Markan Spirituality of the Way

Abstract

This paper investigates Markan spirituality through an examination of his use of “the Way” motif, with a focus on the story of blind Bartimaeus in 10:46–52. Mark arranges his narrative around the theme of the way, and in so doing, points to the spirituality of following Jesus on the way. Mark’s underlying spirituality is particularly unveiled in the story of Bartimaeus, where the evangelist carefully indicates that Bartimaeus follows Jesus on the way once his sight has been restored. This episode is instructive for discipleship since the true disciple of Jesus is one who is ready to follow Jesus to Jerusalem and the Cross. Mark thus provides his audience with a model of sincere discipleship. In particular, the phrase “followed him [Jesus] on the way” presents the core values of Markan spirituality as follows: conformity, participation, identification, and incorporation with and into Jesus’s ministry. Accordingly, this research has implications for pilgrimage and the art of spiritual living, since Bartimaeus’s behaviour offers a prototype for both.