Reading: Mark 11-12, Psalm 100

The first ten chapters of the book of Mark tells us many stories of Jesus doing incredible things, then telling the people who saw them or that they happened to not to tell anyone. This is followed up by a series of interactions in which those people who should have recognized Jesus for who and what he was completely missing it. Even when his closest disciples manage to figure it out and Peter confesses Jesus as the Messiah, he immediately mucks it up by challenging Jesus’ authority and is put in his place. In the end, the only person who really seems to get it is a blind guy sitting on the side of the road, who in utter dependence calls out to Jesus because he believe that he can make him see. Then he gets up and starts following the one who gave him sight.

I believe Mark is intentionally leading us on a story about seeing and not seeing, about that apparent and the real. Jesus’ secret mission is about to end and he will start revealed as the King that he claims to be when he rides into Jerusalem at the start of the reading today. From this point on, he acts like the King. He judges, he cleanses, he blesses and curses. He refuses to submit to the questions of others, having no need to establish his position. He does not even take a lower place than the Caesar of Rome, pointing out that the Image of God lies on humans, and so they all belong to him. He teaches the teachers and offers judgments on the actions of the rich and the poor. He will go on to decree the future. From this point on in the book of Mark, Jesus is in full on King mode. There are no more secrets to be kept.

I think Mark is using the confession and healing of Baritmaeus like a dam breaking. Even the blind man now sees, and he sees through the power of Jesus. Now the world will see. But it will not be by their own knowledge, but by the power of Jesus. Everything Jesus does in these chapters, from cursing a fig tree to chasing traders out of the temple, to warnings about the teachers of the law, to the comment on the widow’s offering, are ways of revealing the truth that lies behind the apparent. There is a lot that could be said about the fig tree and it’s imagery for Israel, but let’s not take the time to go there now. The point is it appeared fine, but Jesus declared it dead. The traders in the temple were apparently helpful- people needed sacrifices when they got to Jerusalem, why should we not make a profit in the process? Jesus declares them thieves. The teachers of the law were apparently masters of wisdom and knowledge. Jesus says they know not the Scriptures or the power of God. The widow’s contribution to the temple coffers was apparently meaningless. Jesus declares it greater than the gifts of the wealthy.

Blindness is a hard thing to admit. When Jesus starts going around ripping off the blindfolds and tearing down the facades in Jerusalem, some of the people I’m sure exclaimed in wonder and followed him. But others stood revealed as charlatans and frauds, and weren’t going to take this lying down. The closing chapters of the book will show us the two great authorities of the day coming to grips with Jesus. First, the Jewish authorities will have him arrested, and will be revealed to be only a tool of the real authority of the day. Then Jesus will confront the power of Rome, whose ruler claimed to be the Son of God, and it too will stand revealed as a sham.