Inspiration

I haven't given much thought to the phenomenon of "inspiration." I've been content to let it be a part of the origin of the scriptures and have refered to impressive programs, writings, music and worship experiences as inspirational. I've generally not delved too deeply into the role of inspiration, especially of scripture, because it seems to me some have made it into an argument to prove that all scripture is of equal value and its meaning lays on the surface because that is the way God said it


But once in a while as a preacher I have had an experience in the process of interpreting scripture that has caused me to consider more seriously the possibility of a spiritual revelation that comes from beyond my study and thought processes. It is a sudden insight that causes one to ask, "where did that come from?"

Recently I was preparing a bible study for a class at the Mennonite Retirement Community. Since it was in the Lenten season I chose a passage from Mark 10. I rather arbitrarily marked down verses 32-52, choosing a long section to make sure I wouldn't run out of material. It is an acount of Jesus traveling with the twelve disciples on his final trip to Jerusalem. There is this request from James and John to Jesus for preferential treatment when it came to upper level assignments in their version of the kingdom. Jesus counters with his probing questions which revel their ignorance of the nature of God's kingdom and concludes with the simple but profound key to greatness in that realm.

When I got to that point in my preparation I seemed to have gotten to the end of the story. In my bible there was not only a paragraph break but a dividing space of two lines which would indicate a break which would seem to say, "And now for something completely different." I read farther to make sure I had all the ends tied when it suddenly came to me that the author may have wanted to say something further about those self-seeking disciples who so brazenly angled for preferential treatment and nonchalantly answered Jesus' questions about how they would follow him.

For in the fianal paragraph of this chapter, vv. 46-52, Mark inserts the healing of the blind beggar and I suspect for good reason. It suddenly occured to me that the author wants to show the disciples for what they are, as blind as Bartimaeus, but unaware of it and certainly not willing to acknowledge it. For compare their approach to Jesus in contrast to that of Bartimaeus. "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you." Bartimaeus only pleads for mercy, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"


The two requests are startling in their difference. On the one hand the disciples ask for a open ended approval of anything they ask for. And on the other Jesus asks the the beggar what he would like to have done for him. The disciples receive a rebuff for their thoughtless ambition while the humble beggar receives a life changing gift. While the disciples prove to be blind to the ways and designs of their teacher the blind beggar's eyes are opened and becomes a carrier of the evidence of the new kingdom.


Has this connection never been thought of before? Of course it has. I am only a Johnny-come-lately who catches on to the obvious rather slowly. But in that moment when the connection became clear it felt like inspiration in that I had received a gift of new understanding that was meaningful and I could pass on to others. I will need to consider further inspiration and how this is similar or different from the experience of the writers of scripture.

But for now the only response I can think of is " Thanks be to God!"