FOLLOW JESUS ON THE WAY

Mark 10:46-52  

Luke 9:51 says, Jesus had “steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem”, knowing full well what would happen to him there. They were appointments, not accidents, for they had been determined by the Father and written centuries ago in the Old Testament.

We cannot but admire our Savior and love him more as we see him courageously enter into his time of suffering and eventual death. We must remember that he did it for us.

Jesus sets out with the disciples toward Jerusalem for the final confrontation between the kingdom of God and the powers of darkness. Two themes now dominate:

1. The necessity of suffering – the suffering way of the Cross

2. The cost of being a disciple- discipleship in the Way of the Cross

As Jesus begins his last journey toward Jerusalem, he instructs the disciples that he must suffer and be rejected, betrayed, and killed (Luke 9:22, 44). But the disciples do not yet understand (9:45). He explains that he must undergo another “baptism” and is distressed until it is completed (12:49).

Responding to Herod’s threat to kill him, Jesus answers: “Go tell that fox, ‘I will drive out demons and heal people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal…..For surely no prophet can die outside Jerusalem!’” (13:32-33).

During this journey Jesus discusses the coming of God’s kingdom in relation to what lies immediately before them: “First he, the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation…. He will be handed over to the Gentiles; they will mock him, insult him, spit on him, flog him and kill him. On the third day he will rise again (17:25; 18:31-33).”

And still the disciples do not understand. They do not know what he is talking about (18:34).

Jerusalem is to be the scene of the final battle between the kingdom of God and the powers of evil. Many in Israel do expect a climatic military battle between God’s army of pious Jews and the pagan Gentiles, who oppose God’s will.

But this is not the battle for which Jesus is preparing. For Jesus, the battle will be won not by killing the enemy, but in allowing himself to be killed, to give up his life on the cross. That is why we say that this is “the necessity of suffering – the suffering way of the Cross.

The disciples do not yet understand Jesus’ mission of love and suffering. Like many of their generation, they still want to see God’s fiery judgment fall on those who reject his kingship. And even now, after all this time with Jesus, they still do not understand.

Time is short; there is an urgent need for “intensive training in discipleship.” The disciples must truly learn what it means to follow Jesus so they can continue what he has begun after he is taken from them.

This instruction on discipleship is closely tied to the theme of Jesus’ last journey. Discipleship as a “way” to be followed, a journey to be taken. And the disciples are literally on the way to Jerusalem, and at the same time they are being taught the way of discipleship. Both “ways” talk about suffering, love and rejection.

This last journey itself teaches the disciples that to follow Jesus means to walk the way of the cross.

Jesus speaks sharply to the half-hearted followers. The way of discipleship is costly: it demands total commitment, complete devotion and allegiance to Jesus and the kingdom of God (Luke 9:57-62).

Jesus says, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” (9:23; cf. 14:27). The decision to follow entails significant consequences: “For whoever wants to save his life will lost it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it” (9:24).

Discipleship training continues on the road to Jerusalem.

To follow him also means to participate in his mission (Luke 10:1-24). The disciples are likened to farmhands, sent out to help Jesus gather in the harvest. Their mission, like Jesus’ own, is to engage the powers of darkness by their words and actions: “Heal the sick….and tell them, “the kingdom of God is near you’” (10:8).

His disciples must also love God with their whole being, and love their neighbors as they love themselves (10:25-37).

During Jesus’ time, the Israelites are very bitterly against the compromising Jews, Samaritans, and Gentiles. In this background, Jesus tells the story of a Jewish man beaten, robbed, and left for dead on the road from Jerusalem to Jericho. The leaders of the Jewish people—represented in Jesus’ story by a priest and a Levite—do not help the man in his need. But a hated Samaritan takes pity on him and cares for him.  

The “righteous” Jew thus discovers that the “ungodly” Samaritan is his neighbor, the one whom God has commended him to love.

Jesus tells this story in respond to a lawyer’s question, “What must I do to have a share in the age to come?” and this is the answer:

“Follow Jesus in finding a new and radicalized version of observing the Law. Loving Israel’s covenant God means loving him as creator of all, and discovering as neighbors those who are beyond the borders of the chosen people.”

The cost of being a disciple of Jesus is “discipleship in the Way of the Cross” which includes, “endure suffering and rejection, and love your enemy”.

Conclusion

Jesus has defeated the power of Satan by allowing himself to be crucified on the cross. We are called to his disciples who walk the way of the cross. To walk this way is costly, that also means, to be Jesus’ disciples is costly: it demands total commitment, complete devotion and allegiance to Jesus and the kingdom of God.

To walk this way means to participate in his mission. We are to heal the sick, serve the needy and preach the Gospel. We must also love God with our whole being, and love our neighbors as we love ourselves.

