Bartimaeus: Son Of Honor

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In Mark’s Gospel there is a blind man named Bartimaeus, and depending upon how you trace the meaning of the name, Bartimaeus means either “Son of the Unclean One” or “Son of Honor.” That is quite a stark difference. Initially, it appears to mean “son of the unclean one” due to his blindness because in the days of Jesus the blind were ritually unclean.

If we had such ritual purity laws today, Bartimaeus would have to stand outside the sanctuary while we worshipped God together. Furthermore, the blind were often abandoned to fend for themselves and because of that, most, if not all, fell into abject poverty and beggar-hood, hence the blind-beggar; yet, in spite of all this, Jesus does not recognizes Bartimaeus as “a son of the unclean one,” rather by calling Bartimaeus, Jesus recognizes him as a “Son of Honor” (Mark 10:46-49). …show more content…

James and John requested power and glory for none other than James and John. Jesus asked blind Bartimaeus the same question, and at first glance, maybe Bartimaeus would ask for revenge upon all those who had made is life difficult; but, Bartimaeus is different, and, indeed, more honorable than the disciples: He only asked to receive his sight (Mark 10:50-52). Having regained his sight Bartimaeus “follows Jesus on the way,” and, if you read the rest of Mark’s Gospel it is the way to Mt. Calvary and