Commentary on Mark · Chapter 103

1Mk. 10:52. Jesus said to him: Go, your faith has saved you. And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road. Matthew speaks of two blind men: and perhaps there were two who were healed; but probably one of them attracted more attention, the one whom Mark now mentions. But see how the crowd honors Jesus: they even forbid the blind man to cry out, as if some king were passing by. And Jesus asks the blind man so that they would not say that He gives something other than what the blind man wanted. And the soul of the blind man was prudent, for after his healing he did not leave Jesus, but followed Him. And (allegorically) one may understand this as follows: Jericho signifies a low place (the world); the blind man sitting here is an image of human nature, which was once adopted by God, above every earthly honor; and it cried out to Christ as He passed through Jericho, that is, this world. And Christ had mercy on it and saved it by its faith, when it cast off the old garment of sin. And upon receiving salvation, it followed Him (Christ), fulfilling the commandments on its path, that is, in this life. For only in this life is it possible to follow Christ, and after it the doors (of salvation) are shut, and there will no longer be time for the fulfillment of God's commandments.