeus was healed he began following Jesus, becoming a testament of God’s goodness. There must have been a lot of people who received healing and goodness from Jesus, they are not mentioned in the gospels, and perhaps they have drifted away to the comfort of their giftedness and not become givers with what they had received. Henry Neuwen reminds us that all is grace; light and water, shelter and food, work and free time…, it is all given to us. Why? So that we can be givers.

Who would have thought this beggar would instantly become a giver! Be aware of our giftedness; that would help us be givers. Most of what we have are gifts. What we do with them makes all the difference. Do we choose to be kind, compassionate, and inclusive?

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Honorable riches

Jesus, who is all-capable exhibited a paradigm of how one’s abilities can become good news for others. Jesus could just walk by as a great busy rabbi. But he paused; he showed preferential option for the poor, the unimportant, and who are far removed to the margins of society. Jesus kept giving it forward, and kept giving without return expectations. If we expect in return we would not be able to give to the poor. Giving to those who are not able to give back is the first step towards social inclusiveness.

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