"Experiencing Reformation Like Bartimaeus"
Sermon preached at Edgemont Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) on Reformation Sunday, October 29, 2006 by Rev. Christopher Yopp. Sermon based on Mark 10:46-52.
Someone once wrote:
"Ten thousand reformers like so many moles,
Have plowed through the Bible and cut it in holes;
And each has his church at the end of his trace,
Built up as he thinks on the subjects of grace."
Sadly, there is a lot of truth to that poem. But today, we celebrate Reformation Sunday; and unlike the point of that poem we celebrate those reformers like: Luther and Calvin, Wesley and Stone, the Campbells and others who have cut away all that has watered down and distorted the core of God’s message of love and grace, and who have focused on the reforming power of God’s presence in our lives. With that having been said, I find it interesting that the Gospel’s Lectionary Reading for today focuses on the healing of Blind Bartimaeus; and, initially, one might wonder what does this story has to do with Reformation Sunday, I know I did! In fact, I thought earlier this week either I am going to have to stretch this story in order for it to relate to Reformation Sunday, or I am going to have to bypass it all together and use another Scripture that better focuses on the meaning and message of Reformation. But, as you can see, I decided to go with this Gospel Lesson as the basis of my sermon this morning. And certainly there is a greater message within this story - one, that definitely corresponds and relates to the message of Reformation.
I want you to notice, first of all, how Mark gives us a graphic, detailed eyewitness account of this story. In fact, this story is significant for various reasons, mainly because of its spiritual implications for our lives; but I also find it interesting because it is the final healing that Mark reports in his gospel and it is positioned in such a way that it interrupts, if you will, the flow of the events of Jesus’ Passion. Mark tells us that Jesus encounters this blind begger, named Bartimaeus, when he starts calling out "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me." People around him told him to be quiet, but the more they scolded him, the more he cried out, "Son of David, have mercy on me." Certainly, we must appreciate Bertimaeus’ determination and persistence. But Mark tells us that Jesus finally notices Bartimaeus, and has him called over. To which Bartimaeus, we are told throws off his cloak and comes to Jesus.
Jesus asks; "What do you want me to do for you?" And Bartimaeus answers that he wants to see again. Jesus tells him, "Go, your faith has made you well." I love how, instead of going, this healed man follows Jesus down the road.
Several important aspects are found within this story. First of all, I think it is rather interesting that Mark includes Bartimaeus’ name. The Gospel writers rarely gave the name of a person who was healed by Jesus, unless that person was a disciple of Jesus. And so, this has led some scholars to think that perhaps, Bartimaeus became a well-known follower or disciple of Jesus after his healing. Of course, this is only speculation, because Bartimaeus isn’t mention elsewhere in Scripture.
Another detail that Mark mentions about Bartimaeus, which perhaps is more significant than it first appears, is the fact that when Bartimaeus jumped up to come to Jesus he left behind his mantle or cloak. Every time the gospels, and especially Mark’s gospel, portrayed someone becoming a follower or disciple of Jesus there is always the mentioning of that person leaving behind something, or dropping what their doing that they might follow Jesus.
Certainly, one could ask; what have we given up, dropped or left behind in order that we might more fully and faithfully follow Jesus? What sacrifice or sacrifices do we make in our walk with Jesus? It appears from the gospels that true followers – true disciples of Christ are those who are willing to make sacrifices in their walk of faith. But can that be said of us?
Bartimaeus left behind his mantle - his cloak and followed Jesus. Some scholars suggest that the shedding of this outer garment would represent or symbolize the shedding of his old self - shedding it away, leaving it behind - such as in our Profession of Faith and Baptism, we die to self and make a commitment to follow Christ. In fact, the word "follow" is often used metaphorically in Mark’s Gospel to indicate that someone has taken on a personal allegiance or devotion to Christ.
Perhaps, equally as significant as Bartimaeus is the city of Jericho itself. The city of Jericho was and is about fifteen miles east of Jerusalem. It is a city rich in history and vital to the Jewish people. Jericho was and still is known as the City of the Palms, because of the numerous palm trees that grow there. These trees give the city the appearance of an oasis in an otherwise arid wasteland. It was probably in Jericho where Jesus’ followers collected palm branches to be used in their festive parade as they hailed Jesus as the Messiah, which we read about in the next chapter of Mark’s gospel.
As I read this passage this week, I began to think about Jesus and what he must have felt at this point in his life and ministry. Surely, as Jesus entered Jericho that day, he must have known what was ahead. Surely, he knew that he was passing the last milestone along the road that would ultimately lead to his death. And, on this occasion, he had the opportunity to show first hand in the life of Blind Bartimaeus the power his death and resurrection would accomplish in the lives of those who would believe and trust in him as Savior. So that we, like Bartimaeus, would be able to affirm, "I was blind, but now I see!"
Now, certainly, we must keep in mind, that the site of Jericho by the time of Jesus had been removed from the ancient tell of the Jericho in the Old Testament by about a mile. In fact, Mark notes that after crossing the Jordan River to the east, this healing occurs as Jesus went out of Jericho. While the gospel writer, Luke, on the other hand, says that the healing occurred "as Jesus and his disciples were coming near Jericho." Obviously, some might find this confusing or even a bit contradicting, but keep in mind, there were several different Jerichos in the vicinity at that time. There was, of course, the old Jericho, the site of many Old Testament events, and then there was a new Jericho built by Herod the Great as a winter home in the mild climate of the Jordan Valley.
In order to more fully understand this idea, think of our town, Christiansburg. There is what some refer to as the old Christiansburg and new Christiansburg. "Old" Christiansburg would be considered the downtown area and points north and east. "New" Christiansburg would entail points south and west of downtown – the mall area, if you will. And so, in a sense this would be true of Jericho, and most scholars agree that Jesus was probably leaving the site of one and approaching the other when this encounter with Bartimaeus occurred. Thus putting these two gospel accounts into perspective.
However, in considering Jericho we are forced to examine our own lives, and ask ourselves; is my life, like Jericho, really an arid wasteland with the appearance of an oasis? I mean, that was, after all, what Bartimaeus’ life was like. But soon, he experienced the refreshing, renewing presence and power of God that brought about reformation in his life.
Often times, our lives are like Jericho, in the sense that we masquerade them with the palm trees of religion, when in actually our spirit and soul are as a dry and barren wasteland. And certainly, this Gospel Lesson forces us to examine our lives and to experience the renewing power of God that brings about reformation.
Someone once wrote; "The blind sometimes have uncanny sight, and the deaf sometimes hear what others miss. Spiritual insight and alertness arise from the heart rather than from status or position. In our Gospel Lesson this morning, Mark seems to delight in the irony of Bartimaeus, who is blind, yet perceives what the sighted cannot see." It was Helen Kellor who wrote; "There is none so blind as those who refuse to see." And certainly this is true.
In fact, psychiatrists will tell you that oftentimes their patients are in denial, and that they refuse to point the finger at themselves – they are blind, in a sense, when it comes to their own faults and actions. And it is through much hard work and dedication that the psychiatrist will finally encourage the person to take a serious look at their own life, in an honest light. And once this occurs usually healing begins.
In many ways, Reformers, like psychiatrists, are often people who see the truth that others fail to see or refuse to see and, what’s more, do anything about; and such a reformer was Martin Luther.
Martin Luther was only freed to start a Reformation, unintended as it was, when he realized that his feeble and desperate attempt to follow every letter of the law was useless and futile. Like many saints, he began to realize the harder he tried, the more impossible it was for him to reach that level of perfection that would ensure God’s love. And how often many Christians attempt to do this even today! Martin Luther realized the truth, God already loved him and salvation was a gift already offered. While the church taught legalism, Luther learned the truth about freedom and grace. Luther taught that freedom in Christ, freedom from the burden of sin does not mean freedom from burdens and commitments. If anything, once our eyes are open to the truth of God’s presence and activity, we are bound by our calling in our Profession of Faith and Baptism to be witnesses in the world. We are compelled to share the good news of the gospel. We are drawn to serve people in need. We are called to speak out about injustices and sin. Reformation, as Luther and Bartimaeus taught, should spark within us sacrifice and a willingness to serve Christ and others. Are you willing to make such a sacrifice? Are you willing to drop whatever it is that might be restricting you from truly "following" Christ and becoming his disciple? If not, then you cannot or will not experience reformation!
