Quick Summary:

Throughout chapters 8-10 of Mark's gospel we follow Jesus on his way from Caesarea Philippi, north of Galilee, to the city of Jerusalem in the south, where his final days will unfold just as he has foretold, to the disbelief and dismay of his unenlightened disciples. This journey is framed by Mark with the healings of two blind men: the blind man at Bethsaida (8:22ff) and blind Bartimaeus.

In spite of everything they’ve witnessed, Jesus' inner circle of disciples remain blind; while in contrast, two blind men come to see. And so the gospel this Reformation morning, meets us squarely with the question: How good is your eyesight, people of God? Are you able to see your own blindness? Are you able to see the person next to you in need of healing? And are you able to recognize Jesus as the One who heals blindness and brings light to the world?

At times, the church has seemed more intent on putting roadblocks in front of those who are searching for mercy and grace, than on welcoming them into the company of Christ. But whenever the church becomes so fixated in its own issues that it ignores the needs of those who cry for MERCY, Christ stops dead in his tracks and calls for our attention to be focused just where the world is crying and in pain.