Are You a Son of Zebedee or a Son of Timaeus?

Are you a son of Zebedee or a son of Timaeus?

Notice the contrast of response to Jesus' question, in Mark 10, "What do you want me to do for you?" James and John, the sons of Zebedee, respond, "Grant that we may sit, one on Your right and one on Your left, in Your glory." Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, replies, "Rabboni, I want to regain my sight!"

The sons of Zebedee desire position, power, authority, and glory, Bartimaeus just wants to see. James and John are jostling for authority causing dissension among the disciples. Bartimaeus, in spite of the annoyed crowd, is persistently crying out for Jesus, jumping up to get close to Him, and, simply, wanting to see. James and John are looking for what Jesus can give them. Bartimaeus wants mercy.

The Gospel is not about getting something from Jesus that resembles the kingdom of man--power, glory, authority, you fill-in-the-blank. The Gospel of the kingdom is about trusting Jesus and pursuing Him radically for mercy. Far too often the Gospel is framed in a what's-in-it-for-me principle. This is not the Jesus way, which is one of servanthood and self-giving, nor is it the way to Jesus. The way to Jesus is as a blind man throwing aside what he has and coming to Jesus for mercy.

Are you the blind man of faith looking for the mercy of Jesus doing whatever you can just be near Him or the one who thinks he can already see simply looking for what Jesus can give you?