Lord, I want to see, so that I could have a new life, and follow you on the Way

Let’s now look at a Bible character, Bartimaeus, who encountered Jesus and see what he did after that which can tell us what a disciple should do.

Jesus and his disciples came to Jericho first, just before they arrived at Jerusalem. As they were leaving Jericho together with a large crowd, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside. When he heard it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out, "Son of David, Jesus! Have mercy on me!"

Using 'Son of David entering Jerusalem' echoes the popular expectation of the Messiah who is to come to revive Israel. This phrase likens to a political taboo under Roman rule. So many people rebuked Bartimaeus and told him to be quiet, yet Bartimaeus shouted all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"

This is Bartimaeus’ act of faith!

Jesus stopped, and said to the people, "Call him." So the people called the blind man, "Cheer up, and get up! He’s calling you."

Bartimaeus threw his cloak aside, jumped up and came to Jesus. The cloak is used to store the charity money from begging. So Bartimaeus even abandons his ‘rice bowl’ to respond to Jesus’ calling. He believes that Jesus is the Messiah, who will surely heal him.

Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?”

Jesus’ question to Bartimaeus addresses exactly that possibility: Do you, Bartimaeus, want to give up begging? Do you want to live differently, to work for a living, to have no reason to sit by the roadside all day whining at passers-by?

It is quite a challenge, and Bartimaeus rises to it splendidly. He said, 'Rabbi, I want to see!"

Jesus said: "Go, your faith has healed you." Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the way!

Bartimaeus wants the new life; not only sight. He want to follow Jesus. He makes a stark contrast with Jesus’ disciples. Remember how, when Jesus said to James and John, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’

They said to Jesus, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory (10:37). “They requested for power, prestige and glory.

Bartimaeus is a model to imitate. He is not like the disciples, who hadn’t really understood what Jesus was about. He is not like the rich man whose face fell and went away sad when he was challenged to follow Jesus, because he had great wealth (10:22).

Bartimaeus is already a man of faith, courage and true discipleship. He recognizes who Jesus is (son of David); he clearly believes Jesus can help him (your faith has saved you); he leaves his begging (the cloak would be spread on the ground to receive money), and he follows Jesus on the way, the suffering way to Jerusalem (“The way” was the early Christian’s word for what we now call Christianity).

As Jesus was entering into his Passion, Bartimaeus was waving to us, the readers of Mark, to give us a model of true discipleship to imitate. Imagine yourself as the blind man. It’s Jesus coming by. What do you do?

Call out to him, and when he summons you, put everything aside and go to him. And when He asked you what you want him to do, go for it. Don’t look back at the small, selfish comforts of victimhood. Ask for freedom, for salvation, for healing, for power. And when you get it, be prepared to follow Jesus wherever he goes next, even leading to suffering road.

Let us examine ourselves:

Today, do we trust in Jesus, and believe that following his steps is always good for us?

Maybe we have been too busy with ourselves and pushed God to the edge of our lives; our love for God fading, our service to him also dwindling; we grow cold or even doubt God's presence; or we become dependent on our own wisdom and wealth or the powerful people around us, rather than clinging to God alone; or we are blinded by the wealth, status and power that we derail from the way of servant hood and suffering.

Today, our Lord Jesus is asking you the same question: "What do you want me to do for you?”

We pray to God for health, wealth and power, for success in our careers and studies. It is nothing wrong to ask for such blessings, but the crux is, "Why are we pursuing these?"

The Lord is good to us. He has indeed led us all the way, given us enough grace to move up the ladder among the successful, in order that, we can be better equipped to follow Christ, to imitate Christ, to be disciples of Christ, to be channel of blessing to the world.

Let us act now like Bartimaeus, spring up from our seats at the sideline, throw the cloak aside, and then follow Jesus all the way, even if the way leads to suffering and servant hood.

Along the way, we will encounter difficulties, setbacks, losses, slanders or persecutions, but do not retreat. We shall overcome as Christ has already overcome on our behalf on the cross.

Let’s pray to the Lord:

O Lord Jesus, thank you for dying on the cross for me, to save me from the bondage of sin. O Lord Jesus, have mercy on me, I want to see! 

1	I want to see how to be better equipped to be a disciple after your own heart.
2	I want to see the problems that this world, my country and my church are facing.
3	I want to see how I can contribute to overcome these problems and overcome the evils prevailing.
4	I want to see how I can deliver the Gospel as a relevant message to this world.
5	I want to see how I can be the salt and light of the world to shine for Jesus.
6	I want to see how I can love my fellow brothers and sisters, and even my enemies.
7	I want to see how I can lend a hand to heal the sick and serve the needy.
8	I want to see how I can help the church to grow from strength to strength…..