This Sunday, we read more from Mark chapter 10.  Jesus heals a blind man who had great faith. To read this week’s readings, click here.

 

Melchizedek was a mysterious King of Salem who was both Priest and King.  He is mentioned in Genesis 14:18-20, where he offers a sacrifice of bread and wine, and Abraham pays him a tithe.  The bible gives no account of his geneology, or how long he reigned.  Many modern Bible historians believe he was Shem, son of Noah, but this is not mentioned in the passage.  Josephus equates Salem with Jerusalem. He is also mentioned in Psalm 110:4.

The High Priest in Jerusalem in Jesus’s time was a descendant of Aaron. Paul is stating that Jesus is the new Priesthood, replacing the old.  Saint Paul explains that in contrast to the priests of Aaron, Jesus is in the line of Melchizedek, in that He is Priest and King.  The Eucharist is the fulfillment of the bread and wine offered by Melchizedek.  The priests of Aaron had to make sin offerings for themselves, whereas Jesus offered his sinless self for the sins of us all.

 

Blind Faith? No – Bold Faith!

The term “Blind Faith” originates from the lessons learned in today’s Gospel reading.  Over time, in our society, this has become a term with a negative connotation – that somehow those with “blind faith” are not enlightened or intelligent.   Bartimaeus said, “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me.”  Not only did he know Jesus’s name, he knew more about him, to the point of calling Him the Son of David.  Bartimaeus was not uninformed.  He knew who Jesus was.  When Jesus told his disciples to call Bartimaeus over, he “He threw aside his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus,” according to Mk 10:50.  At this point Bartimaeus was still blind, and he walked over to Jesus by faith, not by sight.  Bold Faith.

 

You see it so much in the Gospels.  Jesus saying, “your faith has saved you.”  He says it here, in Mark 10:52, and he said it earlier in the same Gospel (Mark 5:34). This saying (and variations of it) are seen in all the Gospels.  While it is true that Jesus saves us, we also have to do our part.  God is telling us he will not impose salvation; we have to participate in it.  Our faith, and our actions and works as a result, is our participation in our salvation.  It is through our faith that we are saved, and through our faith that we are compelled to want to do the work of God.  After Bartimaeus was saved, he did not walk away – he became a disciple and followed Jesus.

 

Usually, Mark’s Gospel is known for its brevity, but in this particular passage, there is more detail here than in the parallel passages of Mt 20:29–34; or Lk 18:35–43.  Matthew mentions a second blind man, but neither Matthew or Luke mention any names.  Bartimaeus being named in this Gospel makes theologians and historians believe that he was known by the Christian community as a disciple later on, perhaps even by Mark himself.

 

For more reading, check out  more about Melchizedek here.