What does Mark 10:48 mean?
Rebuke is from the Greek root word epitaimaō and means "to admonish or censure." It's the same word used to describe how the disciples responded to the people who brought their children to see Jesus (Mark 10:13). We're not told exactly who rebukes Bartimaeus; it may be the people with Jesus (Mark 10:32), the locals from Jericho, or travelers headed to Jerusalem for the Passover. Samaria sits between Judea and Galilee, but as Jews hated Samaritans, Galileans traveling to Jerusalem would cross the Jordan River, pass by the east side of Samaria, and cross into Judea by Jericho. This made Jericho a very popular place for travelers."Mercy" is from the Greek root word eleeō and means "to give aid to something that is in need." Bartimaeus shows what it is like to be "poor in spirit" (Matthew 5:3). Unlike Peter who reminds Jesus of the disciples' sacrifices (Mark 10:28) or James and John who ask for places of honor in Jesus' kingdom (Mark 10:35–37), Bartimaeus knows there is nothing about him that warrants Jesus' attention. He has faith that Jesus' favor is not something he can or must earn. He just needs to ask.
Today, headlines are filled with accounts of people expressing need and asking for help while the world dismisses their concerns and tells them to be quiet. People in need may be polite, passionate, disruptive, or even criminal. But whatever the words they use, when we ignore the hurting we exhibit the same self-centeredness as the travelers who tell Bartimaeus to be quiet. In the parable of the persistent widow, the evil judge finally gives her justice because she annoys him, not because he cares about righteousness (Luke 18:1–8). Jesus calls us to a higher standard. Compassion (Matthew 22:34–40), mercy (Matthew 5:7), and a love for justice (Deuteronomy 10:18; 16:20) characterize the Christ-follower, not irritation at being bothered or judgmentalism toward people whose issues we find inconvenient or shameful to address.
