Mark 10:46

‘And they come to Jericho, and as he went out from Jericho with his disciples and a large crowd, the son of Timaeus, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar was sitting by the wayside.’

Luke speaks of this happening ‘as He drew near to Jericho’. Neither are stressing the exact situation, the important thing (if it was important) being that it happened at Jericho. Possible explanations of the difference are:

'b7 Either 1). That Mark, the Christian Jew, to whom ancient Jericho was important, was speaking of the site of old Jericho, having in mind that Jericho was the first town reached by Israel when originally entering the land. Notice his stress on ‘they come to Jericho’ which seems otherwise redundant. While Luke the historian had in mind entry into the new town, built by Herod the Great and his son Archelaus and standing to the South of old Jericho.

'b7 Or 2). That the beggar had welcomed Jesus approaching Jericho but had been unnoticed because of the large, noisy crowd and had therefore then waited until Jesus again left Jericho when he successfully accosted Him, Luke conflating the incidents for brevity. It is noteworthy that it is stressed that he did not get a response on his first attempt but persisted.

‘They come to Jericho.’ Mark rarely mentions names and yet here he stresses the approach to Jericho. The sensible explanation for this is that he saw it as significant in the light of Old Testament history. When the ancient people of Israel first entered the land they came to Jericho, and when any Jew heard the name Jericho that was the idea that would spring to mind. And now the first place Jesus reached after the mention of His determined ‘going up to Jerusalem’ (Mark 10:32) was Jericho. He has, as it were, ‘entered the land’ to claim it and was now to be greeted as ‘the son of David’, the all conquering Messiah. (We can compare how when Elijah was ‘departing’ he took the reverse route - Bethel, Jericho, Jordan and divided the waters of the Jordan, a reversal of the stages of Israel’s entry, and Elisha then reversed the process). It is tempting to remember that man who had awaited Joshua with the drawn sword in his hand who was the Captain of the Lord’s host (Joshua 5:13-14). But this king was approaching offering peace, although enjoying the same spiritual protection.

‘And as He went out from Jericho with His disciples and a large crowd.’ The large crowd has again appeared. Jesus could not avoid them, and here they were to be seen as part of the triumphal march to Jerusalem. He had not come alone. Some would return home shortly but others would continue to Jerusalem for the Passover.

‘The son of Timaeus, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar was sitting by the wayside.’ The description suggests that Timaeus (Hebrew - Timay?) was well known to Mark, and possibly the church to which he first wrote, as an outstanding Christian. As Bartimaeus (which means son of Timaeus) became a disciple this is quite probable. But that they were poor comes out in that Bartimaeus was begging.

Matthew has two blind beggars at the scene and names neither. This would not be surprising as there would probably be a dozen or more there, (it would be a favourite place for beggars at Passover time), and it is quite likely that Jesus would heal them all. He certainly would if they asked for it. But Mark concentrates on the one who brings over his point. Approaching Passover time such a spot just outside Jericho leading up to Jerusalem, would be prized by beggars. And it would be constantly thronged with people in festive mood. The point about this particular beggar was his use of the title ‘son of David’, and that was clearly picked up by a second joining in his cry.