I want to close with an illustration I came across this past week from the movie, Monty Python’s Life of Brian. Brian and his mother are walking through town when they encounter a beggar. "Alms for an ex-leper. Alms for an ex-leper, please;" said the beggar to Brian and his mother. Brian said; "What do you mean by ex-leper?" The ex-leper said; "Well, Jesus cured me; but now I have a hard time making a living, all I’ve ever known how to do is beg." Brain said; "Well, why don’t you just go back and ask Jesus to make you a leper again?" The ex-leper said; "Now, why would I want to do that; but maybe I can ask him to just make me a leper during working hours." How often we forget that reformation, as we see in the life of Bartimaeus, brings about change! A change that this ex-leper was not willing to make, and a change that many Christians are not willing to make either.
My friends, let us celebrate Reformation Sunday the right way, by allowing God to truly reform us to be a people he is calling us to be! Amen!
I want you to notice, first of all, how Mark gives us a graphic, detailed eyewitness account of this story. In fact, this story is significant for various reasons, mainly because of its spiritual implications for our lives; but I also find it interesting because it is the final healing that Mark reports in his gospel and it is positioned in such a way that it interrupts, if you will, the flow of the events of Jesus’ Passion. Mark tells us that Jesus encounters this blind begger, named Bartimaeus, when he starts calling out "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me." People around him told him to be quiet, but the more they scolded him, the more he cried out, "Son of David, have mercy on me." Certainly, we must appreciate Bertimaeus’ determination and persistence. But Mark tells us that Jesus finally notices Bartimaeus, and has him called over. To which Bartimaeus, we are told throws off his cloak and comes to Jesus.
Jesus asks; "What do you want me to do for you?" And Bartimaeus answers that he wants to see again. Jesus tells him, "Go, your faith has made you well." I love how, instead of going, this healed man follows Jesus down the road.
Several important aspects are found within this story. First of all, I think it is rather interesting that Mark includes Bartimaeus’ name. The Gospel writers rarely gave the name of a person who was healed by Jesus, unless that person was a disciple of Jesus. And so, this has led some scholars to think that perhaps, Bartimaeus became a well-known follower or disciple of Jesus after his healing. Of course, this is only speculation, because Bartimaeus isn’t mention elsewhere in Scripture.
Another detail that Mark mentions about Bartimaeus, which perhaps is more significant than it first appears, is the fact that when Bartimaeus jumped up to come to Jesus he left behind his mantle or cloak. Every time the gospels, and especially Mark’s gospel, portrayed someone becoming a follower or disciple of Jesus there is always the mentioning of that person leaving behind something, or dropping what their doing that they might follow Jesus.
Certainly, one could ask; what have we given up, dropped or left behind in order that we might more fully and faithfully follow Jesus? What sacrifice or sacrifices do we make in our walk with Jesus? It appears from the gospels that true followers – true disciples of Christ are those who are willing to make sacrifices in their walk of faith. But can that be said of us?
Bartimaeus left behind his mantle - his cloak and followed Jesus. Some scholars suggest that the shedding of this outer garment would represent or symbolize the shedding of his old self - shedding it away, leaving it behind - such as in our Profession of Faith and Baptism, we die to self and make a commitment to follow Christ. In fact, the word "follow" is often used metaphorically in Mark’s Gospel to indicate that someone has taken on a personal allegiance or devotion to Christ.
Perhaps, equally as significant as Bartimaeus is the city of Jericho itself. The city of Jericho was and is about fifteen miles east of Jerusalem. It is a city rich in history and vital to the Jewish people. Jericho was and still is known as the City of the Palms, because of the numerous palm trees that grow there. These trees give the city the appearance of an oasis in an otherwise arid wasteland. It was probably in Jericho where Jesus’ followers collected palm branches to be used in their festive parade as they hailed Jesus as the Messiah, which we read about in the next chapter of Mark’s gospel.
As I read this passage this week, I began to think about Jesus and what he must have felt at this point in his life and ministry. Surely, as Jesus entered Jericho that day, he must have known what was ahead. Surely, he knew that he was passing the last milestone along the road that would ultimately lead to his death. And, on this occasion, he had the opportunity to show first hand in the life of Blind Bartimaeus the power his death and resurrection would accomplish in the lives of those who would believe and trust in him as Savior. So that we, like Bartimaeus, would be able to affirm, "I was blind, but now I see!"
