I want to see (1)

"What do you want me to do for you?" Jesus asked him. The blind man said, "Rabbi, I want to see." (Mark 10:51)

Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him in this manner not because he did not know the answer. This question of Jesus reveals his absolute authority as the king. Jesus is the one who can solve problems and grant the demand of his people.

If we read it in the Korean version, there is a possibility to misunderstand his question. It is used like an intimate speech of a king. His simple question would be “What do you want me?” The absolute power of the kingdom of God was expressed in this intimate speech as Jesus’ action is completely based on the kingdom of God. Despite this, it would be different from the nuance of Korean free speech.

Bartimaeus, the Blind man answered, “Rabbi, I want to see.” It was quite natural to answer in that way. Seeing is the salvation for him. He gave the right answer to the right person, Jesus, the Savior.

Though the answer of Bartimaeus seemed natural, it was a peculiar in one sense. It was not easy to say “I want to see” for a blind man who had lived in total darkness without sight for a lifetime would certainly understand that seeing for him is impossible. His pathetic and helpless situation is similar to that of a bonded slave who could not even think of his freedom.

We keep our own style of living. The change of a world view is impossible. Each world view that has hardened in different way has a difficulty to communicate with each other. Do we surely want to see? Is there anything such seriousness in our life? What do we want to see? Can we see it?