Choose Your Adventure — Rob Covington

When I was a kid Choose Your Own Adventure Books were really popular. The idea was that you could read part of the story, and then the main character would come to a critical decision. At that point, you had a choice to make. Based on the decision that you made you would turn to one of two pages. Eventually, you would reach a page that would say something like “you died” or you would find a more satisfying conclusion to your story. Either way, the choice of how the story ended was entirely up to you.

Netflix recently picked up on this idea as well. It released an episode of Black Mirror, titled Bandersnatch, where the viewers could choose what the main character would do next. When the episode came out the internet went wild talking about it, with some claiming it would change the way Netflix streamed shows. You can read the commentary here. The internet’s reaction reveals that people still like to be in control of the story.

Our biblical texts today are like watching two people choose their own adventure with Jesus in real time. The Rich Young Ruler comes to Jesus with a request and Jesus presents him with his options. The Rich Young Ruler decides to walk away sad and defeated. Just 24 verses later a different character, Bartimaeus, chooses an entirely different adventure. You can read the full stories below:

17 As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’” 20 “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.” 21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22 At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. -Mark 10:17-22

46 They came to Jericho. As he and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside. 47 When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48 Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 49 Jesus stood still and said, “Call him here.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart; get up, he is calling you.” 50 So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. 51 Then Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man said to him, “My teacher, let me see again.” 52 Jesus said to him, “Go; your faith has made you well.” Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way.

On Wednesday we will unpack these two adventures and see that: