Mark 10:46-52: More Disappointing To Never Ask

Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (which means “son of Timaeus”), was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.”

So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.

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

The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.”

“Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road. - Mark 10:46-52

 I think that people who are living with a person with some sort of weakness often have a co-dependent relationship with the people around them. That is, when they try to do something different or get out of the environment that they are in, the other people rally around to keep them in that situation. The people in Jericho that day, they were comfortable with Bartimaeus the beggar. He was always there at the gate, asking for coins outside the city gate. He heard the sounds around Jesus the Messiah coming through town and made a play on the mercy of Jesus. The people told him to be quiet. This was Jesus and here he was making a bad final impression on the rabbi leaving town. They didn't need him healed, but they did need Jesus. So they told him to stay back.

But he went against them and continued to call out for Jesus. Who knows what he was actually expecting to happen. Maybe he thought Jesus, as a good rabbi, would give him some money. Maybe he thought by calling Jesus the Messiah ('son of David') he might get something more.  Interestingly, Jesus didn't pay attention to the crowds, but listened to the noisy, annoying shouts of the beggar. Amid all that noise, Jesus picked Bartimaeus' voice. 

He was bold. When told that Jesus' stopped, he went quickly. When asked what he wanted by Jesus, he asked boldly, not for the easy ask, but for his sight back. And Jesus gave it to him because of his faith--his trust--that Jesus could actually do it.

I think we are sometimes hesitant to ask God for things. He is not obligated to give anything. But sometimes the very act of asking says that we believe God could do it, if he wanted. Not asking is to express doubt that God would ever turn his favor on us. It is disappointing to have God say 'No' to something we prayed for, but it is even more disappointing to have us never ask.