Now, certainly, we must keep in mind, that the site of Jericho by the time of Jesus had been removed from the ancient tell of the Jericho in the Old Testament by about a mile. In fact, Mark notes that after crossing the Jordan River to the east, this healing occurs as Jesus went out of Jericho. While the gospel writer, Luke, on the other hand, says that the healing occurred "as Jesus and his disciples were coming near Jericho." Obviously, some might find this confusing or even a bit contradicting, but keep in mind, there were several different Jerichos in the vicinity at that time. There was, of course, the old Jericho, the site of many Old Testament events, and then there was a new Jericho built by Herod the Great as a winter home in the mild climate of the Jordan Valley.
In order to more fully understand this idea, think of our town, Christiansburg. There is what some refer to as the old Christiansburg and new Christiansburg. "Old" Christiansburg would be considered the downtown area and points north and east. "New" Christiansburg would entail points south and west of downtown – the mall area, if you will. And so, in a sense this would be true of Jericho, and most scholars agree that Jesus was probably leaving the site of one and approaching the other when this encounter with Bartimaeus occurred. Thus putting these two gospel accounts into perspective.
However, in considering Jericho we are forced to examine our own lives, and ask ourselves; is my life, like Jericho, really an arid wasteland with the appearance of an oasis? I mean, that was, after all, what Bartimaeus’ life was like. But soon, he experienced the refreshing, renewing presence and power of God that brought about reformation in his life.
Often times, our lives are like Jericho, in the sense that we masquerade them with the palm trees of religion, when in actually our spirit and soul are as a dry and barren wasteland. And certainly, this Gospel Lesson forces us to examine our lives and to experience the renewing power of God that brings about reformation.
Someone once wrote; "The blind sometimes have uncanny sight, and the deaf sometimes hear what others miss. Spiritual insight and alertness arise from the heart rather than from status or position. In our Gospel Lesson this morning, Mark seems to delight in the irony of Bartimaeus, who is blind, yet perceives what the sighted cannot see." It was Helen Kellor who wrote; "There is none so blind as those who refuse to see." And certainly this is true.
In fact, psychiatrists will tell you that oftentimes their patients are in denial, and that they refuse to point the finger at themselves – they are blind, in a sense, when it comes to their own faults and actions. And it is through much hard work and dedication that the psychiatrist will finally encourage the person to take a serious look at their own life, in an honest light. And once this occurs usually healing begins.
In many ways, Reformers, like psychiatrists, are often people who see the truth that others fail to see or refuse to see and, what’s more, do anything about; and such a reformer was Martin Luther.
Martin Luther was only freed to start a Reformation, unintended as it was, when he realized that his feeble and desperate attempt to follow every letter of the law was useless and futile. Like many saints, he began to realize the harder he tried, the more impossible it was for him to reach that level of perfection that would ensure God’s love. And how often many Christians attempt to do this even today! Martin Luther realized the truth, God already loved him and salvation was a gift already offered. While the church taught legalism, Luther learned the truth about freedom and grace. Luther taught that freedom in Christ, freedom from the burden of sin does not mean freedom from burdens and commitments. If anything, once our eyes are open to the truth of God’s presence and activity, we are bound by our calling in our Profession of Faith and Baptism to be witnesses in the world. We are compelled to share the good news of the gospel. We are drawn to serve people in need. We are called to speak out about injustices and sin. Reformation, as Luther and Bartimaeus taught, should spark within us sacrifice and a willingness to serve Christ and others. Are you willing to make such a sacrifice? Are you willing to drop whatever it is that might be restricting you from truly "following" Christ and becoming his disciple? If not, then you cannot or will not experience reformation!
I want to close with an illustration I came across this past week from the movie, Monty Python’s Life of Brian. Brian and his mother are walking through town when they encounter a beggar. "Alms for an ex-leper. Alms for an ex-leper, please;" said the beggar to Brian and his mother. Brian said; "What do you mean by ex-leper?" The ex-leper said; "Well, Jesus cured me; but now I have a hard time making a living, all I’ve ever known how to do is beg." Brain said; "Well, why don’t you just go back and ask Jesus to make you a leper again?" The ex-leper said; "Now, why would I want to do that; but maybe I can ask him to just make me a leper during working hours." How often we forget that reformation, as we see in the life of Bartimaeus, brings about change! A change that this ex-leper was not willing to make, and a change that many Christians are not willing to make either.
My friends, let us celebrate Reformation Sunday the right way, by allowing God to truly reform us to be a people he is calling us to be! Amen!
posted by Pastor Christopher @ 12:09 PM
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