Re-reading Mark 10:32-52 in Light of Genre Characteristics of Greco-Roman Biography

This article re-reads Mark 10:32-52 in light of the three genre characteristics of Greco-Roman biography. The first genre characteristic is a sustained focus on the protagonist. The interpreter sensitive to this genre characteristic will thus observe Jesus the protagonist of the Gospels closely. Mark 10:32-52 highlights two aspects in terms of who Jesus is. First, Jesus is not a glorious or victorious figure, but one who came for suffering and death. This is clearly indicated in the third passion prediction (10:32-34) and the purpose statement of why Jesus came to the earth (10:45). Second, the title "son of David" Bartimaeus used does not refer to a militaristic or political figure with charisma and leadership but one who has pity and mercy on the neglected. The second genre characteristic is the use of comparison/contrast. In Mark 10:32-34, Bartimaeus and the disciples Jacob and John are contrasted in several ways. First, Jacob and John gave a wrong answer while Bartimaeus gave the right one to the same question of Jesus (What do you want me to do for you?). Second, the disciples' perception of Jesus as a victorious or glorious one is wrong while Bartimaeus's perception of Jesus as the son of David is right. Third, Jacob and John might be good at professing but not in action while Batimaeus is the one who puts into action what he knows and believes. The third genre characteristic is that by the characterization of the protagonist, the biographer invites readers to a virtuous life. This is clearly indicated in Mark 10:42-45 where Jesus' life is presented as the basis for his follower's life.