Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Vision (08/03/06)
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TITLE: What's more important? | Previous Challenge Entry
By Sue Dent
08/03/06 -
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“Wait a minute,” Luke remarked, weren’t their two beggars.
“Yes,” Mark replied, I specifically remember two beggars.
Matthew looked up from his scribing. “If there were two beggars, what was the other ones name?”
Mark looked at Luke and Luke responded. “Are you suggesting that because we don’t know the other beggars name, that he isn’t important?”
“I’m not suggesting anything. I’m simply writing about significant events.”
Astonished, Luke remarked. “Are you saying that a man, any man, whose vision is restored by our Lord, after being blind for years, is somehow less significant than say another man being healed of the same affliction simply because we don’t know his name? Is that what you’re saying?”
Matthew ignored the comment and instead went back to work. Wrote down how he remembered Bartimeus calling out to Jesus saying, “O Lord, thou son of David,” an indication that Bartimeus knew who Jesus was and was aware of what he was capable of.
“Okay, wait a minute,” Luke jumped in, disgruntled, still looking over Matthew’s shoulder. “I distinctly heard them both calling out.”
“Yes,” Mark agreed, “and very loudly as well. Practically started a riot, they did. People hissing at them, telling them to be quiet. Why are you only mentioning this Bartimeus? His friend was just as loud.”
Matthew looked to Mark. “Do you have a pen?”
Mark straightened. “I suppose I do.”
“Then perhaps you should share your own version of what happened, Brother, as I have been commissioned to write mine.”
Yet both Mark and Luke continued to monitor Matthew’s recounting.
“They were there when Jesus came into Jericho to you know,” Mark commented on one sentence. “Not just when he left. I shall make sure and note that in my retelling. The beggars were still there when we left.”
To Matthew’s explaining how Bartimeus threw his garment off, both Mark and Luke nodded. A bold step, they agreed, since the garment was typically used by most beggars to protect them from the elements. Clearly, Bartimeus had no intention of using his again. Such faith he had.
“How do you suppose they knew what was going on? The beggars, I mean.” This seemed to bother Mark. “They were both blind. They sit there on the street all day begging. How could they know anything? A crowd coming into and leaving Jericho this time of the year isn’t something that doesn’t happen on a regular basis.”
Luke shrugged. “Word gets around. I suppose they heard Jesus was coming. You can’t very well have someone going around doing what Jesus does and not hear about it. They’re not deaf, you know.”
“Sometimes I wish I were deaf,” Matthew muttered. “I might have a better chance of finishing my retelling. Perhaps the two of you could have your discussion somewhere else.”
Neither Mark nor Luke detected enough animosity in their friend’s words to push them to silence and so they continued with their commenting.
“And when Jesus stopped, just stopped -- and called to them,” Luke said.
Mark nodded, eyes wide. “Yes, you could’ve heard a pin drop.”
Matthew’s hand started moving quicker as he continued to scribe.
“And then Jesus asked them what he could do,” Luke remembered.
“Him,” Matthew threw in, “Jesus asked him.”
“Oh, right! Sorry.”
Luke puzzled for a moment. “Why do you suppose he asked? I mean it was pretty clear what both men needed.”
Matthew spoke as he scribed. “It was clear to Jesus. I suppose he wanted to make sure that it was clear to the men as well.”
Luke wasn’t about to let that slide. “Ah, so you admit there were two men healed that day.”
Matthew stopped writing and stood. A powerful look covered his face. “Oh, there were two men healed, that’s for sure,” he said, an arm around each man’s shoulder. “And that is definitely something worth sharing. But more importantly, and never let this go unnoticed, not only were two men healed, there was one man saved. Because of his Faith, because of God’s mercy.
Matthew walked out then, leaving Mark and Luke to decide who got to use his pen next as they both were now very eager to write.
Matthew 20:29-34
Mark 10:46-52
Luke 18:35-43
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Sometimes we forget that our "Apostles" were also men who laughed, argued, cried, and acted like children.
Thanks for your unique angle on this!