Ableism is not a new phenomenon. Picture Bartimaeus sitting at the side of the road outside of Jericho (Mark 10: 46-52). He may have worked before he became blind, but he is now relegated to sitting outside the town wall and begging for his living. Hearing that someone important is passing by on the road, he takes the initiative to ask people in the growing crowd who the man is. Upon learning that Jesus is near, he shouts to get Jesus’s attention. Those around him, presumably including some disciples, try to shush him. Other translations say they rebuke, scold, or sternly order him to be quiet, but he persists. The crowd deems Bartimaeus unworthy of Jesus’ attention. Probably wanting to get on the good side of Jesus, their tone turns patronizing when Jesus calls for Bartimaeus to come, but they don’t offer to guide him to Jesus. In Jesus, Bartimaeus encounters a different sort of response. Jesus looks at him, seeing him as a whole person who can speak for himself, and asks what he wants. Jesus makes no assumptions but listens to the response. “I want to be able to see again.” Since Bartimaeus appears to be quite independent, his request was likely due to the isolating effects of being blind in that era. Jesus offers healing and a return to community. Bartimaeus is so touched that he leaves his cloak behind and follows Jesus into Jerusalem and the passion week drama that was to unfold.(*1)
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