04_Biblica_1_A_Ossandon_Layout 1 05/11/12 12:18 Pagina 397 397 BARTIMAEUS’ FAITH conclude that the episode is meant to make the reader identify with this character 54. It is true that, through his characterization of Bar- timaeus, the narrator presents him as a model of faith and of fol- lowing Jesus, in contrast to the group of the disciples. Bartimaeus offers an example to be imitated by the disciples and the crowd, and it should be offered also to the reader, because it was Jesus who stated it. But to say that Bartimaeus is a model is not the same as to say that the episode’s goal is to have the reader identify with him. The text may foster this attitude, but it is difficult to determine pre- cisely which are the effects of reading. The reader might identify with Jesus or even with the crowd 55. 2. Verse by Verse Analysis of the Ideological Point of View a) 10,46 Possible allusions to OT texts could be seen as part of the ideo- logical point of view. In this case, the city of Jericho, which situates the episode in the context of the way towards Jerusalem (cf. 10,32), might recall many passages. But neither this verse, nor the rest of the episode, seem to allude to any particular text 56. One can wonder whether the detailed presentation of Bartimaeus reflects an evaluation by the narrator. In addition to emphasizing the individuality of the character, giving his proper name and its translation, maybe suggests a parallel between the son of Timaeus and the Son of David 57. But I do not think that this can be consid- ered a valid judgment 58. 54 J.F. WILLIAMS, Other Followers of Jesus. Minor Characters as Major Figures in Mark’s Gospel (JSNTSup 102; Sheffield 1994) 151-66; FRANCE, The Gospel of Mark, 422. 55 Curiously enough, DUPONT, “L’aveugle”, 365, thinks that the first read- ers of Mark should identify with those who call Bartimaeus. 56 J. GNILKA, Das Evangelium nach Markus (EKKNT 2; Zürich 1978) 2:108-112 mentions 2 Kgs 7,15 as a parallel of Mark 10,50 and Isa 42,18 as the background of 10,52. Other OT texts possibly alluded to in Mark 10,46- 52 can be seen in ECKSTEIN, “Markus 10,46-52”, 41; and J.R. EDWARDS, The Gospel according to Mark (Grand Rapids, MI 2002) 329. However, the affin- ity of all these references with Bartimaeus’ episode is weak, and they offer little help to interpret it. 57 DELORME, “Guérison”, 10. 58 For speculations about the possible meaning of this name, see M. NAVARRO PUERTO, Marcos (Estella 2006) 382.