Reading: Mark 10
“Help Us See” by Sara Pybus
“As the cool stream gushed over one hand she spelled into the other the word water, first slowly, then rapidly. I stood still, my whole attention fixed upon the motions of her fingers. Suddenly I felt a misty consciousness as of something forgotten–-a thrill of returning thought; and somehow the mystery of language was revealed to me. I knew then that ‘w-a-t-e-r’ meant the wonderful cool something that was flowing over my hand. That living word awakened my soul, gave it light, hope, joy, set it free!” – Helen Keller
In reading this passage, I was struck by Jesus’ efforts to change points of view. Jesus is questioned by the Pharisees about divorce. They look for a loophole; Jesus answers, “they are no longer two but one flesh.” Women aren’t to be sent away; they are part of the union to be taken care of. See the women.
The next story is about the children being brought for a blessing. They are rebuked by the disciples and Jesus is indignant. “Let the little children come to me”. He blesses the children. See the children.
Next, a rich man asks about inheriting eternal life. The passage says, “Jesus loved him” and told him “go, sell everything you have and give to the poor.” See the poor.
Then Jesus talks to the disciples about entering the Kingdom of God. How can anyone be saved if even a rich man can’t enter the kingdom of heaven? Jesus answers, “all things are possible with God.” But this is a different way where “many who are first will be last, and the last first.” God sees you and will take care of you.
Then James and John ask to sit next to him in glory. And Jesus tells them they don’t understand. He says he “did not come to be served, but to serve”. See each other and serve one another.
And finally we get to the story where Jesus is asked to give sight. The blind man asks to see. Jesus says, “your faith has healed you.” And with his seeing eyes, Bartimaeus follows Jesus.
We come to Jesus so often with an agenda of what we hope to accomplish, the answer we want to hear. Listen as Jesus asks you to look at the world a different way.