Nursing Discussion: Life and Faith in Mark and Matthew

Nursing Discussion: Life and Faith in Mark and Matthew
There are several instances in Matthew and Mark which depict the themes of life and faith particularly through the miracles performed by Jesus. The passages, Matthew 8:5-13, and Mark 10:46-52 illustrate the healing of the centurion’s servant and the blind Bartimaeus respectively. A closer analysis of both passages individually will provide insight on the doctrine of life and faith and their relevance at the time and in the present day.

Matthew gives the account of the healing of the centurion’s servant in Capernaum. A centurion was in charge of a hundred men in the Roman army. The servant who was a slave boy at the centurion’s household was suffering from palsy. It is a condition with an unknown cause, can occur at any age, is characterized by paralysis of facial muscles and worsens after 48 hours. The passage states that the boy was dear to the centurion meaning that he was efficient in carrying out his duties and thus reliable. He pleaded with Jesus to save the boy by giving an order. Therefore, Jesus did not have to be with the boy physically at the house of the centurion.

At that time, the Jews and Gentiles did not associate amicably since the Jews thought that the Gentiles would make them unclean. Based on this, the centurion felt unworthy of Jesus’ presence at his house. He was also aware of the element of obedience where he would order soldiers to come, go or do something without question. Faced with all these unfavorable circumstances, Jesus marveled at the faith demonstrated and healed the boy. Being a Gentile was immaterial since the key feature was the centurion’s faith.

The key takeaway from the passage is the importance of faith in restoration of the boy’s health. However, the firm belief that Jesus could heal resulted from the news that spread on the miracles he performed. Therefore, efficient delivery of services attracts people across all spheres of life.

The healing of the blind Bartimaeus as narrated by Mark shows his active faith in his quest for the restoration of his sight. The setting is in Jericho where Bartimaeus sat begging by the highway and Jesus came along. The passage illustrates several elements in his faith that led to his healing. First, he was aware who Jesus was since he called him the Son of David showing that Jesus was a royalty. Second, he calls Jesus without relenting despite many rebuking him to keep calm. The third element is the expectation of transformation when Jesu calls him. Bartimaeus throwing away his cloak portrayed the assurance that he had on the change that was about to occur. He wholeheartedly believed that he would neither go back to begging nor being blind. The final element is that he was sure of what he wanted. He asked Jesus to restore his sight after which he started seeing immediately because of his faith.

The story of blind Bartimaeus shows the changes that faith can bring in one’s life both economically and physically. Bartimaeus’ source of livelihood came from begging since he could not conduct meaningful activities due to the loss of his sight. He did not ask for any special privileges from Jesus however despite the fact that Jesus was in a position to bestow upon him anything he desired. The simplistic nature of the expression of his faith and the firm resolve was enough for Bartimaeus to get what he wanted.

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